MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 14: Braxton Garrett #20 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on May 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) Matt Krohn Getty Images
Hours after dealing Liam Hicks to Tampa Bay for three prospects, the Marlins on Monday traded pitcher Braxton Garrett, whose time with the organization had run its course, to the Chicago Cubs for two prospects: first baseman Jonathan Long (the Cubs’ No. 10 prospect, per MLB.com) and pitcher Jace Beck (No. 28).
Garrett, once a solid No. 4 starter in the Marlins rotation, was jettisoned less than three hours before the 6 p.m. trade deadline. He spent most of this season pitching for Triple A Jacksonville, where he often dominated but also experienced some control problems.
Long, selected in the ninth round out of Cal-State Long Beach in 2023, is a right-handed hitter who’s batting 283 (.364 on base) with 12 homers, 62 RBI and 30 doubles in 99 games at Triple A Iowa. He has played 77 games at first base, one at second base, 16 in left field and seven at DH this season.
Here’s how MLB.com evaluated the 24-year-old Long:
“Long Beach State is a hitter’s graveyard, but Long managed to hit 26 homers in three seasons there, four shy of Jeff Liefer’s school record. His profile as a righty-hitting first baseman worked against him in the 2023 Draft, when he lasted until the ninth round, but he has boosted his stock by consistently raking in pro ball. He earned All-Star honors in the International League last year after leading the Triple-A circuit in hits (157) and ranking second in runs (86) and total bases (246) plus third in walks (79) and RBIs (91).
“Long employs a patient approach at the plate, drawing a healthy amount of walks while making regular contact to all fields. His bat speed and strength allow him to hit the ball hard, but he won’t fully tap into his plus raw power until he learns to drive balls in air more often to his pull side. He produces too many groundballs and can get passive at times, though that hasn’t stopped him from being productive against lefties and righties.
“While the Cubs have tried Long at third base and in left field, his below-average speed and fringy arm strength don’t make him suited for either position. He’s limited to first base, where he’s a decent defender. He doesn’t have much left to prove in the Minors but Chicago doesn’t have an obvious opening for him in its lineup.”
Beck, a 6-9 right-hander, was selected by the Mets in the 22nd round of the 2019 draft, out of an Oklahoma high school. He has a 3.62 ERA and 6-3 record in 25 games (nine starts) in Double A and Triple A this season, with 116 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings. Beck, who throws in the high 90s, has a 2.00 ERA over the past two months.
Here’s how MLB.com evaluated the 26-year-old Beck:
“An Oklahoma high school product, Beck was headed to Cowley County (Kan.) CC before the Mets selected him in the 22nd round of the 2019 Draft and signed him for $125,000. He never advanced past High-A before joining the Cubs as a Minor League free agent following the 2025 season. Then he struck out 39.2 percent of the hitters he faced in Double-A this season and led the Southern League with 102 K’s in 59 2/3 innings before he was promoted to Triple-A in mid-July.
“Beck mostly misses bats with his fastball, which he throws two-thirds of the time. It sits at 95 mph and touches 98 with plenty of carry and a good amount of armside run, and it gets on hitters quickly thanks to the elite extension in his delivery. His heater is really his only weapon, however, because his upper-80s splitter and low-80s curveball rate as fringy and his upper-80s cutter grades as below average.
“Beck’s huge 6-foot-9 frame creates plenty of natural extension, but he also has trouble keeping his long limbs in sync and repeating his low three-quarters delivery. He has little history of throwing strikes but has improved his control this season. While Chicago has given him some run as a starter, he projects as no more than a fastball-heavy reliever — albeit one who might help in the big leagues in the near future.”
Why did Garrett not receive an opportunity with the big league club beyond two starts in May?
Some insight, according to multiple sources:
1). Garrett struggled badly in those starts, allowing seven runs and walking eight in 4 1/3 innings. The Marlins have been fearful that his trade value would diminish if he’s promoted again and is bombed again.
2). The Marlins haven’t been satisfied with his control at Triple A. He has yielded only 47 hits (but 29 walks) in 77 innings. He has a 2.90 ERA in 15 starts but has been pounded in his past two appearances.
3). The Marlins, going back to the spring, wanted Garrett to find ways to increase his velocity and modify his arsenal. According to a source, Garrett was reluctant to make wholesale changes, believing major tweaks would do more harm than good.
This story was originally published August 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.