MIAMI.– The Miami Marlins acquired Dominican outfielder Esteury Ruiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers, in a trade formalized this Monday that sent Cuban right-handed pitcher Adriano Marrero to the Los Angeles organization.
You may be interested:Kazuma Okamoto meets with Major League teams in the United States
Ruiz, recognized for his elite speed and defensive ability in the outfield, served as a depth piece for the World Series champion Dodgers during the past season. He participated in 19 games, primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, batting for .190 (21-4) with four stolen bases. The move comes two days after Miami sent outfielder Dane Myers to the Cincinnati Reds, reinforcing the Marlins’ need to add a right-handed hitter and a reliable defensive option in center field. Following Myers’ departure, the team lacked a clear alternative behind prospect Jakob Marsee, beyond Víctor Mesa Jr. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Marlins designated Eric Wagaman for assignment. Ruiz has one remaining minor league option and will not be arbitration-eligible until after the 2026 season. Wagaman, in his rookie campaign, recorded an offensive line of “.250/.296/.378”, with 28 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 53 RBIs in 140 games, leading the club with 94 starts at first base. However, the signing of Christopher Morel, who will primarily take over at first base, significantly reduced his role within the team. Ruiz, who will turn 27 in February, was the American League leader in stolen bases in 2023 with 67, wearing the Athletics uniform, and finished second in all of Major League Baseball, only behind Ronald Acuña Jr. (73). In 2022 he stole 85 bases in just 114 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Throughout his career in the Majors, Ruiz has been traded on five occasions. In 197 games played between 2022 and 2025 with Padres, Brewers, Athletics and Dodgers, he has a batting average of .241, with 27 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 77 stolen bases. For his part, Adriano Marrero, 18 years old, signed with the Marlins from Cuba in the past offseason. In the Dominican Summer League, he recorded an ERA of 3.82, with 35 strikeouts in 33 innings spread over 10 starts. Although Ruiz added depth to the Dodgers during a period of injuries in the outfield, the organization did not consider him within its plans for the 2026 season, which facilitated the move.
