Marlins Trade Infante and Sanchez To Tigers for Three Players
Fitzgerald Cecilio
Miami, FL
The disappointing Miami Marlins have traded second baseman Omar Infante and right-hander Anibal Sanchez to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Jacob Turner and two minor leaguers.
To complete the trade, the two teams also swapped competitive balance lottery picks in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, with Detroit receiving one between first and second rounds from Miami while the Marlins get one between rounds two and three from the Tigers.
This marks the first time baseball draft picks have been traded, which is allowable on a limited basis under the new collective bargaining agreement.
The Marlins entered the season with high expectations, coming from a $115 million buildup and a new ballpark with retractable roof. But the team was a disappointment, entering Monday with a 44-51 mark, 11 1/2 games behind the Nationals in the National League East.
"We're disappointed in the club's performance," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said. "When we made moves this winter and came out of Spring Training, I think everyone's expectations -- rightfully so -- were that we'd be in a different place today."
"The current team really is not in contention. ... In a tenuous spot, at best," Beinfest said. "I think it was time to restructure. We're not winning at the level that we want to be winning at with the current group. So let's change things up, which led us to where we are today."
Before the trade, Infante is hitting .287 with eight homers and 33 RBIs for the Marlins. He signed a two-year, $8 million extension with the Marlins last September and will make $4 million in 2013.
"This is a business," said Infante, who returns to Detroit where he appeared in 494 games from 2002-2007. "I was prepared for it. I get frustrated with an 0-for-4 night, but not for a trade."
Sanchez, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, is making $8 million this year. He has started 132 games for the Marlins since 2006, going 44-45 with a 3.75 ERA. He threw a no-hitter on Sept. 6, 2006, against Arizona.
"It's not my first time," Sanchez said regarding the deal. "I came from Boston, but that came in the offseason. Never before in the season. I know my name was in the trade lines for like three years. Today, it happened. Today is a new era for me, a new opportunity for me. I'm so proud to have been part of the Marlins for a while."
This season, Sanchez is 5-7 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has 110 strikeouts against 33 walks. Sanchez has 14 quality starts in 19 outings this season. Opponents are hitting .259 against him with 12 home runs in 121 innings.
Beinfest hinted that the Marlins could make more trades before the July 31 trading deadline.
"If it makes sense, yeah, there could be more trades," Beinfest said. "If it doesn't make sense, then there won't be more trades. You just have to go through it. Things change daily. Things change, dynamics change, needs change from team to team. We're going to do our work."
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