Marlins trade Sergio Romo to Twins, resembles 2003 Adrian Gonzalez trade in reverse

The Miami Marlins were always expected to move some of their expiring contracts before the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline and the first domino fell on Saturday.

Closer Sergio Romo was traded to the Minnesota Twins, along with minor league pitcher Chris Vallimont, for first base prospect Lewin Diaz. This sounds a lot like when the Marlins traded Adrian Gonzalez and two other minor leaguers to the Texas Rangers for Ugueth Urbina in time for a 2003 World Series run, only this time it’s in reverse.

Led by rookie manager Rocco Baldelli, the Twins are in first place year of the American League Central and just got the bullpen boost they need to secure their spot in the playoffs. In an odd, unique way, the team lead by a 37-year-old manager acquired a 36-year-old pitcher. Romo racked up 17 saves in Miami to go along with a 3.58 ERA in 37⅔ innings.

“They’re in a really, really good position to make a playoff push. That’s exciting. It’s super fun baseball to play,” Romo said after the Marlins’ 9-2 loss to Arizona on Saturday night. “But kind of mixed feelings based on the fact I get to leave a bunch of dudes I’ve grown to love. Cool dudes who allowed me to be myself.”

Did the Marlins get the next A-Gon? Diaz is ranked the Twins’ No. 30 prospect by MLB Pipeline at the time of the trade. This season he slashed .290/.333/.533 in 214 at-bats in Single-A Fort Meyers and .309/.348/.602 in 123 at-bats in Double-A Pensacola. He’ll report to Double-A Jacksonville, which means him moving his bags from one clubhouse to the other since they’re currently playing each other this weekend. 

“We felt like we maximized an expiring asset and were able to add, in our opinion, one of the most productive, impactful power hitters in all of minor league baseball,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said of the Romo deal after the game.

Vallimont might be the true cost of the deal. He went 6-7 with a 3.16 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 105.1 innings pitched over 19 starts in Single-A this season.