Marlins open to offers on Lopez, mull other moves

Less than a week before the Aug. 2 trade deadline, the Marlins are expected to attempt to trade some of their expiring contracts and also will listen to offers on a key player who was previously deemed to be generally off limits.

Marlins No. 2 starter Pablo Lopez, who wasn’t made available in trade discussions last winter, has been mentioned in trade talks in recent weeks, according to sources.

To be clear, the Marlins are not making calls trying to trade Lopez and they could end up keeping him.

But when teams call now asking about Lopez, the Marlins are no longer dismissing the calls. Last winter, the Marlins weren’t interested in listening to trade inquiries about Lopez, unless a perennial All Star type player was made available.

If Miami traded Lopez, it likely would be for both immediate help and a highly-regarded prospect or two. This has been Lopez’s most durable season; he has made 19 starts and shown no signs of wearing down. Lopez, 26, missed significant stretches of the 2019 and 2021 season due to injuries.

On another club, Lopez could be a potential ace, and rival clubs have checked in to gauge the Marlins’ willingness to move him. Despite righthander Max Meyer’s elbow injury, the Marlins have viable rotation alternatives on the way in Jake Eder and Eury Perez.

Jesus Luzardo, working his way back from a May forearm injury, is another present and future option. As is Edward Cabrera, who is working his back from right elbow tendonitis.

We hear there has been no talk of a contract extension for Lopez, who can become a free agent after the 2024 season.

Lopez is 6-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 19 starts this season and is 24-26 with a 3.81 ERA in 81 starts in his five-year big-league career, all with the Marlins. He was brilliant against Cincinnati on Tuesday, equaling a career-high with 11 strikeouts and holding the Reds to just one run on two hits. He said he’s not paying attention to trade rumors.

The Marlins — while selling off some assets — also are interested in upgrading their offense for 2023. This is something they have done previously in making separate inseason deals with Arizona to acquire Starling Marte

and Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The Marlins are looking to acquire a left-handed power bat to add to the lineup. Chisholm (back) is likely out for the remainder of the season, and outfielder Jesus Sanchez

(.202, .267 on base, 11 homers, 30 RBI) has underwhelmed after a strong start. The Marlins are intent on adding another bat, either before the trade deadline or during the offseason.

Among Marlins whose names have been raised in trade discussions:

Jesus Aguilar: The first baseman/DH — who’s at .248, .295 onbase, 11 homers, 39 RBI in 88 games — hasn’t been able to approach his 2021 production (.261, .329, 22 homers, 93 RBI in 131 games). His defense is below average, and his WAR is just 0.2, suggesting he has made a limited impact.

Aguilar is earning $7.3 million with a mutual option for 2023. Considering his team buyout would be only $200,000, he’s essentially an expiring contract.

A team trading for Aguilar might ask the Marlins to pick up a portion of his remaining salary.

“He could help a contender as DH or pinch hitter,” a longtime American League scout said. “You are going to have to replace him late defensively in close games if you play him at first. He has power, can still hit a fastball, matches up decently against righties and lefties. But he’s a liability defensively late in games.”

Anthony Bass: This is a difficult call for the Marlins; trading the righthanded reliever could net a prospect but there’s also a case to be made for keeping him because of his solid work this season (1.51 ERA in 42 games).

Bass has a $3 million team option for 2023, with a $1 million buyout. On a Marlins team that does not figure to be in the top 15 in MLB payrolls in 2023, that would seem to be a large allocation for a seventh inning reliever.

Bass was given the opportunity to close Sunday against the Pirates, but the defense failed him and he still has yet to record a save in nearly two seasons with Miami.

Steven Okert: The left-handed reliever has been reliable this season (5-0, 2.14 ERA).

The Marlins like the left-handed pitching they have in the minor leagues (Andrew Nardi and Josh Simpson) and Okert could be part of a bigger package or traded for a prospect.

Avisail Garcia: The Marlins’ most expensive offseason addition (four years, $53 million) has been an enormous disappointment (.230, 7 homers, 30 RBI).

Dealing the veteran is something of a long shot because of the contract. The Marlins aren’t inclined to attach a prospect for the purpose of dumping the contract, meaning he’s more likely to stay than go.

Entering Wednesday night, the Marlins were 4.5 games behind the National League’s third wild card team (St. Louis).

CHATTER

Though the Dolphins do not permit reporters to identify starters, Jaelan Phillips acknowledged he lined up opposite Melvin Ingram during Wednesday’s first training camp practice. It will be interesting to see how the Dolphins allocate outside linebacker snaps among Phillips, Ingram and Andrew Van Ginkel. The Dolphins seem to want to give Ingram a chance to earn a major role.

“Mel is somebody I’ve been watching for a long time, since I was in high school,” Phillips said. “He’s been mentoring me some, taking me under his wings. I’m grateful to have him on the team. We met each other a couple months ago. You can already tell we have that bond.”

Most encouraging Dolphins development on Day 1, besides a mostly healthy roster and Tyreek Hill’s greatness: The good work of the two top contenders for the No. 4 cornerback job: Trill Williams (interception) and Noah Igbinoghene (a pass deflection).

Coach Mike McDaniel said Byron Jones’ absence to start camp is “a tremendous opportunity” for Igbinoghene; the new staff likes his skill set. “He made a play on the ball,” Xavien Howard said. “And I said, ‘You’ve got to do that everyday.’ ”

Asked by ESPN why he chose the Dolphins over the Jets when both trades were presented to him, Hill said: “Zach Wilson is a dog, but I’d rather play with the most-accurate quarterback in the NFL.”