LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20: Starting pitcher Dan Straily #58 of the Miami Marlins hands the ball to manager Don Mattingly #8 as he is relieved in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Marlins Still Have J.T. Realmuto, But For How Long? by David Levin

The Miami Marlins bullpen is not the only part of the current pitching staff that is drawing attention. Starter Dan Straily is drawing attention from some playoff contenders, including the Oakland Athletics.

Per a story on athleticsnation.com, the team scouted Dan Straily, who could be available in the next two days. This would mean the Miami Marlins would send their most consistent pitcher the past month out west in return for prospects.

“While most of the big pieces were moved in the offseason, almost nothing is nailed down in Miami and there are still a handful of quality players on the roster that could help contenders like the A’s down the stretch,” the author of the story writes.

Straily would give Oakland a solid starter who could eat up innings down over the stretch run. While having their No. 1 pitcher in the rotation would help balance the development of several youngsters on the staff, Miami’s push toward a roster of youth could make him expendable.

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com confirmed, “A scout from the A’s was at Marlins Park on Thursday to watch right-hander Dan Straily’s start against the Nationals. Straily gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings and was not part of the decision in a 10-3 loss.”

Straily could also become a target of the Milwaukee Brewers, another team in the National League looking to gain depth in the pitching department for the playoff stretch run.

The pitcher’s connection to the Bay area is no secret. Oakland originally drafted him and then sent him to Chicago in a trade back in 2014.

“Overall, since leaving the A’s, Straily has posted a 4.28 ERA (4.84 FIP) in 487.1 innings. His 4.04 ERA in 16 starts this season has been supported by a .245 BABIP, and as a result, he has posted an ugly 5.41 FIP,” the story states. “His velocity is still right around where it was during his original stint with the A’s and his slider is still effective. But Straily has yet to figure out his command issues and doesn’t miss enough bats to compensate, leaving little reason to believe in any upside for the righty.”

If the Athletics do not make a deal for a starter, there are other Marlins players the team could look to acquire.

Adam Conley has been everything the team hoped he would be after making his way to the bullpen after being called up from Triple-A New Orleans. Once thought to be a starter at some point in South Florida, Conley has fit in nicely as a long-reliever and set-up man for the closer’s role.

Per Athletics Nation, “The 28-year-old lefty is enjoying a breakout season out of the bullpen and checks off a lot of boxes for the A’s.”