According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Marlins could be open to shopping both star shortstop Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards this winter if a team is willing to blow them away with an offer.
“Though the Marlins aren’t believed to be shopping Lopez or Edwards, neither player is considered untouchable. If a team is willing to offer a lot in return, Miami would listen.”
Lopez is a player who could be filed under “dream trade candidate” for the Atlanta Braves, who have been searching for answers at shortstop every offseason for the last half-decade. He’s elite defensively, with 14 outs above average and six defensive runs saved, and he just finished the best offensive campaign of his career, hitting .305 with a league-leading 191 hits.
Lopez isn’t much of a power threat. He hit only 11 home runs this season and has 32 for his career, but his profile as a guy who hits for average and doesn’t load the box score with strikeouts should be especially appealing for the Braves.
This is an organization that needs a philosophy change offensively. They’ve been far too reliant on the long ball, and every postseason they’re left wondering why they can’t score runs consistently against the league’s best pitchers. If the Braves aren’t willing to take a long, hard look in the mirror this offseason, nothing is going to change.
Of course, as Jackson points out in his report, the Marlins aren’t going to do anything unless they come away with a king’s ransom. They weren’t far off from playoff contention this year and should be perfectly fine holding onto Lopez, who still has three years of team control remaining.
Miami likely won’t be thrilled about trading him within the division, but it should be noted that hasn’t stopped them before — they’ve pulled off blockbuster trades with the Phillies twice, sending J.T. Realmuto and Jesus Luzardo to Philadelphia. If the Braves are willing to part with their best prospects, they should at least be able to get the conversation started.
Lopez is one of several high-profile shortstops who will be floated in trade rumors this offseason. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report recently linked the Braves to Zach Neto of the Angels. Corey Seager is another name worth watching this winter, along with the Astros’ Jeremy Peña.
The market for shortstops in free agency is almost non-existent. If the Braves are going to find an answer, it’s going to have to come via trade — and this could be the perfect offseason to fill one of their longest-standing holes.
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Photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire