Marlins’ free fall could help Guardians swing bullpen-fortifying trade in wake of Shawn Armstrong injury

On Monday, the Miami Marlins broke their 12-game losing streak with a wild come-from-behind win over the Phillies that saw them rough up Zack Wheeler and win the game off Jhoan Duran. 

But that one result doesn’t change the fact that losing streak could change their trade deadline outlook given they went from having a 51% chance to make the postseason on July 9 (their last win) to 10.3% (their current odds). 

And, if they do decide to pull the ripcord, the Guardians could end up becoming one of the main beneficiaries of the swoon given the number of Marlins relievers who could help fill the Shawn Armstrong-sized hole in the Guardians’ bullpen. 

The Marlins bullpen is filled with relievers who would help the Guardians 

If the Marlins do choose to sell, their bullpen would be a one-stop shop for all of baseball given the diverse group they have. Interested in a reliever with more than 100 big league saves under his belt? Let me introduce you to a lightly-used Pete Fairbanks. 

Oh, you’d prefer a young reliever with tons of team control? Well then let me introduce you to Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips and Calvin Calvin Faucher. 

The Marlins are in a bit of a unique spot in that they clearly have a ton of talent but don’t really have a clear identity just yet.

Not only are they a year ahead of schedule, but they’ve gotten huge jumps in performance that have come out of nowhere. 

And one of the best ways they can build that identity is by cashing in on their relievers at the trade deadline to help fortify their minor league depth for their next core. 

Of the Marlins’ options, Fairbanks, Faucher, Petersen and John King stand out as the top options for the Guardians. 

Fairbanks is the biggest name of the group given he signed a $13 million deal with the Marlins after working as the Rays’ closer for three seasons, but he hasn’t been able to bring that success to Miami (7.18 ERA).

He wouldn’t cost a lot thanks to that contract and underperformance, but he’s still a worthwhile buy low candidate, especially since he’s less than a year removed from being a successful reliever with the Rays. 

The Guardians are among baseball’s best at helping pitchers turn their careers around, and a trade for Fairbanks would be a tangible wager on their ability to help fix him. 

But Faucher, Petersen and King are all solid depth options who could be part of the Guardians’ bullpen in both the present and future. 

The left-handed King has the most experience of the group, but he’s only making $1.5 million this season due to his struggles with the Cardinals last season. 

He has a 2.53 ERA in 42 2/3 innings this year and has been just as good against righties (.161 batting average against) as he has been against lefties (.160). Even if his expected batting is a full point higher than his actual one, he’d still be a worthwhile addition. 

Faucher opened his career with the Rays but has been with the Marlins for three straight seasons. 

He was a solid middle-leverage option in 2024 and ‘25, but has taken a step back this season 4.67 ERA). He has more than 200 MLB innings under his belt, so he’s a guy the Guardians could throw into the trust tree right away. 

And then there’s Petersen, who is thriving in his second stint with the Marlins. He has a 2.84 ERA in 44 1/3 innings this year, and has gone from the 26th man on their roster to an integral setup man. 

But just because he’s an integral part of their bullpen picture doesn’t mean he won’t be available for the right price. In fact, he may be the piece who helps the Marlins get the most back given he’s not going to be a free agent until 2032. 

He’d immediately slot into Cleveland’s bullpen right behind Hunter Gaddis in the high-leverage equation. 

Even if the Marlins still think they can contend in 2026, dealing from their bullpen could help them thread the line between playing for the present while also building for the future.

Even if the bullpen isn't as big of a need for the Guardians as their lineup, they could still benefit from the Marlins' two-timeline approach by nabbing one of their seemingly available relievers.

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