MIAMI – The Miami Marlins today acquired INF Joey Wendle from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Minor League OF Kameron Misner.
Wendle, 31, was a 2021 American League All-Star and hit .265 with a career-high 11 home runs. He added 31 doubles, four triples and 54 RBI in 136 games for the Rays last season.
A versatile defender, the Wilmington, Del., native started 82 games at third base, 23 games at shortstop, and 16 games at second base in 2021. Wendle finished last season with 10 defensive runs saved and was a finalist for the AL Rawlings Gold Glove Award at third base. He also played 315.1 innings at shortstop and second base without making an error. Wendle won the Rays’ 2021 Paul C. Smith Champion Award, as voted by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA, which is given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field.
A sixth-round pick by Cleveland in 2012 from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Wendle has played in parts of six Major League seasons and is a .274 career hitter with 27 home runs and 167 RBI in 436 games. He has made 13 starts in left field in his career and played 18 total games in the outfield as well.
Wendle was a member of Tampa Bay’s postseason roster each of the last three years.
To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Lewis Brinson has been designated for assignment.
