*Photo from WFLA*
The calling card of the Tampa Bay Rays in the last few seasons have been making random trades at random times that somehow boost the value of their team. Here's another one. The Rays have traded IF Joey Wendle to the Miami Marlins in exchange for OF prospect Kameron Misner, according to an announcement by the team.
Wendle is coming off a strong 2021 season that saw him get his first career all star game appearance. He'll be an immediate hitting and fielding jolt to a Marlins team that is ready to jump into contention status, with an improved lineup this offseason, and still a pretty good pitching staff, that just recently extended ace Sandy Alcantara.
Asked about joining the Marlins, Wendle said "I'm thankful that I don't have to face that pitching staff anymore. There's a lot of exciting arms from top to bottom and position players, as well. Just looking at the pieces that are in place, I'm excited, I really am, to get to work."
Last season, his 6th in the majors, Wendle put up strong numbers again, finishing with a .265 batting average and .741 OPS, hitting 11 home runs and driving in 54, slugging .422 for the 100-62 Rays in 2021. In two playoff games last season, Wendle had one hit in 4 plate appearances, a double.
In his 6 major league seasons, 4 of which were with the Rays, Wendle has a .274 batting average and .736 OPS, slugging .408 and hitting 27 home runs, driving in 167 in 436 regular season games, with 42 stolen bases. In 27 career playoff games, Wendle has a .194 average and .484 OPS, adding 6 RBI's in 72 at bats, drawing 5 walks.
Wendle adds defensive versatility to the Marlins, in addition to a reliable bat. He primarily played 3rd base for the Rays in 2021, where he was a finalist for a gold glove award. He can also contribute at shortstop and second base, and he also has experience in left field. He's scheduled to become a free agent following the 2023 season, as it stands right now.
Marlins GM Kim Ng said of Wendle's defense that "He's played third base for the Rays for a while now. I think one of the great things similarly to Avi García is that you can put him at different positions, and we can be flexible with it. So I think whenever someone needs a spell, we dealt with a lot of injuries last year, in terms of multi-dimensionality and flexibility, that is something that we've seen the industry go to. So I think he's a tremendous add for us."
Heading to the Rays is Misner, ranked as the 21st overall prospect in the Marlins system according to MLB Pipeline. Misner was drafted by the Marlins out of Missouri in the 2019 MLB Draft. Last season, his first full season of minor league action, Misner had a .253 batting average and .788 OPS, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 59 runs, playing 88 games at High A Beloit, and another 14 at Double A Pensacola.
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