The Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins made a trade on Wednesday, with veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas heading back to Los Angeles (where he played in his rookie season of 2014) in exchange for prospect Jacob Amaya.
Los Angeles Dodgers or Miami Marlins: Grading who won the Miguel Rojas-Jacob Amaya trade
Trade grade for Los Angeles Dodgers: D
Since winning the World Series in the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, the Dodgers have gone from Corey Seager to Trea Turner to now Rojas at shortstop. That’s a big drop-off, and one that can’t be welcomed with open arms by many L.A. fans, especially after an offseason where four All-Star shortstops landed outside of Chavez Ravine (including Turner, who went to the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in a blockbuster deal).
The 33-year-old Rojas is coming off a season where he slashed .236/.283/.323 in 140 games (507 plate appearances). Over the course of his career, he has an OPS+ of 85 and has had just two seasons (including the short 2020 campaign) where he topped 100.
While the Dodgers are reportedly trying to stay under the luxury tax threshold this season, saving money with a Rojas trade may be good on that end of the equation, but certainly doesn’t add much pop to a Los Angeles roster that will look much different in 2023.
Trade grade for Miami Marlins: B
Rojas will now make $4.5 million for the Dodgers in the final year of a two-year contract. Joey Wendle and Jean Segura will now likely handle the majority of duties at shortstop in Miami, so the Marlins lose little by trading Rojas.
Miami, however, gains Amaya, who was ranked as the 12th-best prospect in the Dodgers organization by MLB.com. The 24-year-old infielder split time between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last season, finishing with a combined .261/.369/.426 slash line.
There’s plenty to like about Amaya, with MLB writing here, “Amaya has outstanding strike-zone judgment and rarely chases pitches out of the strike zone. Add in his sound right-handed stroke, feel for the barrel and all-fields approach, and he has the ingredients to become a solid hitter.”
Amaya has yet to make his MLB debut, but could well be on the fast track for that in Miami. Trading a year of Rojas for a future with Amaya seems like a win for the Marlins, and certainly earns them a tip of the cap (for now) in this trade.