Cubs Rotation Boost
Chicago Cubs Acquire Braxton Garrett from Marlins, Bolstering Rotation with Cost-Controlled Lefty
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Key Points
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Beck is a 6-foot-9 right-hander with a pronounced strikeout profile (116 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings at Double-A Knoxville this season) but carries a high WHIP (1.42) and hasn’t yielded consistent results after his promotion to Triple-A Iowa, suggesting high upside with polish needed.
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Long was a standout in the minors with 157 hits last year to lead the International League and earned All-Star honors, underscoring the bat-first upside Chicago is acquiring at first base.
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Garrett sat out the 2025 season after Tommy John surgery and returned this year to post a 2.90 ERA over roughly 77 2/3 minor-league innings, signaling a potential buy-low candidate for Chicago’s rotation depth.
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Garrett’s pitch mix includes a sinker, four-seam fastball, sweeper, slider and changeup, with the sinker and sweeper showing the most effectiveness in his late-MLB action, providing a raw but projectable toolset for the back of the Cubs’ rotation.
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Garrett is under Cubs team control through 2028, giving Chicago durable cost-controlled depth as it pursues a playoff run, independent of his immediate MLB results this year.
The Chicago Cubs have traded two prospects to the Miami Marlins for left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett, adding a controllable arm to their rotation as they push for the playoffs. According to Miami Herald, the deal sends first baseman Jonathon Long and right-hander Jace Beck to Miami in exchange for the 28-year-old Garrett.
The move pairs Garrett with veteran Kevin Gausman, giving Chicago two new rotation options ahead of the deadline stretch run. Garrett is under Cubs control through 2028, making him a long-term piece even if he takes time to find his footing in the big leagues.
Garrett Bounces Back After Tommy John Surgery
Garrett missed the 2025 season after Tommy John surgery — a procedure to repair a torn elbow ligament. He returned this year and posted a 2.90 ERA over 77 2/3 minor-league innings, per Miami Herald. That is a strong number, suggesting his arm has recovered well.
His pitch mix includes a sinker, four-seam fastball, sweeper, slider and changeup. The sinker and sweeper have looked best in his two brief MLB starts this year. Chicago is betting he can slot into the back of the rotation and eat innings as the team chases October, according to Cubs HQ.
Long and Beck Give Miami Two High-Upside Prospects
Jonathon Long was the Cubs' No. 10 prospect, per Yahoo Sports. The right-handed first baseman hit .283/.364/.455 with 12 home runs and 62 RBIs in 99 Triple-A Iowa games this season. He led the International League with 157 hits last year and earned All-Star honors in the minors.
Jace Beck is a 6-foot-9 right-hander ranked No. 28 in the Cubs system, according to Miami Herald. He struck out 116 batters in just 74 2/3 Double-A innings this season. However, his WHIP sits at 1.42, meaning he allows too many baserunners. He has not yet found the same success after a promotion to Triple-A Iowa.
Miami Rebuilds Its Farm While Chicago Targets a Playoff Run
The Marlins are in full rebuilding mode. Trading Garrett — a cost-controlled veteran — for two prospects fits that plan. Miami gets a bat-first first baseman with a proven hit tool in Long, plus an arm with big strikeout upside in Beck. Both players are younger and cheaper than Garrett.
For Chicago, the math is simple. Garrett costs little, is locked up through 2028 and fills a rotation hole right now. The Cubs have added both Gausman and Garrett in the same window, per NBC Sports, giving their pitching staff a meaningful upgrade without breaking the bank on prospects.
Cubs Rotation Gets Deeper Just in Time for October Push
Chicago needed rotation depth. Garrett gives them a left-handed option with a varied pitch mix who is still getting sharper after surgery. His 2.90 minor-league ERA suggests the stuff is back, even if the MLB sample is small — just two starts this year, per Cubs HQ.
Pairing Garrett with Gausman at the back and middle of the rotation gives the Cubs real flexibility heading into the postseason. The team traded medium-upside prospects for a pitcher with four years of control. If Garrett pitches like his Triple-A numbers suggest he can, Chicago got a bargain, according to Yahoo Sports.
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