Burger led Marlins hitters in runs, hits, and home runs over 137 games in 2024
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced today that they have acquired infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder Max Acosta, infielder Echedry Vargas, and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza.
Jake Burger
Burger, 28, batted .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBI over 137 games for Miami in 2024, leading the Marlins in hits (career-high 134), runs (68), and home runs. From July 1 through the end of the season, he posted a .278/.336/.553/.889 slash line with 22 home runs, ranking third in the National League in that span, behind only Shohei Ohtani (28) and Eugenio Suárez (24). Burger was one of four National League Silver Slugger finalists at the utility position and earned Marlins Most Valuable Player honors from the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
A four-year MLB veteran, Burger has a career slash line of .251/.305/.483/.789 with 72 home runs and 185 RBI over 344 games with the Chicago White Sox (2021-23) and Miami Marlins (2023-24). Since 2023, his 63 home runs are tied for the 15th most in baseball, while his .573 slugging percentage on fastballs ranks ninth in MLB (Baseball Savant). The St. Louis, Missouri native was originally selected by the White Sox with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft from Missouri State University.
Max Acosta
Acosta, 22, hit .288/.353/.425/.778 over 104 games with Double-A Frisco in 2024. In his fourth professional season with Texas, Acosta recorded 23 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 58 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. Defensively, he made 65 starts at shortstop, 36 at second base, and two at designated hitter. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Acosta signed with the Rangers as an international free agent on July 2, 2019.
Echedry Vargas
Vargas, 19, spent the 2024 season with Single-A Down East, batting .276/.321/.454/.775 with 14 home runs, 24 doubles, and 48 RBI. Ranked as the 17th-best Rangers prospect by MLB Pipeline, the Azua, Dominican Republic native excelled in his third professional season. He primarily played shortstop but also saw action at second base and third base. Vargas signed with Texas as a non-drafted free agent on January 15, 2022.
Brayan Mendoza
Mendoza, 20, went 5-4 with a 2.32 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 24 games (19 starts) between Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory in 2024. This Venezuela native is entering his fourth professional season after signing as a non-drafted free agent on January 18, 2021. He set career highs in innings pitched (101.0) and strikeouts (109) last season.
With today’s move, the Rangers’ Major League roster now stands at 39 players.
