The Marlins are sending left-hander Braxton Garrett to the Cubs in a deal that brings back first baseman Jonathon Long and right-hander Jace Beck, according to Francys Romero.
Chicago is taking a shot on a pitcher whose big-league line in 2026 doesn’t tell the full story. Garrett gave up seven runs in just 4 1/3 innings over two starts for Miami, but his work in the minors painted a very different picture: a 2.90 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 83 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings as he pushed toward a permanent rotation job. His place with the Marlins had already slipped after he returned from elbow surgery in December 2024.
Garrett doesn’t win with pure velocity. His game is built on movement and sequencing, with a sinker, four-seam fastball, sweeper, slider and changeup all part of the mix. In his last extended Major League stretch, the sinker and sweeper were especially effective, holding hitters to .226 and .211 averages in 2024.
For the Cubs, the appeal is clear: a buy-low rotation arm who can help the back end during the playoff push.
Miami, meanwhile, gets two very different prospects back. Long, 24, brings the bat. He hit .283/.364/.455 with 12 home runs and 62 RBIs at Triple-A Iowa, and MLB Pipeline grades his hit tool above average, making him a near-ready option with real offensive upside.
Beck brings the arm talent. The 6-foot-9 right-hander posted a 3.62 ERA with 116 strikeouts over 74 2/3 innings, though his 1.42 WHIP shows he was also putting plenty of traffic on the bases. He’s the more volatile piece of the return, but the strikeout ability is there.
In the end, Chicago lands the more established big leaguer, while Miami turns an injury-hit pitcher into one advanced bat close to the majors and one high-strikeout arm still in need of refinement.
In Other News...
Cubs Just Got Pulled Into Torontos Deadline Rotation Shakeup
Torontos deadline-day rotation shuffle has already sent ripple effects through the league, and the Cubs were pulled into the middle of it before the dust could settle. The Blue Jays moved quickly ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, adding Jose Soriano from the Angels while also reshaping the staff with veteran arms, a sign they were prioritizing immediate stability as they mapped out the rest of 2026 and even looked ahead to 2027.
For Chicago, the bigger story is how this kind of deal changes the market around it. A club in deadline mode can turn one trade into a broader reset, and the Cubs now sit in the orbit of a Blue Jays rotation plan that could still keep evolving as Toronto weighs future moves involving its veteran pitchers. Even after the first wave of action, the way Toronto sorts out its staff may decide whether this becomes a one-off adjustment or the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Just Paid A Real Prospect Price For An October Push
The Cubs made a clear win-now move, parting with one of their better infield prospects to shore up the roster for the stretch run. Jefferson Rojas was sent to the Mets in a deal that brought back Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor, a transaction that signals Chicago is treating October as more than a distant goal and more like a window worth pushing through right now.
Holmes gives the Cubs a right-handed arm who is still on the injured list but getting close to a return, while Taylor adds experienced outfield depth for the final months of the season. It is the kind of trade that usually comes with an uncomfortable cost, and Chicago paid it by moving a player it had reason to value, betting the short-term upgrade will matter more than the long-term regret. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Just Got A Surprising Deadline Opening They Still Needed
The Cubs still have not made a trade move, but they do have one of the more intriguing deadline paths to monitor as they poke around with Texas. The Rangers have shifted their approach enough to at least listen on some pitching, which has put Chicago in the mix for arms such as Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jacob Latz. For a club looking for help without blowing up its deadline, that kind of opening is worth watching closely.
Texas, though, has also sent a mixed message to rival front offices, which is part of what makes this whole thing feel so unsettled. Trade talks can turn quickly at this time of year, and the Cubs are weighing options in a market where the other side may not be nearly as available as it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]