San Diego 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.
“We decided that right now, given our record so far this year, given the state of our minor league system, given our stated goals of developing this franchise into a sustainably successful team that’s winning 90-plus games year in and year out, we had to make this difficult move,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said during a conference call with reporters. “We got a lot of prospect talent in return. We felt that was the right move to make for the organization.”
Arraez, who turned 27 last month, can become a free agent after the 2025 World Series.
A two-time All-Star, Arraez 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.
Arraez 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, Arraez 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.
Arraez was pulled from the Marlins’ lineup before their game in Oakland.
“When a guy like that is taken out of the lineup or potentially traded, you feel it, because he’s such a good kid and one of the leaders in that clubhouse,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said, “so there’s definitely a shock value.”
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.
“It’s really amazing — that guy is a baller,” San Diego slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. said about Arraez. “He’s probably the closest to Tony Gwynn right now, so looking forward to seeing him in our lineup. ... The guy’s a pure hitter and I can’t wait for him to help us.”
San Diego began Saturday 4 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gwynn won eight batting titles for the Padres during his Hall of Fame career from 1982 to 2001.
Arraez, who was traded by the Twins to Miami for Pablo López in January 2023, made his way through the Marlins’ dugout at the Coliseum shaking hands and offering hugs and goodbyes.
“Great teammate,” Schumaker said. “So of course, yeah, I think that it’s human nature that there’s an initial shock value when it happens. Again, nothing’s official, but when he gets pulled out of the lineup these guys aren’t dumb, they know what’s going on. I think that the initial shock factor is definitely real and hopefully it goes away in a couple days or tomorrow or whatever it is because we know it’s a business and you’re paid here to come here and win games and be professional.”
Bendix declined to say the trade is the start of a rebuild by the Marlins.
“I’m not going to put any terminology on it,” Bendix said. “I think it’s consistent with the message and vision that I’ve had since my time taking over the organization’s baseball operations, which is that we have one eye on the future and one eye on the present. Our goal remains to build towards the long-term sustainable success.”
Martorella was playing in a Double-A game for San Antonio and at second base when he was removed from the game, confused initially before saying his goodbyes. He was batting .294 with six doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs.
Go, 25, agreed to a $4.5 million, two-year deal with the Padres during the offseason after seven seasons with the LG Twins in South Korea and was 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 10 relief appearances at San Antonio.
Head, 19, was hitting .237 with one homer and nine RBIs at Class A Lake Elsinore.
Marsee, 22, was batting .176 with two homers, five RBIs and 12 stolen bases at San Antonio. He was MVP of the Arizona Fall League last year.
AP Baseball Writer David Brandt in Phoenix contributed to this report.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Miami Marlins' Luis Arraez, center, is hugged by a teammate in the dugout after being traded to the San Diego Padres before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Miami Marlins' Luis Arraez, center, is hugged by a staff member in the dugout after being traded to the San Diego Padres before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Miami Marlins' Luis Arraez, center, shakes hands with teammates in the dugout after being traded to the San Diego Padres before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Skenes struck out 11 over six no-hit innings in his second major league start, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 9-3 on Friday.
Skenes allowed just one baserunner — Michael Busch on a full-count, fifth-inning walk on the eighth pitch of the plate appearance — in an utterly dominant performance. After pitching through some nerves in his big league debut against the Cubs last weekend, he looked quite comfortable on a picturesque day at Wrigley Field.
Skenes (1-0), who turns 22 on May 29, struck out his first seven batters, including the side in the first on pitches of at least 100 mph. He struck out Mike Tauchman on a 100 mph fastball on his 100th and final pitch — his 12th to reach triple digits.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft became the third rookie with seven strikeouts to start a game, joining Jacob deGrom on Sept. 15, 2014, and Jim Deshaies on Sept. 23, 1986. He also became the first rookie with an outing of at least six no-hit innings and 10-plus strikeouts since Chris Heston threw a no-hitter for San Francisco against the New York Mets on June 9, 2015.
Andrew McCutchen and Jared Triolo homered for Pittsburgh, which held on for a 5-4 victory in the opener of the four-game series on Thursday night. Triolo and Yasmani Grandal each had two hits and three RBIs.
RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3
TORONTO (AP) — Tyler Alexander took a perfect game bid into the eighth inning before Danny Jansen blooped an opposite-field, one-out single, and Tampa Bay hung on to beat Toronto.
Richie Palacios hit a two-run home run as the Rays built a 4-0 lead and hung on for their 10th win in 14 games.
Alexander (2-2) retired his first 22 batters before Jansen hit a 1-0 changeup near the low, outside corner off the end of his bat. The ball landed cleanly 206 feet from the plate, between right fielder Josh Lowe and Palacios at second.
The single came on Alexander’s 97th pitch. Davis Schneider homered two pitches later, cutting Toronto’s deficit to 4-2, and Daulton Varsho singled on Alexander’s 105th and final pitch, three more than Alexander’s previous career high.
Manuel Rodríguez replaced Alexander (2-2) and pinch hitter Daniel Vogelbach reached on a fielder’s choice, with Varsho advancing to third on Díaz’s errant throw.
Pinch-hitter Cavan Biggio pulled Toronto within a run with an RBI single off Manuel Rodríguez, and George Springer grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Pete Fairbanks pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five chances.
PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out six over 7 1/3 innings and Philadelphia continued their scorching start with a victory over Washington.
The Phillies needed just 2 hours, 15 minutes in front of another jam-packed crowd of 44,507 to improve to 32-14, the best record in baseball.
Wheeler (5-3) received a rousing standing ovation when he was lifted with one out in the eighth inning. He allowed two runs and threw 104 pitches to win his fifth straight decision. Wheeler improbably went 0-3 over his first four starts — and the Phillies lost all four games — before he resumed his spot as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
The right-hander has been outshined at times this season by lefty Ranger Suárez and his 8-0 record, but there’s still no other pitcher the Phillies want on the bump for a big game.
Wheeler had his seventh quality start of the season and his 71st with the Phillies. He is tied with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the most quality starts in the major leagues since 2020. Wheeler has a 1.62 ERA with 525 strikeouts in 477 2/3 innings over that span.
ORIOLES 9, MARINERS 2
BALTIMORE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson’s fourth leadoff homer of the season sparked a five-run first inning that backed an effective pitching performance by John Means and carried Baltimore past Seattle.
After Henderson’s 13th home run — tied for the major league lead — Baltimore’s next five batters reached base against Bryce Miller (3-4). A throwing error by shortstop Dylan Moore let in a run and Colton Cowser followed a walk with a two-run double down the right-field line.
The first out was a sacrifice fly by Jordan Westburg that capped the outburst.
In his previous start against Seattle, Means threw a no-hitter on May 5, 2021. In this one, Moore doubled on the first pitch of the game and scored on a single by Mitch Garver.
But Means (2-0) settled down in his third start since opening the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits, walked none and struck out four over six innings.
By winning the opener of the three-game set, the Orioles are assured of completing their 106th consecutive regular-season series without being swept. That’s the third-longest streak in major league history, behind only the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124) and 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115).
MARLINS 8, METS 0
MIAMI (AP) — Jesús Luzardo and three relievers combined on Miami’s third consecutive shutout, a win over New York.
Miami pitchers extended their scoreless innings streak to 28, three short of the franchise record in April 2004.
Luzardo (1-3) scattered five hits and struck out seven over six innings, ending an 0-4 skid over eight starts since beating Milwaukee on Sept. 17. Anthony Bender, Burch Smith and Anthony Maldonado followed with an inning each.
New York dropped to 20-24, losing for the sixth time in eight games and falling four games under .500 for the first time since a 1-5 start. The Mets have been shut out five times.
Nick Fortes homered and had two singles while Josh Bell doubled and singled for the Marlins, who won their second series opener this season.
GUARDIANS 3, TWINS 2
CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez homered with two outs in the eighth inning, sending Cleveland to a win over Minnesota in a game featuring the first infield shift violation this season.
Ramírez connected for his 10th homer on a 2-1 pitch from Jhoan Duran (0-1), driving it into the seats in right field to delight a Progressive Field crowd that came out to see Cleveland’s new uniforms and fireworks.
It was the 226th career homer for Ramírez, moving him into a tie for fourth in club history with Hall of Famer Earl Averill. Only Jim Thome (337), Albert Belle (242) and Manny Ramirez (236) have more.
Ramírez’s homer also came after the Twins won a video challenge to wipe out a stolen base at second.
Tim Herrin (2-0), who allowed the Twins to tie it in the eighth, got the win. Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 13th save.
Guardians starter Triston McKenzie allowed just two hits — one a homer — in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander also got three double plays and a nice diving catch by center fielder Tyler Freeman to start the game.
YANKEES 4, WHITE SOX 2
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered, Nestor Cortes won for the first time in 5 1/2 weeks and New York beat Chicago for their fifth straight victory.
Alex Verdugo and Stanton hit consecutive RBI doubles off starter Mike Clevinger (0-2) in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. New York equaled its longest winning streak this season and has won 11 of 13 overall, moving 16 games above .500 for the first time since finishing 99-63 in 2022.
Caleb Ferguson pitched out of an eighth-inning jam to preserve a two-run lead and Clay Holmes worked a hitless ninth for his AL-best 13th save. The closer has not allowed an earned run in 19 appearances this year.
Andrew Vaughn had two RBI singles and leadoff batter Tommy Pham finished with three hits for the White Sox (14-31) in a matchup between the top and bottom teams in the American League.
With a runner on, Pham took a called third strike to end it. Chicago had won two in a row and six of eight.
PADRES 3, BRAVES 1
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Waldron struck out a career-high 10 and San Diego bounced back after being swept in their last series with a win over Atlanta.
Waldron (2-5) gave up one run, five hits and walked two in 5 2/3 innings.
Jurickson Profar was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored and Jake Cronenworth was 3 for 5 with an RBI for the Padres, who totaled 13 hits (all singles).
Max Fried (3-2), who was coming off a six-inning, no-hit performance against the Mets, was touched for nine hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two in 88 pitches.
Jeremiah Estrada recorded his first save of the season with a perfect, three-strikeout ninth after the Padres used closer Robert Suarez in the eighth against the heart of the Braves order. The Braves struck out a season-high 18 times.
The Braves threatened in the eighth after a Chadwick Tromp double put runners at second and third with two outs. Suarez struck out Michael Harris II to end the threat.
ROYALS 6, ATHLETICS 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cole Ragans allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings, Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia homered and Kansas City beat Oakland to extend their losing streak to a season-high six.
Ragans (3-3) walked two and struck out seven, rebounding from a 9-3 loss at the Los Angeles Angels when he allowed seven runs and eight hits. He has three scoreless starts of at least six innings this season.
Chris Stratton and Matt Sauers finished the four-hitter, the ninth time Oakland has been held to four hits or fewer.
Oakland has been outscored 36-6 during its losing streak, which dropped the A’s to 19-28.
Kansas City went ahead in the first when Salvador Perez hit a two-out, run-scoring infield single. Perez was called out by first base umpire Ryan Additon, but a video review ruled Perez beat the throw from third baseman Brett Harris.
Massey hit a two-run homer off Austin Adams and Maikel Garcia a three-run drive against Brandon Bielak in a five-run sixth.
ASTROS 5, BREWERS 4
HOUSTON (AP) — Jake Meyers hit a two-run homer and Jeremy Peña’s three-run shot in the fifth inning gave Houston a victory over Milwaukee to extend their season-long winning streak to six games.
Houston trailed by 2 when Victor Caratini singled to start the fifth, Jose Altuve singled on an infield grounder and Peña sent a slider from Freddy Peralta into the left-field seats for a 5-4 lead.
Hunter Brown (1-4) yielded four runs and four hits while walking three in five innings for his first win since Sept. 13. He had been 0-6 in his last nine starts.
Milwaukee had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh, but Rafael Montero struck out William Contreras to end the threat.
The Brewers had two on with two outs again in the eighth but came up empty when Bryan Abreu struck out Sal Frelick.
ANGLES 9, RANGERS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Zach Neto and Taylor Ward homered, Tyler Anderson pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and Los Angeles beat Texas to give Ron Washington a victory in his first game as a visiting manager in Texas.
Neto snapped a 1-all tie and put the Angels ahead to stay with his two-run homer in the fourth, a 405-foot drive to right field for his fifth of the season.
Anderson (4-4) struck out four and walked two.
Washington is the winningest manager in Rangers’ history with his 664 wins from 2007-14, and took them to their first two World Series in 2010 and 2011. He is in the first season with the Angels (17-28), his first managerial job since Texas.
Jonah Heim and Marcus Semien went deep for Texas, which has lost seven of its last nine games.
CARDINALS 10, RED SOX 6
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn hit two-run homers, and St. Louis beat Boston to drop them below .500 for the first time since the season’s opening week.
Nolan Arenado had three hits that included an RBI single in the eighth after entering in a 3-for-27 slide.
Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson also went deep for the Cardinals, who matched season highs for runs, hits (14) and homers.
Winn’s two-run homer off Cam Booser was the first home run of Winn’s big league career.
Boston has lost three straight and 10 of 14, falling to 22-23. The Red Sox had not been under .500 since a 1-2 start.
Kyle Gibson (3-2) allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks in six-plus innings as the Cardinals won for the fourth time in five games.
TIGERS 13, DIAMONDBACKS 0
PHOENIX (AP) — Javier Báez broke out of a season-long slump with five RBIs, Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Detroit pounded Arizona.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch insisted he was going to keep sending Báez out despite the shortstop’s meager .167 batting average. Báez rewarded him with a 3-for-4 night that included a pair of two-run doubles and a run-scoring single.
He wasn’t alone in Detroit’s hit fest.
Coming off consecutive shutouts against Florida, the Tigers roughed up Rhyne Nelson (2-3) with three runs in the third inning and added six more in the fifth while chasing the Arizona right-hander. Detroit had 11 runs by the fifth inning and finished with a season-high 17 hits — seven for extra bases, but no homers.
Kerry Carpenter had four RBIs and Colt Keith went 4 for 5 with two RBIs. Wenceel Pérez and Riley Greene also had run-scoring hits.
That was more than enough for Skubal (6-0), who took a perfect game into the fifth inning and allowed one hit with six strikeouts in a combined three-hitter.
DODGERS 7, REDS 3
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani slugged a two-run homer and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when Los Angeles rallied after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Cincinnati.
Earlier, the Los Angeles city council proclaimed May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day in the city for as long as the Japanese two-way superstar plays for the Dodgers. He signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract in December.
Ohtani bounced back after being hitless in two at-bats on his first bobblehead night Thursday. The promotion snarled traffic outside Dodger Stadium and created long lines of fans clamoring for one of the 40,000 souvenirs, some of which were quickly offered for sale online at exorbitant prices.
Tied at 3, Will Smith singled in Ohtani, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to first and was safe at second on a throwing error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. The Dodgers made it 5-3 when Freddie Freeman scored on a wild pitch by Fernando Cruz (1-5) that sailed to the backstop.
Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer in the eighth, extending the lead to 7-3.
GIANTS 10, ROCKIES 5
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thairo Estrada hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning and singled twice, Luis Matos drove in a career-high five runs and San Francisco beat Colorado for their sixth straight victory at home in the series.
Matos and Matt Chapman had three hits apiece for a refreshed San Francisco squad coming off its first off day following 16 straight games.
Estrada’s drive to left for his seventh home run of the year chased Colorado right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-4), who gave way to Victor Vodnik. Luis Matos added a key RBI single in the inning for insurance — which mattered when Ezequiel Tovar doubled home a run in the top of the sixth before the Giants added on late.
Matos, who got the Giants going on an RBI double in the fourth, then added an RBI groundout on a bunt in the seventh before Marco Luciano singled two batters later for his first career RBI. Matos capped his outstanding night with a two-run double in the eighth.
This was an especially tough day for the Giants, who learned earlier in the day that rookie center fielder Jung Hoo Lee needs season-ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder that he injured crashing into the outfield wall.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is doused by Martín Pérez during a television interview after the team's win over the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
