MLB trade rumors: Marlins shopping Tom Koehler?

Marlins starter Tom Koehler has had an interesting week, as he was originally slated to be optioned to Triple-A New Orleans before being placed on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder bursitis. With this news, some are suggesting that Koehler’s time in Miami is over and that the Marlins are shopping the right-hander.

According to Peter Gammons, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is unlikely to bring back Koehler, who is already drawing interest from pitching-needy teams like the Orioles, Red Sox, Tigers and Mariners. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports hears similarly, reporting that Koehler “is out there” on the trade market.

Koehler, 30, is off to a rough start this year, owning a 7.04 ERA in 38.1 innings over eight starts. Still, he is an innings-eater who has notched at least 176 innings in each of the last three seasons, which is attractive to teams looking for depth at this juncture.

If Koehler’s injury is a legitimate concern, the Marlins would be likely to hold onto him (either at Triple-A or in the majors). If not, Miami could look to capitalize on the many pitching injuries throughout the league by shopping him to clubs like Boston, Baltimore, Detroit and Seattle.

If Gammons and Heyman’s reports are any indication, it appears Koehler may be a buy-low candidate who could be on the move soon. The surprising news of his demotion (he hasn’t pitched in the minors since 2013) signals that Loria has in fact seen enough, signaling a change of scenery may be in the cards.