Marlins acquire Esteury Ruiz from Dodgers, DFA Eric Wagaman

[Kevin Barral]

On Monday, the Miami Marlins agreed to acquire Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Esteury Ruiz in exchange for pitching prospect Adriano Marrero, sources confirm to Fish On First. Neither club has announced the trade yet. To add Ruiz to the Marlins 40-man roster, Eric Wagaman is being designated for assignment.

Ruiz, 26, is being traded for the fifth time in his professional career. He began the 2025 season with the Athletics, but was quickly picked up by the Dodgers. With their Triple-A affiliate, he slashed .303/.411/.514/.925 with 16 home runs, 60 RBI, 62 stolen bases and a 137 wRC+. He was called up late in the season and in 19 games, slashed .190/.261/.333/.594 with one home run, two RBI, four stolen bases and a a 67 wRC+.

Once regarded as a top prospect, Ruiz led the American League with 67 stolen bases in 2023.

However, his aggressiveness at the plate has been an issue, going from a 19.9% strikeout rate against MLB pitching in 2023 to a 31.8% in limited opportunities since then.

This acquisition essentially replaces the recently traded Dane Myers. The organization is looking to take advantage of Ruiz's elite speed and hoping to fix his hit tool. He has one more minor league option remaining and is still pre-arbitration eligible.

Marrero, who signed with the Marlins for $350,000 in the most recent international signing class, pitched in 33 innings (10 starts) in the Dominican Summer League, posting a 3.82 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 9.55 K/9 and 3.27 BB/9. The organization was high on Marrero, who showed a promising ability to spin the ball.

Wagaman, who was designated for assignment, signed a split deal with the Marlins last offseason. He made the team's roster out of spring training and stuck throughout the entire 2025 season. In 140 games, he slashed .250/.296/.378/.674 with nine home runs, 53 RBI and an 85 wRC+. Despite playing various positions around the diamond, it was all below average and he provided -0.4 fWAR overall.

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[Jose Herrera]

Super exciting. Cannot wait for spring training.

[JustMarlins]

I don’t hate it. Looks like Bendix feels as if this is going to be a continuation of a development year. He’s not wrong. 
 

We truly have a number of unanswered questions on this team. Conine isnt a sure thing and we need to see what he does with more AB’s. Morel is a big question mark. Norby is a puzzle. Hernandez needs to prove he can do it again. Can Mack translate his skills to the MLB? What about Pauley? And the biggest question mark might just be Augustin and his lack of a position. 
 

It’s gonna be a fun season. Looking forward to it. 
 

 

[Hans Herrera]

I hope the roster can actually get better before spring training.

So far is Fairbanks for Henríquez, Ruiz for Myers, and Morel for Wagaman. In theory, not substantial change for the active roster, for the better or worse.

The 26-man still needs a high leverage lefty out of the bullpen and an impact corner infield bat, ideally two of those.

[Jose Herrera]

@Hans Herrera you think we are clearing the way for a big trade?

[Jose Herrera]

@JustMarlins sounds like some more f.a.f.o action this season😁

[Hans Herrera]

1 hour ago, Jose Herrera said:

@Hans Herrera you think we are clearing the way for a big trade?

I'm not sure about that, since the 40-man roster remains full. I think we might see some action after the first week of January, as both Imai and Okamoto should be signed by that time.

Miami's approach is to be active in a ripple effect. For example, the Imai signing will make some bidding losers turn into the trade market, where Eddy Cabrera, MacKensie Gore, and Joe Ryan are available.

Some contender might get desperate and offer an acceptable package for either Eddy, Weathers, Meyer or even Sandy, and Bendix won't hesitate if he likes what he sees... hoping it includes an MLB-ready bat who can play 1B, 3B or corner OF.

As for Free Agency, I don't see much more than a group of non-roster invitees from now until the start of Spring Training. In summary, I expect a couple of quiet weeks to begin the new year.

(I hope I'm wrong).

[Jose Herrera]

@Hans Herrera Do you think trading for Ryan Mountcastle would be a good idea?

[Hans Herrera]

9 minutes ago, Jose Herrera said:

@Hans Herrera Would you trade for Ryan Mountcastle?

It depends.
 

To me, the best fit for a trade with Baltimore is Coby Mayo. There is no clear path for him next year unless Westburg gets injured, which happens often.
Both Mayo and Basallo have nothing left to prove in AAA, hence, the Orioles have somehow an urgency to move one of the FOUR (!) 1Bmen currently on their roster. They would love to squeeze something out of Mountcastle’s current trade value, but no team is interested in paying him $7.5M for subpar production.

With all that said, the Fish can work out a trade to get Mounty without having to sacrifice much prospect capital, if any. To put it simply, if the O’s are shopping him and comes cheap, why not?

Say, if the Orioles eat $5M of the salary AND/OR is packaged with a lefty reliever in exchange for international bonus pool money or a PTBNL, I’m bringing him in. Maybe a change of scenery is exactly what he needs.

[Jose Herrera]

@Hans Herrera Well said Hans, I forgot they signed Basallo to an 8-year $67 extension in 2025. I would move Stowers to first base and trade for Beavers or Kjerstad instead.

 

[Hans Herrera]

3 hours ago, Jose Herrera said:

@Hans Herrera Well said Hans, I forgot they signed Basallo to an 8-year $67 extension in 2025. I would move Stowers to first base and trade for Beavers or Kjerstad instead.

 

If the FO is not going to sign any free agents, at least they should try Gus Ramírez at 1B, where he played 20ish games last year.

That move alone will improve the team in several front: better defense behind the plate, less workload for him, more fireworks for the corner infield.

I don’t think they should improvise with Stowers at 1B.

[One Regend]

I think Gus will be fine at 1B, the problem is will they even try him there? A lot of people say his catcher defensive problems is primarily receiving, but I don't agree with that being the reason not to try him at 1B.

Not having the burden of handling pitchers, not having to squat in catcher's gear, and not having to risk taking a foul ball off of a body limb every pitch does wonders to athleticism. I have reason to believe he'll show more improvement at 1B than as a catcher. At least try him there in Spring Training and, if he blows chunks defensively, then just have him be a full-time DH.

[Jose Herrera]

@Hans Herrera @One Regend I needed to hear this. Last season I remember our announcers mentioned Ramirez favorite player growing up was Albert Pujols. It's possible with the right support and some time he could develop into a little machine at first base. Happy we have this option☺️