The San Diego Padres are on the verge of finalizing a deal with the Miami Marlins to acquire second baseman Luis Arraez, a source informed ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday evening.
Pending medical review, the trade is expected to be completed soon.
The move signifies the Marlins’ first major transaction under the leadership of president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who assumed the role in November following Kim Ng’s departure. It marks the beginning of a roster overhaul for the Marlins, who currently hold the third-worst record in MLB at 9-25 with a minus-61 run differential after making the postseason in 2023.
On the Padres’ side, it marks another assertive move by A.J. Preller, the team’s front office head since 2014. Arraez, known as one of the top contact hitters in the game, will provide the Padres with a valuable left-handed hitting option, especially following the departure of Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in December. With a record of 17-18 and a plus-6 run differential, San Diego sees Arraez as a boost to their lineup.
Padres players expressed excitement about Arraez potentially joining the team, with Fernando Tatis Jr. comparing him to Tony Gwynn in terms of hitting prowess.
Arraez, 27, has been a standout player for the Marlins, earning All-Star nods and batting titles in the past two seasons. In 2024, he boasts a .299 batting average with a .719 OPS in 33 games, primarily playing at second base but also having experience at first base.
While Arraez is expected to serve as the Padres’ designated hitter, the team plans to rotate players in that spot, including Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, and Manny Machado.
In exchange for Arraez, the Marlins will receive reliever Woo-Suk Go and prospects Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee, and Nathan Martorella from the Padres.
Go, a 25-year-old right-hander, signed a two-year deal with the Padres during the offseason after spending seven seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO).
Head, a 19-year-old center fielder, was the Padres’ first-round pick in 2023 out of high school, while Martorella, a 23-year-old first baseman, was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. Marsee, a 22-year-old outfielder, was drafted in the sixth round in 2022 out of Central Michigan.
Overall, the trade presents significant changes for both the Padres and the Marlins, with each team aiming to address its respective needs and goals for the future.
