Miami Moves on from Pair of Relievers

SAAA Anthony Bass|ESPN.com

Zach Pop|ESPN.com

Jordan Groshans|MLB.com

While many people who follow the Miami Marlins have been on edge about what direction the team wishes to move in. Amid the team’s recent offensive struggles, a number of key pieces have had rumors swirling around them. Around Major League Baseball, the general consensus was that the Marlins would sell high on certain proven players, such as starting pitcher Pablo Lopez and infielder/designated hitter Garrett Cooper.

In reality, the Marlins actually completed just a single trade. They sent setup relief pitcher Anthony Bass to the Toronto Blue Jays. Fellow reliever Zach Pop and a player to be named later also go to Canada. In return, Toronto shipped infield prospect Jordan Groshans down south. Groshans currently ranks as Toronto’s third or fourth-best prospect overall this season.

Players Involved in Deal

Veteran Anthony Bass is currently in his second season with the Marlins, who hold a $3 million option for 2023. He has arguably had his best MLB season to date in 2022. Spanning 45 appearances (primarily in late-game relief out of the bullpen) and 44 2/3 innings, Bass has pitched to an impressive 1.41 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 10 walks. Since signing as a free agent before 2021, Bass’s ERA sits at 2.80 over the course of 106 innings with 35 holds.

Zach Pop, the other reliever involved in the deal, has also spent the past two seasons as a Marlin. However, he took a completely different route to reach the Majors. The former Baltimore Orioles prospect previously underwent Tommy John elbow surgery. Miami claimed Pop in the Rule 5 Draft during the offseason of 2021. This required him to remain on the active roster or injured list all season. Pop ended his Orioles stint in Double-A, before going straight to the Majors when he joined the Marlins.

The deal is actually somewhat of a homecoming for both Anthony Bass and Zach Pop, who is a native of Brampton, Ontario. The 25-year-old right-hander, Pop, currently holds a respectable 3.98 ERA over a total of 68 appearances. Pop has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in his career. Journeyman veteran Bass actually spent 2020 as a Blue Jay during the pandemic-shortened season.

As far as the Marlins’ acquisition, Jordan Groshans was a first-round draft pick the Toronto Blue Jays (12th overall) out of Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Texas. His natural position is shortstop, but his future appears to be at third base. As a professional, Groshans’s career numbers currently sit at .283 (batting avg), .362 (on-base percentage), and .402 (slugging percentage).

Just in 2022, the young infielder is batting .250, and his OPS is .644. Mostly in Triple-A, Groshans has hit eight doubles and one home run, with 24 RBI and 30 runs scored over the course of 67 games. One of the Blue Jays’ top prospects, he actually ranks 74th overall in MLB.

As far as Miami’s immediate plans for the young infielder, it’s not clear as of yet if he will continue progressing in the Minors, or advance to the Majors. But the future looks bright for Jordan Groshans.