TRADE: 30-HR Slugger Changes Hands in Marlins & Rangers Swap

Just hours after re-signing a key part of their starting rotation, the Texas Rangers have also bolstered their lineup with a big slugger, pulling off a trade with the Miami Marlins for Jake Burger.

TRADE: The Texas Rangers are acquiring 1B/3B Jake Burger from the Marlins, per @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/J0rpUcdCNp
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 11, 2024

The Marlins receive three prospects from Texas, Echedry Vargas (#17 ranked Rangers prospect), Max Acosta (not ranked), & Brayan Mendoza (N/R).

The lack of top prospects makes this a steal for the Rangers, who were desperate to beef up their offense after finishing ninth in the AL in home runs this past season, and 11th in slugging.

Burger blasted 34 HR with 80 RBIs for the Chicago White Sox in 2023, and put up almost identical numbers in '24 with the Marlins, 29 HR and 76 RBIs. He hit .250 in each season, though his OPS+ dipped a bit this past year, to 103.

Burger split his time between first and third base with the Fish. He could serve as a DH much of the time in Texas.

For Miami, this continues a bizarre trend for the team, who have now moved on from their leading home run hitter for the 4th straight year. Jorge Soler left in free agency after '23, Jesús Aguilar was DFAd in '22 despite leading the team in homers, and Adam Duvall left in free agency after the '21 season.