MIAMI _ The Adeiny Hechavarria era is over for the Miami Marlins
The team agreed Monday to trade its injured starting shortstop to the Tampa Bay Rays for two minor leaguers, outfielder Braxton Lee and right-hander Ethan Clark, pending a review of the players' medical histories, multiple sources told the Sun Sentinel.
For the Marlins, the trade brings a bit of salary relief _ the Rays will pay Hechavarria the rest of the $4.35 million he is owed this year _ and two marginal prospects, plus a path for rookie JT Riddle to remain the big league team's everyday shortstop.
Hechavarria remains officially on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, but he was tentatively scheduled to rejoin the team Tuesday.
This marks the end of Hechavarria's nearly four and a half seasons as a Marlin. Long a glove-first, bat-distant-second shortstop, Hechavarria's offense never really developed.
He hit .255 with a .292 OBP and .336 slugging percentage in 599 games with Miami. That included a .277/.288/.385 slash line in 20 games this year, Hechavarria's time on the field limited by the twice-strained left oblique.
Hechavarria was worth about 0.4 Wins Above Replacement per season with the Marlins, according to Baseball Reference.
The Marlins acquired Hechavarria in the infamous November 2012 blockbuster with the Blue Jays, when Miami sent Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to Toronto weeks after the conclusion of their first season at Marlins Park. In return, the Marlins received seven players, including Hechavarria.
Left-hander Justin Nicolino is the only one who remains.
Hechavarria was made expendable after the emergence of Riddle, who filled in during the absence of Hechavarria and Miguel Rojas (thumb surgery). Riddle, who has been slumping, has slashed .230/.251/.354 with three homers, 23 RBIs and sound defense in 51 games, regularly drawing rave reviews from manager Don Mattingly.
Lee, 23, is hitting .318 with a .387 OBP and .391 slugging percentage in Double A. He has 13 extra-base hits (nine doubles) and 16 RBIs. Clark, 22, has a 3.11 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while working mostly as a starter in Low A.
Neither Lee nor Clark ranked among the Rays' top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
