Rangers Acquire Jake Burger From Marlins For 3 Prospects

Image credit: Jake Burger (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Entering the Winter Meetings, the Rangers largely had their infield locked up for years to come. Josh Jung would play third base, while Corey Seager and Marcus Semien would flank the keystone. First base, however, was a little bit of a question mark.

Consider that question answered. On Tuesday, Texas swung a deal with the Marlins for Jake Burger, who split his time in 2024 between first and third base. The move not only gives Texas an answer at first base, but it also gives them insurance at third, where Jung has proved to be productive but has also missed plenty of time with injuries.

In return, Miami received three prospects—middle infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and lefthander Brayan Mendoza. Acosta’s stock rose with a strong 2024 season and Arizona Fall League, and the Rangers added him to their 40-man roster last month. 

Vargas and Mendoza have not advanced past the Class-A levels but have plenty of upside to tap. 

RANGERS RECEIVE

Jake Burger, 3B/1B
Age: 28

Burger is a former first-round pick of the White Sox who was known for his offensive prowess and indomitable spirit. The early years of his career stalled with a pair of torn Achilles tendons, but he reached the big leagues in 2021 and became a reliable source of power in the proceeding seasons. He’s mashed 63 home runs over the past two seasons—while hitting exactly .250 in each. Burger will not be arbitration-eligible until 2026 and will not reach free agency until 2029.

MARLINS RECEIVE

Echedry Vargas, SS
Age: 19

Vargas is a solid prospect who broke out in the Arizona Complex League in 2023 before putting forth a sound first act in full-season ball at Low-A Down East. He’s an athletic defender with smooth infield actions, nearly-plus hands and an average arm. All of those gifts are likely to play up as he matures and gains strength. He’s got a coin flip’s chance of remaining at shortstop. At the plate, he presents a hit-over-power profile and racked up 24 doubles and 14 home runs in the Carolina League. He did a good job making contact with pitches in the zone but chased at an exorbitant rate of 43.5% and produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 101 mph.

Max Acosta, 2B/SS
Age: 22

Acosta was one of the Rangers’ key signings in the 2019 international class. His performance has wavered since then, but he put forth a resurgent 2024 at Double-A that included career bests in all three triple-slash categories. He added a loud 20-game sample in the Arizona Fall League following the regular year. Part of the reason for Acosta’s upswing is simply because he was mostly healthy in 2024. He also did a much better job controlling the strike zone and struck out just 58 times in 104 games at Double-A. He’s a sound defender up the middle who will fit nicely at either shortstop or second base and could move to third base in a pinch, though he has not played there professionally. His performance had just earned him a spot on Texas’ 40-man roster.

Brayan Mendoza, LHP
Age: 20

Over his last two seasons, Mendoza had always left scouts intrigued by his upside. The lefthander joined Texas as part of the 2020 international class but only reached High-A toward the end of the 2024 season. He uses an easy delivery to mix a fastball, slider and changeup. The heater averaged around 92 mph and touched 95, and each of his offspeed pitches flashed at least average. He improved his command over the past season, and the results followed, including a career high for innings and strikeouts. He spent the fall at Texas’ performance camp looking to build strength he could carry into the upcoming season.