Twins & Marlins Complete Trade

The Miami Marlins found their taker for Garrett Acton with time running out, shipping the 28-year-old righty to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in exchange for minor league right-hander Logan Whitaker. 

Acton will report to Triple-A St. Paul, adding depth to a Twins bullpen that has already had to deal with David Festa being transferred to the 60-day IL with a right shoulder impingement.

Garrett Acton's Winding Road to Minnesota

A 35th-round Chicago White Sox pick in 2016 who chose not to sign and instead went to college, Acton eventually came back around as a non-drafted free agent with the Athletics in 2020. 

He missed the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, came back with Tampa Bay Ray's Triple-A affiliate last year, posted a 3.68 ERA across 58.2 innings in 45 appearances, and threw one inning at the big league level before the Rays DFA'd him after the season. 

Garrett Acton possesses an elite carry FF, gyro SL, and runny CH.

He's got an Ian Hamilton-esque slide-step to the plate.

He would benefit from using a universal target and a bridge cutter to increase his in-zone rate and in-zone whiffs. #RaysUp #Rays https://t.co/iYtFzKxiaz pic.twitter.com/QZUw90Ki39

— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) December 19, 2023

The Colorado Rockies claimed him, DFA'd him in January, and the Marlins grabbed him in February. He made two scoreless appearances for Triple-A Jacksonville (2.1 innings, four strikeouts) before being DFA'd again when Miami needed the roster spot for shortstop Leo Jimenez, acquired from Toronto. 

His seven career MLB appearances have produced a 10.80 ERA across 6.2 innings, which is ugly, but the Triple-A track record is legitimate. His four-seamer sits around 95 miles per hour, and he pairs it with a high-80s slider and a changeup roughly 8-10 mph slower. 

Here's new Marlins reliever Garrett Acton striking out Evan Longoria back in 2023.

A little bit of Andrew Kittredge in his delivery. pic.twitter.com/42AvVrXLHz

— Louis Addeo-Weiss (@addeo_louis00) February 3, 2026

Two minor league option years remaining make him a useful organizational piece for a team that regularly cycles arms between St. Paul and the big leagues.

What the Twins Gave Up and What Logan Whitaker Brings to Miami

Whitaker is 25 and won't turn Miami's world upside down, but he's a legitimate pitching prospect. 

The Twins' 19th-round pick in 2024 out of North Carolina State spent last season split between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita, going 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA across 25 appearances in 38 and a third innings despite spending nearly two months on the injured list. 

A look at Logan Whitaker's fastball and changeup.

New Double-A reliever acquired from Minnesota in the Garrett Acton trade. pic.twitter.com/6Is9j2hGzH

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) April 3, 2026

He had 33 strikeouts against just 10 walks, and he's listed at 6-foot-6 with a four-seamer and changeup as his primary weapons, mixing in a slider and cutter. 

He'll join Double-A Pensacola and gives the Marlins a young arm to develop in a system that has been churning through bullpen options early in the season.

Photo Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images