Miami Marlins are bent on acquiring Mike Olt in the deal involving Josh Johnson - MLB Update
Unless the third baseman Mike Olt is offered in return for starting pitcher Josh Johnson, the Miami Marlins are not going to conclude the deal with the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers are in need of a starting hurler, but at the same time they cannot afford losing their star third-base prospect Olt as a result of the deal.
It is a kind of dilemma that the Rangers are facing right now. They have been incredible throughout the season and are all set to qualify for the post-season.
However, their management believes that if someone like Johnson can be added to their rotation, they can address those issues that may arise late in the season beforehand and can eschew the trouble in this way.
For the same reason ever since Johnson has been placed in the Trade market, they have shown keen intent for acquiring him. The point of contention is the Marlins’ adamant attitude toward the prospects that they are looking for from the Rangers in exchange.
Knowing that their starting pitcher has a serious value for the clubs, the Marlins are not retreating even an inch from their tenacious stance of obtaining Olt in the deal.
They have made it clear that any club which is interested in Johnson must be willing to sacrifice their top prospects in order to clinch the agreement.
With the trade deadline few days away, the fate of Johnson will be decided soon.
When it was inquired from Johnson about what is his opinion on the likely trade, he was indifferent. He stated that he has faced such situations before, therefore wherever he ends up at the end of the day, he will not be worried.
However, he did explain that personally he likes staying with the Marlins.
The Marlins have targeted Olt mainly because they plan for future and believe that he can become a force in their offence in the years to come. The fact their existing line-up suffers a dearth of reliable hitters has made him a more attractive option.
Within one or two days, it can be expected that an announcement is made regarding the trade. The way the deal has taken such a long time, it will be no surprise if the trade does not happen at all.
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