MLB offseason: 4 trades that could still happen before Opening Day
By Mark Powell
2. Marlins make a splash by landing Anthony Santander
Santander isn’t the ‘big name’ baseball fans expected to find on this list, but I’m trying to be realistic. The 26-year-old has been mentioned in trade rumors recently with the Marlins specifically coming up as a potential suitor. In 2019, Santander enjoyed a 31 home run season, and he followed that up with an impressive slash line of .261/.315/.575 in an abbreviated 2020.
The Orioles are looking to sell, and fast. Baltimore’s ownership hasn’t been shy about its willingness to send away their best players, and traded Alex Cobb just a few weeks back. Santander is arguably their best remaining trade chip, and if they wish to spin this deal into a positive, it would be in the prospect haul they get back from Miami.
Nonetheless, the Marlins must ask themselves if it’s worth giving up that kind of young talent for another corner outfielder. Yet, they possess few players with the five-tool potential of Santander, and the plate discipline to boot. Santander is under team control through 2023, and helps complete a Marlins outfield that already includes Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson. While it’s not Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, adding Santander to that group gives the Marlins an outfield to build around. It’s easy to forget this team made the (expanded) playoffs last year. Why not make it a trend?