Padres acquire two-time batting champ Luis Arraez from Marlins

The San Diego Padres acquired two-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins along with nearly $7.9 million on Saturday in a deal for four players that left the Padres responsible only for the major league minimum salary.

First baseman Nathan Martorella, outfielders Dillon Head and Jakob Marsee, and right-hander Woo-Suk Go were dealt to the Marlins for the second baseman, who won the 2022 AL batting title with Minnesota and the 2023 NL crown with the Marlins.

Miami is paying San Diego $7,898,602 of the $8,491,398 remaining for the final 149 days of Arraez's $10.6 million salary. That left his cost to the Padres at $592,796 — exactly a prorated share of the $740,000 minimum.

Arraez, who turned 27 last month, can become a free agent after the 2025 World Series.

Miami had said Friday night the deal was pending a review of medical information.

A two-time All-Star, Arráez is hitting .299 with eight doubles, one triple, five RBIs and 22 runs scored in 33 games this season. The 27-year-old has hit safely in 17 of his last 21 games after beginning the season with a .234 average over his first 12 games.

Arráez finished eighth in NL MVP voting last year after setting career highs in average, hits (203), home runs (10) and RBIs (69). He also hit for his first career cycle on April 11 last year at Philadelphia.

Since making his major league debut in 2019, Arráez leads major league players with a .324 average. He has hit over .300 in four of his five previous major league seasons and became the first player to win a batting title in both leagues in consecutive seasons.

There was also some shock in the Padres' clubhouse after their 7-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday night, though it was for happier reasons.

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