MIAMI — The Miami Marlins enter the second half of the season at 52-45, holding the third National League Wild Card spot and facing a trade deadline that could define whether the franchise makes its first serious postseason push under president of baseball operations Peter Bendix.
“I always have to separate my fandom from my ownership. We have … all of July pretty much left for the push for the Trade Deadline. I’m looking forward to this club operating so efficiently and winning so many games that we’re right there,” Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman said on Marlins Radio earlier this month. Sherman also spoke of looking forward to “many years in the future” with franchise face Sandy Alcantara.
The 52-45 mark represents a dramatic improvement from last year’s 44-51 record at the break, when the club sat 10.5 games back in the NL East. Miami now trails by four games in the division and carries 33.7% playoff odds with a remaining strength of schedule of .507 — the eighth-highest win percentage among opponents left on the slate.
Bendix’s previous two deadlines blended buying and selling, with eight of the players he acquired contributing to the major league roster, led by 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers. The front office is unlikely to mortgage its farm system for a rental, preferring deals that upgrade the roster now and into the future. Griffin Conine, Agustín Ramírez, Liam Hicks and Braxton Garrett could be trade chips, with Garrett — who has pitched to a 1.54 ERA at Triple-A and owns a 4.16 career ERA — representing the biggest piece available.
“All we can do, staff and players, is go out for that game that’s on the schedule, and go out there and continue to try to play well, and put yourself in position to win,” manager Clayton McCullough said about the trade rumors.
Miami’s most glaring need is a right-handed bat. The Marlins went 10-15 in games started by left-handed pitchers in the first half, tied for seventh worst in MLB, and averaged just 3.8 runs in those contests, tied for third fewest. With Connor Norby and Graham Pauley demoted, Javier Sanoja and Leo Jiménez have been splitting third-base reps.
The club will lean on its rotation anchors — Alcantara, All-Star Max Meyer and Eury Pérez — along with the middle-infield tandem of Otto Lopez and second baseman Xavier Edwards. The return of injured relievers Anthony Bender, the club’s primary setup man, and left-hander John King could prove equally critical for a strong but taxed bullpen. Injured arms Robby Snelling, Ronny Henriquez and Thomas White are also expected back to bolster another run in 2027.
The Marlins open the second half with a six-game road trip through NL Central-leading Milwaukee and postseason-hopeful Houston before returning to Miami to host NL Wild Card contenders San Diego and Philadelphia — a stretch that could determine how aggressively the front office pursues upgrades before the deadline.