A former White Sox fan-favorite is on the move yet again.
As first reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins traded corner infielder Jake Burger to the Rangers late Tuesday night. The return for Miami includes three prospects – infielders Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, along with left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza.
Burger, 28, is coming off his second season in Miami where he hit .250/.301/.460 with a 106 wRC+, 1.4 fWAR, and a team-leading 29 home runs over 137 games. He is one year away from arbitration and under club control for four more seasons, giving the Rangers a power-hitting presence in their lineup for the foreseeable future.
The Missouri State third baseman was originally drafted 11th overall by the White Sox in the 2017 MLB Draft. Despite having lofty expectations placed upon him, Burger’s career took an unexpected turn after he suffered back-to-back Achilles injuries in 2018. It was a massive blow that kept the prospect out of action for years, but Burger’s resilience allowed him to return to the minor leagues in 2021, where he slashed an impressive .274/.332/.513 with Triple-A Charlotte. In that same season, Burger made his MLB debut in July with the White Sox and appeared in 15 games for the team.
Over the next two years, Burger saw his role expand and eventually became a regular fixture in the lineup by 2023. He slugged 25 home runs across 88 games in the absence of Yoan Moncada, though his impressive run ended in a surprise deadline deal that sent Burger to South Beach for pitcher Jake Eder. Now on the move again, Burger will be reuniting with friend and former teammate Dane Dunning, who the White Sox packaged as part of the return for Lance Lynn in 2020.
JAKE BURGER WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM FOR THE SWEEP!!! 😱
— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) June 4, 2023
Notably heading back to Miami in the latest Burger deal is the 19-year-old Vargas, who ranks as the Rangers’ 17th-best prospect. The other two players packaged with him are both unranked.
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