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Cubs Steal Braxton Garrett in Massive Marlins Heist
Cubs Add Left-Handed Pitcher Braxton Garrett in Trade with Marlins
What Happened?
The Chicago Cubs made a trade with the Miami Marlins on Sunday, August 3rd. Think of it like swapping baseball cards, but with real players!
The Cubs get:
- Braxton Garrett — a left-handed pitcher (throws with his left hand)
The Marlins get:
- Jonathon Long — a minor league infielder (plays positions like shortstop or second base)
- Jace Beck — a minor league right-handed pitcher
News Sources: This trade was reported by Will Sammon (The Athletic) and Francys Romero (BeisbolFR.com).
Who Is Braxton Garrett? (ELI5 Version)
Imagine a pitcher who was once a super-duper highly touted prospect (like a #1 draft pick in fantasy football), then got hurt, and is now trying to prove he’s still good.
The Basics
- Age: Turns 29 on Wednesday (born August 2016)
- Draft History: 7th overall pick in the 2016 draft — that’s really high!
- Throws: Left-handed (southpaw)
- Status: Healthy now after major injury
The Good Years (2022–2023)
Garrett had a breakout — meaning he suddenly played way better than expected:
- Pitched 247 2/3 innings (that’s a LOT)
- 3.63 ERA (Earned Run Average — lower is better, like golf scores)
- 23.8% strikeout rate (gets batters out without them hitting the ball)
- 5.1% walk rate (doesn’t give free bases often)
- 48.7% ground-ball rate (hitters pound the ball into the ground, which is safer)
The Bad Luck (2024–2025)
- 2024: Tore his UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) — a crucial elbow ligament for pitchers
- This required Tommy John surgery (common elbow reconstruction)
- Wiped out most of 2024 and all of 2025
- 2026 (this year): Healthy but only 2 MLB appearances — both in May
- Struggled badly: 7 runs, 8 walks in only 4 1/3 innings
The Triple-A Story (Minor Leagues)
Garrett has been pitching in Triple-A (the highest minor league level, one step below MLB):
- Overall this year: 2.90 ERA in 77 2/3 innings — really good!
- Strikeouts: 26.4% | Walks: 9.2% — solid numbers
- Recent hiccup: Got hit hard in his last 2 starts — gave up 13 runs combined
Important Context: The Miami Herald reported Garrett may have clashed with the Marlins over mechanical changes they wanted him to make in spring training. This might explain why he stayed in Triple-A despite MLB roster openings.
What This Means for the Cubs (The "Why Now?")
The Cubs’ starting rotation (the 5 pitchers who start games) has been hit by the injury bug hard:
Current Cubs Rotation Injuries
| Pitcher | Status |
|---|---|
| Jameson Taillon | Released (cut from team) |
| Cade Horton | Out for the entire year |
| Justin Steele | Only bullpen (relief) role if he returns — had UCL surgery last year |
| Ben Brown | On Injured List (IL) |
| Edward Cabrera | On IL (former Marlins teammate of Garrett!) |
Current Healthy Rotation (6 guys for 5 spots)
- Kevin Gausman (newly acquired)
- Matthew Boyd
- Shota Imanaga
- Javier Assad
- David Peterson
- Colin Rea
Note: Assad, Peterson, and Rea have all pitched in relief before. One could move to the bullpen to make room for Garrett.
Contract & Control Details (The Money Stuff)
- Arbitration eligible: 2 more years (team controls his salary through a process called arbitration)
- 2026 Salary: $1.525 million — very reasonable for a potential starter
- Options: This is his final minor league option year
- Translation: If he’s not on the 2027 Opening Day roster, the Cubs must either keep him in the majors or risk losing him (designate for assignment)
What Happens Next? (Numbered Steps)
- Garrett reports to the Cubs organization
- Decision time: Cubs choose between:
- Option A: Send him to Triple-A Iowa to work on things
- Option B: Put him straight into the rotation (replacing someone who moves to bullpen)
- He gets ~2 months to prove he belongs on the 2027 roster
- Winter 2026–27: Cubs decide whether to tender him a contract for 2027
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Low-risk, high-upside move: Cubs give up two minor leaguers for a once-promising starter
- Injury insurance: Rotation depth was critically thin
- Buy-low candidate: Garrett’s value dropped due to injury + struggles, but talent remains
- Clock is ticking: Final option year means 2026 audition determines his Cubs future
Summary
The Cubs traded for Braxton Garrett, a 29-year-old lefty starter who was once a top prospect, had a great 2022–23, then missed 1.5 years with a torn elbow ligament. He’s healthy now and pitching well in Triple-A (except two recent rough starts). The Cubs gave up two minor leaguers (Jonathon Long, Jace Beck) — a small price for a potential rotation piece.
With multiple starters injured, Garrett provides much-needed depth. He’s cheap ($1.5M), team-controlled through 2027, and has one minor league option left. He’ll either start in Triple-A Iowa or join the big-league rotation immediately. The next two months are his audition for a 2027 roster spot.
FAQ
What is Tommy John surgery / UCL tear?
ELI5: The UCL is a ligament in your elbow that acts like a rubber band holding bones together. Pitching puts massive stress on it. When it tears, doctors replace it with a tendon from elsewhere in your body (or a donor). Recovery takes 12–18 months. Many pitchers come back throwing harder than before!
What does "final minor league option year" mean?
ELI5: Teams can send players up and down between MLB and minors a limited number of times (usually 3 "option years"). This is Garrett’s last one. If the Cubs send him down again next year, they’d have to put him on waivers (where other teams can claim him for free) to keep him in the minors.
Who are Jonathon Long and Jace Beck?
ELI5: They’re prospects (young developing players) in the Cubs’ minor league system. Long plays infield (like shortstop); Beck is a righty pitcher. Neither was considered a top-tier prospect, so the Cubs didn’t give up much.
Why didn’t the Marlins keep Garrett if he’s pitching well in Triple-A?
ELI5: Two reasons: (1) They have lots of young pitchers coming up (Max Meyer, Eury Pérez, etc.), and (2) Reports suggest Garrett resisted coaching changes. Teams sometimes trade players who don’t "buy in" to their system.
Is Garrett guaranteed a rotation spot?
No. He has to earn it. The Cubs have 6 healthy starters for 5 spots. Someone (likely Assad, Peterson, or Rea) would move to the bullpen to make room — if the Cubs think Garrett gives them the best chance to win right now.
