Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has a lot on his docket this offseason and it officially began on Thursday with a minor deal that he hopes turns into something major.

The Sox acquired outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins in exchange for left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

Hermida, 25, was the Marlins’ first-round selection (11th overall) in the 2002 draft and has yet to reach his potential, according to Epstein, who is hoping Hermida will do so in the Sox’ organization.

“Hermida is a player who hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet and we acquired him today at a reasonable cost to see if he might be able to fulfill that potential with us. He’s somebody who has positive indicators that his future performance might be better than his past performance. With his minor-league track record, his age and his draft pedigree and our scouting reports over the years indicate there’s a chance that he can turn into the player that he was once thought to be.”

Epstein believes this was a good time to make this deal given Hermida’s low value at this point with a potentially high ceiling.

Hermida, a left-handed hitter, posted a .259 average with 13 homers and 47 RBI in 129 games for the Marlins last season. He can play the corner outfield positions and made only one error in 205 total chances.

“He’s an average defender on the corners and is a fairly well-rounded player,” said Epstein. “Having an outstanding minor-league performance as a young player, he showed a lot of offensive potential.”

Overall, Hermida owns a .265 career average in the big leagues with 57 homers and 210 RBI in a total of 516 games for the Marlins. He’s also dealt with some injuries in his career, including a muscle strain on his right side last August.

“I think [injuries] have held him back and has prevented him from reaching his potential,” said Epstein. “The injuries he’s had have been soft tissue and nothing structural. It’s not something that should impair him going forward.”

With the Sox attempting to re-sign left fielder Jason Bay and with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and right fielder J.D. Drew cemented into their positions, Hermida’s role will be based on performance and need.

“When you acquire a player, sometimes you acquire them because you think there’s a chance — with a change of scenery — they might grow into their potential and promise. He’s somebody who had, and we feel may still have considerable promise. . . . Things really never came together for him in the big leagues and that’s not uncommon for young players.”

The Sox believe Hermida is just about to reach his prime years and that’s why Epstein made this deal to kick off what will likely be a busy winter season.

In other moves, the club out-righted right-handed pitcher Fernando Cabrera, outfielder Joey Gathright and infielder Nick Green to Pawtucket.