Marlins trading for White Sox INF Jake Burger (source)

MIAMI — Ahead of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline, the Marlins added much-needed power in the form of White Sox infielder Jake Burger. In return, Miami dealt No. 4 prospect Jake Eder.

A 2017 first-round pick out of Missouri State, Burger has slashed .214/.279/.527 with 15 doubles, 25 homers and 52 RBIs in 2023 — his first full season in the big leagues. He has also posted a 31.6% strikeout rate and a 6.8% walk rate, which goes against the Marlins’ philosophy of seeking out professional hitters with plate discipline.

However, Burger’s 25 homers match Miami All-Star Jorge Soler for the team lead, and his 52 RBIs would rank third.

TRADE DETAILSMarlins get: INF Jake BurgerWhite Sox get: LHP Jake Eder

According to Statcast, Burger is elite in the following categories: average exit velocity (92nd percentile), maximum exit velocity (100th), hard-hit percentage (91st), xSLG (93rd) and barrel percentage (99th). He is on the other side of the spectrum when it comes to whiff percentage (fifth percentile), K rate (seventh) and chase rate (sixth).

In Burger, the Marlins fill several needs:

• He’s a controllable bat, who is not arbitration-eligible until 2026 and won’t be a free agent until after the ’28 season.

• He’ll add power for a lineup that ranked third-to-last in homers with the fifth-fewest runs in MLB entering Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Burger has appeared at third base (53 games), designated hitter (25), first base (five) and second base (five) this season. At the hot corner, he has recorded -4 defensive runs saved (DRS) and -3 outs above average (OAA). At second base, Burger has has 1 DRS and 0 OAA, with a 0 DRS and 0 OAA at first.

In the one-for-one trade, the Marlins are expected to send the 24-year-old southpaw Eder. Selected in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt, the organization tested Eder from the get-go by sending him to Double-A Pensacola for his professional debut in ’21. He shot up to Top 100 Prospect status thanks to a 1.77 ERA prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery that August.

Eder returned from the procedure and a fractured left foot this past June, but he didn’t begin to find his groove until recently. During his start on Saturday, Eder struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings for the Blue Wahoos.