TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays finalized a trade with the Miami Marlins, acquiring catcher Nick Fortes this Tuesday. The move comes a day after the Rays sent veteran catcher Danny Jansen to Milwaukee, in a move that anticipates the trade deadline.
In the agreement, the Marlins received minor league outfielder Matthew Etzel, who has been traded for the second consecutive year. For their part, the Rays added minor league infielder Jadher Areinamo in the trade with the Brewers. The trade deadline is Thursday.
Fortes, 28, batted .240 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 59 games with the Marlins. In his last 29 games with Miami, his average was .300.
Throughout his career, which has been entirely with the Marlins, Fortes has a .225 average. He was selected by the team in the fourth round of the 2018 amateur draft and has accumulated 25 home runs and 96 RBIs in 363 games.
Etzel has been on the injured list since June 22. In 56 games with the Double-A Montgomery team, he batted .230 with five home runs and 34 RBIs. The Rays acquired him from Baltimore last summer in a trade that sent Zach Eflin to the Orioles.
