Jake Burger is on the move from the Miami Marlins to the Texas Rangers, who acquired the right-handed power bat in exchange for three prospects on Tuesday night.
Burger returns to the American League following one full season in Miami in which he hit 29 home runs. The Marlins acquired Burger before the trade deadline in 2023 from the Chicago White Sox, and the 28-year-old is under contract for the next four seasons.
Texas traded infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-hander Brayan Mendoza to Miami in the deal.
Vargas was ranked the No. 17 in the Rangers’ system by MLB Pipeline, but the shortstop had 27 errors in 86 games at the position last season and could move to second base. He also played 10 games at second.
Vargas spent the season at Single-A and turns 20 in February. He had 29 stolen bases and produced a slash line of .276/.321/.454 with 24 doubles, two triples and 48 RBIs in 2024.
Acosta, also a middle infielder who primarily plays shortstop, was added to the 40-man roster in November and was an Arizona Fall League All-Star following a strong season at Double-A Frisco. The 22-year-old had eight home runs and 23 doubles in 104 games at Frisco in 2024.
Mendoza, 20, started 17 games at the Class A level with a 2.18 ERA in 90 2/3 innings including five relief appearances.
Burger has a .251 batting average in 344 career games.
He hit nine home runs in 53 games with the Marlins in 2023.
Burger entered MLB as a third baseman and has played first base while serving as a designated hitter. He had back-to-back seasons with 34 home runs with the White Sox in 2022 and split between Chicago and Miami in 2023.
He was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the 2017 draft and debuted in the majors in 2021.
