Miami Marlins Acquire Key Reliever From Division Rival

The Miami Marlins have acquired veteran reliever David Robertson from the New York Mets.

The Miami Marlins have made an interesting inter-division trade, acquiring high-leverage reliever David Robertson in a deal with the New York Mets.

Insider Joel Sherman reports that infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez are going back to the Mets.

The Mets are getting infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez for Robertson.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2023

The deal seems to signify two things: That the Marlins are going for it, and the Mets aren't. If the Mets were truly invested in going after a playoff berth, they wouldn't be trading a key reliever to a team that is ahead of them in the wild card race, would they?

The Marlins are 0.5 games out of the third and final wild card spot while the Mets are 7.0 back. This move seems to signal them waving the white flag.

The 38-year-old Robertson is having another strong year. He's 4-2 out of the bullpen with 14 saves. He's got a 2.05 ERA and has struck out 48 batters in 44.0 innings.

He's in his 15th year in the big leagues with the Yankees, White Sox, Phillies, Rays, Cubs and Mets.

Lifetime, he's a 61-38 pitcher with a 2.84 ERA and 171 saves. He won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and was named an All-Star in 2011.

According to MLB.com's prospect rankings, Vargas was the 18th ranked prospect in the Marlins system while Hernandez sat at No. 21. Both players have been in Rookie ball this year. 

The Mets are 48-54 while the Marlins are 55-48.

Miami will host the Detroit Tigers for a series beginning Friday while the Mets host the Nationals.

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