Marlins trade rumors: Miami adds Jeff Francoeur

UPDATE — Miami acquired Jeff Francoeur and cash from the Braves on Wednesday, the club announced.

ORIGINAL — The Marlins are expected to be without right fielder Giancarlo Stanton for the remainder of the year and as a result are in pursuit of outfield depth in advance of the waiver trade deadline, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro.

Miami was interested in Carlos Gomez before he signed with the Rangers and is also considering Jeff Francoeur, according to Frisaro.

Ichiro Suzuki has received the majority of starting time in right field since Stanton was placed on the disabled list, and the Marlins might be seeking a right-handed platoon partner for him in right field.

Francoeur, 32, is one of the more established options who could be made available. Over 98 games with the Braves this season, he is batting .251/.292/.384 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs.

Francoeur is a career .261 hitter who could provide some power from the right side of the plate. Without Stanton and Justin Bour, who has been sidelined with an ankle sprain, Miami’s lineup lacks a pair of consistent power bats.

Since the Braves are rebuilding and weren’t hesitant to move major league pieces in July, they likely would be open to moving Francoeur, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The Marlins don’t want to move Luis Castillo in a potential deal, according to Frisaro, but he adds there is a “general sense” the two sides could agree to a deal involving a low-level prospect.

Gerardo Parra could be another target, according to Frisaro, but he is batting .253 and won’t be a free agent until 2019. The Marlins might not have a place for him to play when Stanton returns later this season or next season.

Nick Markakis reportedly cleared waivers over the weekend and could be a left-handed power option if Bour remains sidelined, but he too won’t be eligible for free agency until 2019 and as a result wouldn’t receive consistent starting time.

Miami enters Monday a game and a half behind the Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot in the National League.