As one of the few non-Giancarlo Stanton veterans on Miami’s roster performing well Ricky Nolasco has been a likely trade candidate all season and Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that “the Marlins have been aggressively working to move Nolasco as soon as possible.”
Nolasco is being paid $11.5 million this season, so by moving him a month earlier than the July 31 trade deadline the Marlins would save an extra $2 million or so. And from an on-field standpoint, the sooner the Marlins trade Nolasco the less time he has to ugly up his 3.68 ERA after posting a combined 4.68 ERA from 2009-2012.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com the teams most interested in Nolasco are the Orioles, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, and Rockies. So basically the NL West and Baltimore. It’s tough to imagine the Marlins getting a ton for Nolasco considering he’s an impending free agent, but maybe they think by acting before most other non-contenders start shopping their starters they can get a premium price.