The San Diego Padres have announced the acquisition of Luis Arráez, a two-time batting champion, from the Miami Marlins on Saturday morning.
In exchange for the second baseman, the Marlins will receive RHP Woo-Suk Go, 1B Nathan Martorella, OF Dillon Head, and OF Jakob Marsee.
Arráez, a two-time All-Star, clinched league batting titles in each of the past two seasons. His standout performance in Miami last season included career-high statistics with a .354/.393/.469 slash line, along with 10 home runs and 69 RBI. Prior to his stint with the Marlins, he secured the AL batting title in 2022 while playing for the Minnesota Twins, boasting a .316/.375/.420 slash line.
In the current season, Arráez has played 33 games, maintaining a .299/.347/.372 slash line with five RBI and zero home runs.
Joining an established infield lineup of veterans like Jake Cronenworth, Ha-Seong Kim, Xander Bogaerts, and Manny Machado, Arráez may alternate between designated hitter and rotating into the San Diego infield. Departing from Miami after a season-plus with the Marlins, Arráez spent his initial four MLB seasons with the Twins before the trade to the Marlins in January 2023.
The Padres, currently with a 17-18 record, hold second place in the NL West, trailing the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by 4.5 games. Arráez’s addition strengthens their lineup as they aim to contend for an NL wild-card berth.
Meanwhile, the Marlins, with a 9-25 record, have one of the poorest starts in baseball. Acquiring four pieces for the future, they face minimal prospects of contention this season.
