Cooper was acquired by the New York Yankees in a trade during the Jeter/Sherman era.
The Marlins acquired him, along with Caleb Smith, from the Yankees in exchange for Michael King and bonus slot money from outside of the United States.
Looking back, the Marlins got a lot out of the deal. Caleb Smith was a productive player for a few seasons before he was dealt for Starling Marte.
Because he’s been a strong hitter for the past three seasons, there’s no need to be concerned about Cooper’s defensive worth going forward.
As of this writing, Cooper is 31 years old. His career has spanned five seasons, however, he has only played 239 games because of numerous ailments (most recently a torn elbow ligament that required Tommy John surgery).
According to MLB Trade Rumors, he will be awarded $3 million in arbitration. In 2024, he’ll be eligible for free agency if he’s still under team control for another year.
Cooper has the potential to become one of the best hitters in the league if he stays healthy until 2022.
His on-base percentage was at a career-high last season, and he showed home run power to all fields after a poor start to the year (2021 stats: .284 BA, .380 OBP, .465 SLG, .845 OPS, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 61 H).
Does Garrett Cooper Have Any Kids?
Garrett Cooper and his wife Erica welcome a baby girl on 18 March 2022. Their daughter’s name is Reagan Olivia Cooper.