Marlins Newsletter: Trade deadline approaching, Kyle Stowers making history, Eury Perez dominating
With a little over two months left to play, let's look at the top storylines surrounding the Marlins.
Kyle Stowers is unconscious
In a season full of ups and downs, one thing has remained consistent: Kyle Stowers’ elite offensive play. There are endless stats that encapsulate how good of a hitter he’s been this year, but I’ll highlight a few of my favorites.
Stowers is one of just six qualified hitters with a WRC+ of 159 or higher. The other five are Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh, Will Smith, and Aaron Judge, all of whom are older than Stowers. Narrowing down the criteria, you’ll find that Stowers ranks first in WRC+ (159), wOBA (.401), and SLG (.573) among qualified primary outfielders who bat left-handed and are 27 or younger.
Since June 8, Stowers is first in the NL in fWAR (2.2), WRC+ (206), and SLG (.721). The only NL player who even comes close to replicating Stowers’ offensive numbers is superstar RF Ronald Acuña Jr., whose fWAR is just .1 lower over this span.
Finally, let’s look at how Stowers’ 2025 campaign compares to some of the best seasons in club history. While his sample size is significantly smaller than the competition, Stowers’ WRC+ of 159 is the third best in Marlins history (min. 350 plate appearances). The only better marks are from Giancarlo Stanton’s 2014 season and Gary Sheffield’s 1996 season.
Eury Perez is still elite
Coming off Tommy John surgery, fans weren’t sure about what to expect from 22-year-old Eury Perez. While he was one of the most polished young pitchers in the sport before surgery, Tommy John can impact pitchers in a multitude of ways the following season. That said, we’re at a point where Perez has made enough big league outings post-surgery that I can confidently say he’s right back to where he was in 2023.
After tossing five innings of one-run ball in Sunday’s loss to the Brewers, Perez lowered his season ERA to 3.07, making him one of only 19 NL pitchers to throw at least 30 innings since June 9 while maintaining an ERA of 3.10 or lower.
A large chunk of Perez’s 2025 success can be attributed to his fastball, which opponents are hitting just .132 against. Furthermore, his average fastball velocity has actually risen from 97.5 mph in 2023 to 97.9 mph this year.
Who will the Marlins unload at the deadline?
While it has been a hot topic of debate on Marlins Twitter, the reality is the Marlins will be sellers to some degree at this deadline. Their 50-54 overall record and 20-9 record in their last 29 definitely raise questions about a potential wild card push if they buy; however, you have to remember that this is only the second year of a rebuild. Trading key pieces of a work-in-progress farm for rentals could put them in the exact same spot they were in after the 2023 season: no playoff wins and a depleted farm system.
With all that being said, I feel as if Miami’s blueprint for this year’s deadline is clearer than ever. Here’s a list of players I think should be traded…
Sandy Alcantara: His 6.66 ERA is by far the worst in MLB among qualified starters, yet several teams are expected to pursue him due to his strong resume and solid career numbers. In my opinion, the Marlins should trade him if they get an offer they can’t resist, but the last thing they should do is sell low and trade him just to get rid of his contract.
Edward Cabrera: In the midst of a long-overdue breakout campaign, Cabrera is a guy who should be traded now while he’s at peak value. His lengthy history of injuries and command issues leads me to believe he’s not an extension candidate, and therefore, he should be sold either this month or over the offseason before his value diminishes.
Cal Quantrill: After a very rocky start to his Marlins career, Quantrill has settled in, posting a 3.82 ERA since the start of May. Given that he’s on an expiring deal, there’s no reason to keep him around, especially since he has some trade value.
Jesus Sanchez: On a contender, Sanchez can be a very solid platoon bat. He has consistently posted league-average offensive numbers over the past three seasons and hits right-handed pitchers very well, with an .803 OPS in 269 plate appearances against them this season. He has a low ceiling due to his inability to hit left-handed pitching, but his high floor and consistency could yield a very solid return.
Ronny Henriquez & Anthony Bender: Truly, anyone in the Marlins bullpen is a trade candidate, but Ronny Henriquez and Anthony Bender will bring back by far the best prospect package(s). Starting with Henriquez, who’s been one of the best relievers in baseball and is under club control through 2030. It’ll likely take a consensus top-100 prospect for the Marlins to get rid of Henriquez this early on, but there’s always a chance with any relief pitcher. On the other hand, trading Anthony Bender feels like a no-brainer. He’s been a steady presence in the Marlins bullpen since 2021, and it would make total sense for the Marlins to cash in on what has been nothing short of a career year. In 44.1 innings, Bender has a 1.83 ERA and 3.74 FIP, posting an elite ground ball rate of 50.4%.