Marlins Trade Garrett Acton to Twins for Minor League Pitching Depth
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Time was growing short, but the Miami Marlins found a taker for pitcher Garrett Acton.
The Marlins designated the pitcher for assignment on Sunday, and the time was ticking for them to make a trade before he hit waivers. In return for Acton, the Minnesota Twins traded minor league pitcher Logan Whitaker. The Marlins announced the move and assigned him to Double-A Pensacola.
After a player is DFA’ed, he has a certain amount of time where he can be traded. If he’s not moved, he must go through waivers. If he’s not claimed, then the Marlins could have optioned him to an affiliate. The trade was to ensure the Marlins didn’t lose Acton for nothing in return. It also means Miami doesn’t see him as a fit anymore.
Garrett Acton for Logan Whitaker
Acton spent his offseason looking for a job. The Tampa Bay Rays DFA’ed him in November and the Colorado Rockies promptly picked him up. The Rockies DFA’ed Acton in January and he landed with the Marlins in February on a waiver claim.
He pitched in six games for the Marlins in spring training. He wasn’t involved in a decision and had no ERA. He allowed no hits and one unearned run in 5.1 innings. He struck out six and walked four. It wasn’t enough to keep him in Major League camp, as he was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on March 16. Miami DFA’ed him to make room for shortstop Leo Jiménez, who was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Before joining the Marlins, he pitched in six games with the Athletics in 2023 and one game with Tampa Bay in 2024. He finished with a 10.80 ERA with five strikeouts and seven walks in 6.2 innings. He allowed nine hits and eight earned runs. The 27-year-old was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2016 in the 35th round out of Illinois. He was never signed by the White Sox and landed with the Athletics in 2020 on a minor league deal.
Whitaker, 25, was the Twins’ 19th round pick in 2024 out of North Carolina State. The Twins dropped him with their Florida State League team in Fort Myers, and he pitched in two games, giving up four hits and three runs (one earned) in four innings. He struck out five and walked none.
He spent 2025 with two affiliates in High-A and Double-A and went 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in 25 games, all in relief. He had four holds but no saves in two chances. He struck out 33 and walked 10 in 38.1 innings. Batters hit .247 against him.
