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As the Marlins continue searching for starting pitching help, the club has expressed interest in Edinson Volquez, Matt Shoemaker and Julio Teheran, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
The Marlins are hoping to add at least one starter in advance of the non-waiver trade deadline Monday but are seeking two, with one controllable arm and one rental emerging as a possibility, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro.
Miami’s willingness to consider adding a second starter could suggest Wei-Yin Chen’s elbow injury could result in a prolonged stint on the disabled list.
Volquez, 33, would be an intriguing option for the Marlins, since he has a $10 million mutual option for next season. Over 124.1 innings this season, Volquez has pitched to a 4.56 ERA and 4.11 FIP.
Volquez has pitched to a career 4.32 ERA and 4.23 FIP and would likely prove to be a valuable veteran addition to the back end of Miami’s rotation. He hasn’t pitched in the National League since 2014 with the Pirates, and the Royals could be open to moving him given they’re currently under five-hundred.
Kansas City appears to have prioritized moving Ian Kennedy and Wade Davis, so it might not take as much to acquire Volquez in a trade.
While Volquez is an option, Matt Shoemaker might be a more realistic target, since he isn’t eligible to be a free agent until 2021. Shoemaker hasn’t had as much success as he did in 2014, when he won 16 games and was second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, but he’s pitched to a 4.17 ERA and 3.29 FIP over 118.2 innings this season.
Los Angeles is reportedly fielding offers for Shoemaker, and if the Marlins are seeking two arms, the Angels could be an option, since Miami has also considered adding Hector Santiago.
Adding Julio Teheran seems unrealistic for the Marlins, since Atlanta also plays within the National League East and is reportedly hesitant to move him because of his current contract.
Teheran, 25, won’t be eligible for free agency until 2020 and has pitched to a 2.71 ERA and 3.76 FIP over 129.2 innings this season. While he would be an ideal compliment to Jose Fernandez in the front of Miami’s rotation, the Braves are rebuilding and almost certainly would request several top prospects in a deal built around Teheran.
Miami is known to be one of the more aggressive teams in its pursuit for pitching help, but a lack of minor league depth could make adding multiple starters challenging.
Jose Urena and Jarred Cosart have pitched well in recent outings, but the Marlins still have a clear desire to upgrade their staff.
Miami has also been connected to Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Miley, Andrew Cashner, Sonny Gray, Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore, Chris Archer and Ervin Santana.
Miami’s rotation has pitched to a 4.00 ERA, which ranks sixth in the National League.