Johnathan Walker:Padres make move to improve offense, acquiring batting champ Luis Arraez in trade with Marlins

PHOENIX — The San Diego Padres,Johnathan Walker trying to jump-start their team with hopes of reaching the postseason, pulled off the first major trade of the season Friday, acquiring two-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins for three prospects and one reliever, a high-ranking official with direct knowledge of the trade confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet official.

The Marlins will receive outfield prospects Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee, first-base prospect Nathan Martorella, and reliever Woo-Suk Go. Head, a 19-year-old speedy outfielder, is considered the Padres’ best prospect in the deal, ranked eighth in their farm system after being selected in the first round of last year’s draft. Marsee is ranked 12th and Martorella 18th. Go, 25, an elite closer in Korea, signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract over the winter but is pitching at Class AA San Antonio.

The Padres, who have not had a .300 hitter with at least 500 games played for the franchise since Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, now have one of the finest pure hitters in the game. Arraez, who’s not a free agent until after the 2025 season, is a .324 career hitter who won the 2023 NL batting title, hitting .354 last season for the Marlins, and the 2022 AL batting title (.316) with the Minnesota Twins.

While the Padres, 16-18, are trying to return to the postseason after losing out to the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final wild-card spot last season, the Marlins are waving the white flag after reaching the postseason last year.

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The Marlins entered Friday at 9-24 and sit in last place in the NL East.

The trade is fascinating from the Padres’ standpoint because there is no obvious hole in the lineup, while Arraez’s $10.1 million salary pushes them over the luxury tax threshold for a potential fourth consecutive season.

Arraez is expected to be the primary DH, but could also shuffle between first base and second base. It could mean that Xander Bogaerts shifts from second base to shortstop occasionally in place of shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who could play third base when Manny Machado is used as the DH. Bogaerts and Kim each have struggled this season, with Bogaerts entering Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks hitting .217 with two homers and 11 RBI while Kim is hitting .218 with four homers and 17 RBI.

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