The San Diego Padres are closing in on a commerce for Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports. In accordance with The Miami Herald’s Craig Mish, the Marlins in return are receiving outfield prospects Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee, 1B/OF prospect Nathan Martorella, and minor-league reliever Woo-suk Go.
Arraez, 27, has received 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 dwelling runs throughout components of six major-league seasons. Whereas Arraez lacks energy, he is top-of-the-line contact hitters of his era, 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 at no cost company till after the 2025 season.
It is not sure what position Arraez will fill in San Diego, aside from enhancing the lineup. Xander Bogaerts, who’s within the second 12 months of a $280 million free-agent contract, is the first second baseman. It is onerous to think about that Bogaerts might be resigned to restricted responsibility regardless that he is struggled on the plate up to now in 2024. On condition that Manny Machado has been the Pads’ main 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 total select of an Illinois junior school final 12 months, 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 heart subject. This is what CBS Sports activities wrote about head on the time he was drafted:
“Head may be the quickest participant within the draft, having posted a greater 60-yard sprint time than Enrique Bradfield Jr. did on the similar stage in his improvement. He leverages that pace, plus his above-average arm power, into high-quality center-field protection. Whereas evaluators can really feel assured in that facet of his sport, he presents a wider vary of potential offensive outcomes. Head has good bat pace and he is added power, however he hasn’t confronted top-flight competitors in Illinois and he usually hundreds 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 at present enjoying 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 dwelling 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 Could is sort of quickly for a serious commerce corresponding to this, significantly contemplating the Marlins made the playoffs final 12 months. 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.
