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Report: Starling Marte headed to Marlins in trade-deadline deal

The Miami Marlins – surprise contenders at this point in the season — have reportedly struck a deal to acquire Starling Marte, a once All-Star outfielder, from the Arizona Diamondacks.

While the D-backs are in last place in the NL West despite offseason acquisitions like Marte and Madison Bumgarner, the Marlins would be a playoff team if the season ended today. They’re 14-15 but tied for second place in the NL East, which would give them a spot in baseball’s expanded playoffs.

Thus, they’re gearing up for a playoff push — and acquiring Marte gives them a veteran outfielder with potential to help next season too.

Starling Marte has been traded to the Marlins after the D-backs traded for him this past offseason. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Starling Marte has been traded to the Marlins after the D-backs traded for him this past offseason. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Marte, 31, is hitting .311 this season with a pair of homers and 14 RBIs. He’s a career .288/.342/.451 hitter who averages 18 homers and 71 RBIs over a 162-game season.

He only played 33 games with the D-backs after being traded from the Pirates in the offseason. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the D-backs didn’t plan on picking up Marte’s $12.5 million option for 2021, thus making him an alluring trade-deadline chip.

The D-backs earlier had traded pitcher Robbie Ray to the Blue Jays. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the D-backs are getting back three players, including pitcher Caleb Smith.

For the D-backs, the move has echoes of the 2019 trade deadline. Last year, they acquired young major league pitcher Zac Gallen from the Marlins after dealing away Zack Greinke — buying and selling at the same time.

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