Getty Image / Kelly Gavin
It feels like a rare occurrence for the Miami Marlins to be the buyers in any given trade they are involved in.
Instead, fans have gotten used to seeing them selling off their biggest stars to add prospects and keep their payroll low.
Even recently we’ve seen the Marlins deal Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcel Ozuna, and JT Realmuto.
Those trades have come with varying degrees of success.
Today, it looks like the Marlins decided to switch things up. Today they decided to be a buyer and go out and get themselves an All-Star.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Marlins made a deal with the Minnesota Twins that will send Pablo Lopez to Minnesota in exchange for Luis Arraez.
Trade news: All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez is going to the Miami Marlins and right-hander Pablo Lopez is headed to the Minnesota Twins, sources tell ESPN. Deal is done. Players are being informed right now. More are involved.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2023
The Marlins also included prospects Jose Salas and Byron Chourio in the deal.
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
Marlins receive: 2B Luis Arráez
Twins receive: RHP Pablo López, SS Jose Salas, OF Byron Chourio
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2023
The move certainly sends the message that the Marlins are trying to start winning again.
This past year, Arraez’s bat was the only thing standing between Aaron Judge and a triple crown as he took home the AL batting title with a .316 batting average. It was his 3rd major league season with a batting average over .300 and he has yet to hit below .294 in a season.
However, the deal is a costly one for Miami. Salas was one of the highest rated prospects in their farm system while Lopez had turned into a soldi starting pitcher over the last few years.
After a difficult first 2 seasons in the majors, Lopez brought his ERA down to 3.61 in 2020. The following year, that number came all the way down to 3.07. This past season it was 3.75.
If the Marlins really are looking to win right now, they’ll still need to make a few more big moves, but adding one of the league’s most consistent hitters certainly isn’t a bad start.