The Marlins began their Spring Training with a potential injury concern in their pitching rotation. According to manager Skip Schumaker, left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett is experiencing “general soreness” in his left shoulder. While shoulder injuries are worrisome for pitchers, Schumaker clarified that Garrett has not been completely shut down. Instead, the team plans to delay Garrett’s spring start until he feels better. Despite the discomfort, Garrett has continued to play catch in recent days, as reported by Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald.
Garrett, who is 26 years old, has quietly emerged as a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm for the Marlins over the past two seasons. Since the beginning of the 2022 season, Garrett has made 48 appearances (47 starts) and has maintained an impressive 3.63 ERA, nearly matching his 3.64 FIP, across 247 2/3 innings of work. During this time, the lefty has struck out 23.8% of the batters he has faced, while only walking 5.1%. Additionally, Garrett has excelled at inducing ground balls, with an above-average rate of 48.7% over the past two years. With Sandy Alcantara sidelined for the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery, Garrett is expected to be a key component of the Marlins’ rotation this year, alongside Jesus Luzardo and Eury Perez.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Garrett’s health at the start of Spring Training, it is natural to question how this may impact the Marlins’ trade discussions involving their starting pitchers. The Marlins have been open to trading their controllable starting pitchers in order to address other areas of their roster. Luzardo has garnered interest from teams like the Orioles and Dodgers, while the Pirates have also reportedly inquired about the Marlins’ available rotation options. While it remains unclear how Garrett’s shoulder issue will affect his trade availability, it is possible that the Marlins may be more cautious about parting ways with any of their starters until they have a clearer understanding of Garrett’s condition. After all, if Garrett were to require time on the injured list, trading Luzardo would leave the Marlins with only Perez, Edward Cabrera, and Trevor Rogers as guaranteed starting options for the 2024 season.
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According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com