Miami Marlins

The Marlins felt good enough about their chances at a playoff run that they went all out looking to improve their rotation before the non-waiver trade deadline. The result was a July 29 trade with the San Diego Padres that sent Andrew Cashner and Col

in Rea to Miami. Both pitchers went directly into the Marlins rotation, although Rea had to leave his July 30 start against the St. Louis Cardinals because of a sprained right elbow.

Cashner, shorn of his bushy beard because of the Marlins’ policy on facial hair, had better luck the next day, allowing one earned run in six innings in his Marlins debut.

“The one message it sends is we’re trying to win,” manager

Don Mattingly said. “We’re not trying to go backward. We have an opportunity here.”

So they moved quickly to deal for the two starters from the Padres, giving up first baseman Josh Naylor (their 2015 firstround draft pick) and pitchers Luis Castillo, Jarred Cosart and Carter Capps.

But as a result of the injury, Rea was headed back to San Diego and Castillo back to Miami on Monday.

“It was something we worked out between the clubs,” Marlins president of baseball operations

Mike Hill said. “We felt like it was in the best interests to return the player and try to put it behind us and move forward.”

The Marlins were hoping to get first baseman Justin Bour back from the disabled list this week. Bour was out for most of July because of a sprained right ankle.