I just have a feeling that all of the talk around Cody Ross, Dan Uggla, Ricky Nolasco and Jorge Cantu is nothing more than a smokescreen. I do see the Marlins moving Leo Nunez and Brian Sanches possibly to the Yankees for a package of righty reliever Mark Melcanon, outfielder Colin Curtis and infielder Ramiro Pena. I also think the Marlins will move lefty starting pitcher Nate Robertson and I think the Dodgers are a good fit. Rule 5 Draft pick Carlos Monasterios would be a solid return for a guy like Robertson. With a new stadium coming in 2012 the Marlins can’t afford to have a traditional firesale but look for them to still dump a little bit of salary in Nunez.

The Marlins are 39-43 on the season which has them in fourth place in the N.L. East, 8.5 games behind the Braves. If the Marlins are buyers they will likely look to add help to the bullpen and maybe the bench. If they become sellers they will field a ton of calls as they could trade Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu, Cody Ross, Ricky Nolasco and Brian Sanches. The Marlins could get a nice haul of prospects who would get to play in the new stadium in 2012 if they could move those guys. It will be interesting to see what kind of directive Marlins’ owner Jeff Loria gives to his GM. I have a feeling they will be selling.

Cameron Maybin looks overmatched and Chris Coghlan is looking like the pitchers have figured him out. With that in mind the Marlins should be calling the Royals about David DeJesus. I think the Royals would definitely trade DeJesus and cash to the Marlins for Renyel Pinto and Bryan Petersen. This is a trade the Marlins would have to make because they need to start getting some production out of the top of the lineup which is where DeJesus would bat (1st or 2nd). Maybin is clearly overmatched right now both at the plate and in the field as he looks like he needs more time in AAA.

The Marlins are likely going to trade Dan Uggla over the winter creating a huge hole at 2B. With that in mind a trade that would make sense for both teams if the Marlins don’t mind trading in the division would be this: Jeremy Hermida and Reynel Pinto to the Braves for Kelly Johnson, Brandon Jones and Jo Jo Reyes. The Braves need a lefty in the bullpen and a corner outfielder who can hit so they would fill two needs by making this trade. The Marlins would use Reyes to replace Pinto in the pen, Kelly Johnson to replace Uggla at 2B and Brandon Jones will give them depth in the outfield. This almost makes too much sense to actually happen.

UPDATE: This trade won’t be happening as the Marlins have sent Jeremy Hermida to the Red Sox for lefties Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

The handwriting is on the wall that the Marlins will move both 29-year old starting 2B Dan Uggla and 27-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Jorge Cantu over the winter. Uggla is primed to get a huge raise in arbitration. He has played in 146 games for the Marlins this season and he is 125 for 520 (.240 avg, .811 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 29 homers and 81 RBIs. Uggla has played four years for the Marlins and he has played in 605 games in which he is 590 for 2,294 (.257 avg, .827 OPS) with 394 runs scored, 119 homers and 351 RBIs. I would find a way to keep Uggla if I were running the Marlins because their aren’t many 2B that can hit the ball like Uggla. Jorge Cantu has been playing a lot of 3B lately and he is having a good season again for the Fish. Cantu has played in 138 games for the Marlins this season and he is 152 for 543 (.280 avg, .774 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 16 homers and 89 RBIs. In two years for the Marlins, Cantu has played in 293 games in which he is 326 for 1,171 (.278 avg) with 154 runs scored, 45 homers and 184 RBIs. With the Marlins getting a new stadium in a couple of years they should keep both Cantu and Uggla.