With the Marlins farm system being one of the most successful systems for the past five years, the team is bound to have some impressive prospects. This worked out to perfection with Pablo López. Signed on in 2017 from Venezuela, López became a force to be reckoned with as soon as he made the big leagues. Paired with Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins appeared to be on the brink of an elite rotation. But this was not what Kim Ng had in mind. With an awful offense that ranked 27th out of 30 in the league for OPS, a stat that combines getting on base and getting big hits, the Marlins needed hitting. After striking out in the free agent market, Ng knew she had to make a deal. With the rotation already consisting of the reigning Cy Young winner, Ng felt it necessary to use one of her most significant assets to get an important bat in Luis Arráez. But who really came out on top? Was this a smart trade?
The Full Trade
In return for Luis Arraez, the Twins received Pablo López and two minor league bats. These players were infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio. Salas, 19, batted .250 with a solid slash line throughout last year in High-A and Low-A. These stats earned him a #4 ranking in the Marlins Top 30 Prospects rankings. Chourio, 17, is young and untested. He has potential but has hardly showcased his abilities on the pro level. Chourio played for the Dominican Summer League in 2022, yet to touch the Marlins’ professional system. He is unranked in the Marlins prospects list.
Steal or Win-Win?
So, as we’ve discussed, the Marlins’ offense was woefully bad. That’s why in most circumstances, a trade like this one would be considered an overpay by the Marlins. In reality, this was a solid trade for the Marlins, definitely a win-win. The Twins needed a solid starter to go along with young hopeful Joe Ryan. Although the Marlins had to give up one of their best prospects, this was a guaranteed player who would not struggle to get on base. Arráez immediately gets the job as the Marlins’ leadoff hitter with his impeccable batting average. This should improve the Marlins’ offense immediately. So, after further investigation, Kim Ng made an excellent move. Marlins fans should be looking forward to the future with Ng at the helm. Fans may be hurt after she traded away Miguel Rojas, but when looking with more detail, we can see that she is off to a really good start making some solid moves.
