The Miami Marlins’ already-depleted rotation has suffered another major blow. Starter Max Meyer, who was already on the injured list, is now ruled out for the season and is set to undergo surgery to repair a labrum in his left hip.
While Meyer was not a guaranteed trade chip, his talent and upside would have made him an intriguing name at the deadline. But that option is off the table now, meaning the Marlins will be forced to reevaluate their deadline strategy ahead of July 31.
Why Max Meyer’s Injury is a Big Blow to Marlins’ Already Lacking Rotation Depth
Meyer, a former first-round pick in 2020, had just worked his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in 2023 and was starting to reestablish himself as a dependable arm in Miami’s rotation.
However, after beginning the season on a strong note with a 2.10 ERA in his first five starts, his performance noticeably declined over the last seven starts before he was placed on the IL. According to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, he is set to be out for at least six to eight months after the surgery.
It was clear that Meyer was not at full strength, but he was still asked to keep going with the Marlins, already struggling with pitching depth. The 26-year-old righty is now the second starter after Braxton Garrett to be ruled out of the season, finishing with a 4.73 ERA across 64 2/3 innings pitched.
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Ryan Weathers (lat injury) is another key starter who has been placed on the 60-day IL. Beyond Sandy Alcantara and, to an extent, Eury Pérez, there is no reliable arm in the rotation. This problem is not new; the Marlins’ pitching staff injuries have been piling up at an alarming rate over the past several years, and they have found no way to cover their losses.
Miami Marlins Trade Deadline Dilemma: Sellers With Nothing to Sell
Meyer was never considered a trade candidate himself, but with the Marlins struggling at 34-45 and holding a .430 win percentage in the National League, they were still heading into July positioned as clear sellers.
It seemed inevitable that Miami would trade away one of its pitchers. If it wasn’t Alcantara, the expectation was that either Cabrera or Meyer could be moved, or even Weathers (before his injury). Meyer, in particular, would have drawn interest from several clubs across the league thanks to his upside, but that is not possible now.
According to @Ken_Rosenthal , the Cubs have been active looking for pitching help, which they called the Marlins about Sandy Alcantara & Edward Cabrera.
— Just Another Year Chicago: Cubs (@JAYChi_Cubs) June 25, 2025
The Marlins haven’t done themselves any favors either with how they constructed their roster this past offseason. They signed just two free agents: Eric Wagaman and Cal Quantrill. Wagaman was a low-profile bat with just 18 MLB games under his belt: a big gamble rather than a short-term fix.
Quantrill, meanwhile, signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal as a stopgap arm in rotation, but he’s been underwhelming at best. Through 15 starts in 2025, the 29-year-old right-hander threw a 5.56 ERA. His strikeout rate has also remained below average across his career, further limiting his trade value.
The bigger issues are beyond that of Quantrill. The Marlins have few appealing chips left to receive any meaningful value in return; the others are either underperforming or have been lost to injuries, as is the case with Meyer and Garrett.
That leaves Miami in a frustrating position: locked into being sellers after a lost season but left with nothing to sell. Instead, they might be forced to dip into the market themselves for reinforcements in the rotation and to remain competitive in the second half of the season.
