The Miami Marlins traded second baseman Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres in trade for outfield prospects Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee, 1B/OF prospect Nathan Martorella, and minor-league reliever Woo-suk Go, the group introduced Saturday.
Arraez, 27, has gained two straight batting titles, one with the Twins within the American League in 2022 after which a second with the Marlins within the Nationwide League final season. In 2024, Arraez is slashing .299/.347/.372 in 33 video games for Miami. For his profession, Arraez has batted .324/.377/.423 (122 OPS+) with 24 house runs throughout components of six major-league seasons. Whereas Arraez lacks energy, he is the most effective contact hitters of his technology, and his offense grades out fairly nicely by the requirements of center infielders. He is a two-time All-Star and is greater than only a rental for the Padres, as Arraez is not slated free of charge company till after the 2025 season.
It isn’t sure what position Arraez will fill in San Diego, aside from enhancing the lineup. Xander Bogaerts, who’s within the second yr of a $280 million free-agent contract, is the first second baseman. It is laborious to think about that Bogaerts shall be resigned to restricted obligation regardless that he is struggled on the plate so far in 2024. Provided that Manny Machado has been the Pads’ major DH this season, Arraez may even see time at third base or maybe slot in at DH and bump Machado again to his regular place. If nothing else, his presence offers first-year supervisor Mike Shildt some flexibility within the infield.
On the Marlins’ facet of issues, Head might be the important thing piece of the deal. The No. 25 general pick of an Illinois junior school final yr, the 19-year-old Head has a .726 OPS in 48 video games as a professional unfold throughout two seasons. He is been within the California League this season and has spent most of his time in middle subject. Here is what CBS Sports activities wrote about head on the time he was drafted:
“Head is perhaps the quickest participant within the draft, having posted a greater 60-yard sprint time than Enrique Bradfield Jr. did on the identical stage in his improvement. He leverages that velocity, plus his above-average arm energy, into high-quality center-field protection. Whereas evaluators can really feel assured in that side of his sport, he presents a wider vary of potential offensive outcomes. Head has good bat velocity and he is added energy, however he hasn’t confronted top-flight competitors in Illinois and he usually masses past his again foot. Head, who hails from the identical highschool as White Sox announcer Jason Benetti, has a dedication to play at Clemson.”
Marsee, 22, is a former sixth-rounder out of Central Michigan. Throughout components of three seasons within the Padres’ system, he is slashed .258/.406/.413 with 73 steals and 20 homers 182 video games and as many walks as strikeouts. Marsee is presently taking part in within the Double-A Texas League. Martorella, 23, was a 2022 fifth-rounder out of Cal. In 791 minor-league plate appearances, he is put up an .820 OPS with 24 house runs and 44 doubles. He is additionally been at Double-A San Antonio this season. Lastly, Go was inked out of Korea this previous offseason. The 25-year-old right-hander has made 10 aid appearances for San Antonio with an ERA of 5.11 and 15 strikeouts in opposition to 4 walks in 12 1/3 innings.
Early Might is sort of quickly for a serious commerce equivalent to this, notably contemplating the Marlins made the playoffs final yr. Nevertheless, Miami’s terrible begin to the season — they enter the weekend with a file of 9-24 and a 13-game deficit within the NL East — prompted new-ish Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix to start what figures to be a deep sell-off between now and the commerce deadline.
