In a potential game-changing move, the San Diego Padres are on the verge of finalizing a deal with the Miami Marlins for second baseman Luis Arraez, a source revealed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday evening.
Pending medical evaluations, the transaction is expected to be completed imminently.
This trade marks the first major decision for the Marlins under the leadership of Peter Bendix, who assumed the role of the team’s president of baseball operations in November following Kim Ng’s departure. It signals the initiation of the Marlins’ reconstruction of a roster that has fallen short, currently holding the third-worst record in the league at 9-25 with a run differential of minus-61, following their 2023 postseason appearance.
For the Padres, led by A.J. Preller since 2014, this represents yet another assertive move. Arraez, renowned for his exceptional contact hitting skills, will provide a crucial left-handed offensive presence, particularly after Juan Soto’s departure to the New York Yankees in December. San Diego, with a record of 17-18 and a plus-6 run differential, is eager to integrate Arraez into their lineup.
Fernando Tatis Jr. expressed his excitement about Arraez joining the team, likening his hitting prowess to that of Tony Gwynn, stating, “He’s probably the closest to Tony Gwynn right now, so looking forward to seeing him in our lineup. … The guy’s a pure hitter, and I can’t wait for him to help us.”
Arraez, aged 27, has been a standout performer for the Marlins, earning All-Star honors and claiming the batting title in each of the past two seasons. This year, he boasts a .299 batting average with a .719 OPS across 33 games, all at second base, with additional experience at first base.
Padres plan to utilize Arraez primarily as a designated hitter, though they intend to rotate players in that role, including Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, and Manny Machado. Bogaerts has been occupying the second base position for the club.
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As part of the deal, the Padres will send reliever Woo-Suk Go along with prospects Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee, and Nathan Martorella to the Marlins.
Go, a 25-year-old right-hander, previously played seven seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization before joining the Padres on a two-year contract during the offseason. He appeared in 10 games for Double-A San Antonio this season, registering a 4.38 ERA in 12â…“ innings.
Head, drafted in the first round (25th overall) by the Padres last year out of high school, is a 19-year-old center fielder currently batting .237 with a .683 OPS and three stolen bases in 21 low-Class A games.
Martorella, a 23-year-old first baseman, was selected by the Padres in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He is currently hitting .294 with an .820 OPS in 23 games for San Antonio.
Marsee, a 22-year-old outfielder drafted in the sixth round in 2022 out of Central Michigan, has struggled this season, batting .185 with two home runs for San Antonio.
Stay tuned for further updates as the deal progresses.
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