INF Max Acosta, INF Echedry Vargas, and LHP Brayan Mendoza join the Marlins organization; Vargas was ranked the 17th-best prospect in the Rangers organization, per MLB Pipeline
MIAMI – The Miami Marlins announced today that they have acquired infielder Max Acosta, infielder Echedry Vargas, and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza from the Texas Rangers in exchange for infielder Jake Burger.
Max Acosta
Acosta, 22, posted a .288/.353/.425 slash line with 23 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 58 RBI, and 26 stolen bases over 104 games with Double-A Frisco last season. The Caracas, Venezuela native hit .314 with eight home runs and 38 RBI in 68 games since June 6, including a season-high nine-game hitting streak from August 24 to September 4. Signed as a top-ranked international free agent by Texas on July 2, 2019, Acosta started 65 games at shortstop and 36 games at second base in the past campaign. He also played 20 games in the 2024 Arizona Fall League, batting .388 with 10 extra-base hits, 17 RBI, and eight stolen bases with the Surprise Saguaros.
Echedry Vargas
Vargas, 19, batted .276 with 24 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, and 48 RBI in 97 games with Low-A Down East in 2024. Ranked as the 17th-best Rangers prospect by MLB Pipeline, the Azua, Dominican Republic native led the Carolina League last season in total bases (178), slugging percentage (.454), hits (108), extra-base hits (40), and doubles (24). Signed as an international free agent on January 15, 2023, Vargas was named Carolina League Player of the Week from July 29 to August 4 after hitting .407 with seven extra-base hits and seven RBI in six games.
Brayan Mendoza
Mendoza, 20, posted a 5-4 record with a 2.32 ERA in 24 games (19 starts) between High-A Hickory and Low-A Down East in 2024, setting career highs in innings pitched (101.0) and strikeouts (109) during his fourth professional season. The left-hander has a career 3.28 ERA in 67 Minor League appearances (48 starts) since his debut in 2021. Originally from Isla de Margarita, Venezuela, Mendoza was signed by Texas as an international free agent on January 18, 2021.
Jake Burger
Burger, 28, hit .250 with 28 doubles, 29 home runs, and 76 RBI in 137 games with Miami in 2024. Drafted 11th overall in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago White Sox, he played in 154 games with the White Sox from 2021 to 2023 before being acquired by the Marlins on August 1, 2023.
