UNC Baseball: Jacob Stallings traded to the Miami Marlins

The former UNC baseball backstop is on the move, as he’ll be joining the Miami Marlins organization.

With Major League Baseball’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) set to expire on December 1 at 11:59 PM EST, teams are making a last-minute effort to make moves prior to what is anticipated to be an upcoming lockout period.

The hot stove has definitely heated up, as many of the top free agents on the market have inked new deals with clubs around the league. General managers have also been working the phones to see if they can find some trade partners to help improve their teams.

In need of a viable starting catcher, the Miami Marlins have reportedly made a trade, acquiring former UNC baseball standout Jacob Stallings from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The report that the trade was close (and pending physicals) was first noted by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Prior to the reported trade agreement, Stallings’ name was floated around as a possible candidate to be on the move. The two teams that seemed to be in the mix were the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins, two squads that could definitely benefit from an upgrade at the position.

In the end, it was the Marlins who got the deal done, one that makes a ton of sense for their current organization.

For starters, Stallings has big league experience, as he’s appeared in 249 games over the last six seasons. He’ll turn 32 next month, and comes with another three years of club control.

Additionally, the former Tar Heel is a standout defensive catcher, as he recently won the Gold Glove award for his position. With a franchise that is very deep with young, talented pitching, it will benefit them to have a veteran presence with an above-average defensive skillset to help them develop.

To put into perspective how good Stallings has been defensively, let’s take a look at the numbers. Over the past three seasons, Stallings has racked up 42 defensive runs saved, including 21 this past season. From 2019-2020, Stallings put together a 36.2 percent caught-stealing rate, and currently holds a 27 percent career mark. He is regarded as an above-average pitch framer, which will come in handy for a young pitching staff.

Although his offensive numbers may not wow you, Stallings is still a capable offensive presence. He is a career .254 hitter that is coming off a season in which he hit a career-best eight home runs, and should provide some offense which will be an added bonus to what he brings to the table defensively.

In order to acquire Stallings, the Marlins parted ways with right-hander Zach Thompson along with two other prospects. Thompson is the headliner, as he’ll be viewed as an immediate rotation option with six years of club control remaining.

The move is a great one for Stallings, as he’ll look to help a young, talented Marlins team compete in 2022 and beyond. Stallings could ultimately play a major role in developing the young core that the franchise seems to be very excited about.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Jacob Stallings and the rest of the UNC baseball program.