Miami Marlins' Mat Latos starts slow, Anthony DeSclafani thrives in Cincinnati

Miami acquired Mat Latos from Cincinnati to add a veteran arm to its starting rotation. And while Latos pitched well on Friday, early numbers suggest the Reds may win the trade. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald notes the Marlins could regret trading prospect Anthony DeSclafani, who has had success to open the 2015 campaign.

Anthony DeSclafani, who went to the Reds in that deal, has been brilliant so far (2-0, 0.86 ERA) and is under team control for six more years. Latos will be a free agent at the end of the year. But it's too soon to make any conclusions on DeSclafani, who was very hittable during his previous Marlins appearances.

After signing Giancarlo Stanton to a long-term extension, the Marlins sought to upgrade the rotation with Jose Fernandez out until the summer. Henderson Alvarez is also on the disabled list, and as a result, the Marlins' depth is being tested. David Phelps has been consistent, and Miami has numerous additional starting options. However, with the exception of his last outing, Latos has had difficulty finding the strike zone at times.

Latos, 27, was likely an attractive option because he posted a 3.25 ERA and 3.65 FIP in 102.1 innings pitched with the Reds in 2014. He has been plagued by injuries but is currently healthy and allowed two runs in 6.1 innings in the first game of the three game set with the Nationals. He allowed 11 earned runs in his first 9.2 innings of the season, but as the season progresses he will likely become more productive.

While Latos opened the year with a few shorter outings, DeSclafani has had success in Cincinnati's rotation, pitching to a 2-0 record and 0.86 ERA. Although he is off to a hot start with the Reds, DeSclafani did not have a lot of success with the Marlins. A lot of his pitches were hittable, but he is also a controllable piece that could be valuable moving forward.

The Marlins sought pitching depth all offseason, and adding Latos should still prove to assist the starting rotation. DeSclafani is thriving now, but it is likely too soon to evaluate the deal.