Marlins acquire OF who set AL rookie stolen base record, part ways with Wagaman
Two days after trading Dane Myers to the Reds, the Marlins added a potential replacement Monday evening when they acquired speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz from the Dodgers, according to a league source.
In return, the Marlins sent minor-league pitching prospect Adriano Marrero to Los Angeles.
To make room on the roster, the Marlins designated first baseman/third baseman Eric Wagaman for assignment, months after he made more than 500 plate appearances for the team.
Signed by the Royals as an international free agent in 2015, Ruiz, 26, is best known for setting the American League rookie record for stolen bases in a season, with 67, for Oakland in 2023. That surpassed Kenny Lofton’s previous record of 62, set in 1992.
Ruiz has stolen 77 bases in 96 attempts in the big leagues, but his inability to get on base consistently - combined with a 2024 wrist injury that sidelined him more than four months - have prevented him from establishing a big-league foothold since his rookie season.
Ruiz has a .241 average and .296 on base percentage — along with eight homers, 27 doubles and 59 RBI — in 197 games and 621 plate appearances over parts of four seasons for the Padres, Brewers, Athletics and Dodgers.
He has appeared in just 48 big-league games the past two seasons after playing in 132 for Oakland in 2023. A wrist injury sidelined him for most of the 2024 season.
Last April, the Dodgers acquired Ruiz from Oakland for minor-league pitcher Carlon Duran.
He spent much of last season at Triple A Oklahoma City and showed life offensively, hitting .301 (.441 on base) with 16 home runs, 60 RBI and 62 stolen bases in 73 attempts. That .441 on base average was well above his .374 career on base percentage.
He played in 19 games for the Dodgers last season, mostly as an injury fill-in in July, and had four hits in 21 at-bats with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Ruiz, considered an above-average defender, has played 125 big league games in center field, 53 in left field and 22 in right field. He also has extensive experience at second base, and some at third base, in the minors.
A right-handed hitter, Ruiz will compete with Victor Mesa Jr. for the backup center field job behind Jakob Marsee, a left-handed hitter who has a good track record hitting lefties. Starting corner outfielder Kyle Stowers also can play center field if necessary, as can ace utility man Javier Sanoja.
Marrero, 19, had a 3.82 ERA in 10 games pitching for the Marlins’ Dominican Summer League team in his first professional season.
Wagaman had 514 plate appearances for the Marlins last season, hitting .250 with a .296 on-base average with nine homers and 53 RBI. But the Marlins have wanted to upgrade at first base.
The Marlins see five first base options on their roster: outfielders Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernandez, third baseman Connor Norby, catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks and Christopher Morel, an outfielder for Tampa Bay who was signed in free agency. The Marlins plan to use Morel primarily at first base.
First base prospect Deyvison De Los Santos is expected to start next season in the minors.
On Saturday, the Marlins traded Myers for minor league outfielder Ethan O’Donnell in a move made to create room on the 40-man roster for new closer Peter Fairbanks.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 7:42 PM.
