Marlins get 2 prospects, send Luzardo to Phillies

MIAMI -- The Marlins have traded left-hander Jesús Luzardo and Minor League catcher Paul McIntosh to the Phillies for a pair of top prospects, the team announced Sunday.

Joining the Marlins' organization are shortstop Starlyn Caba (Philadelphia's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, No. 81 overall) and outfielder Emaarion Boyd (Philly's No. 23 prospect).

TRADE DETAILS
Phillies get: LHP Jesús Luzardo, Minor League C/OF Paul McIntosh
Marlins get: SS Starlyn Caba (PHI No. 4 prospect), OF Emaarion Boyd (PHI No. 23)

This latest trade falls in line with what president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has done so far this offseason by adding lower-level prospects to the system. During the Winter Meetings, Miami acquired Texas' No. 17 prospect Echedry Vargas (Single-A infielder), former top international prospect Max Acosta (Double-A infielder, now on 40-man roster) and Brayan Mendoza (High-A left-hander) for corner infielder Jake Burger.

Caba, 19, was considered one of the best players in the 2023 international signing class and lived up to the hype in the Dominican Republic Summer League by hitting .301/.423/.346. But he struggled in his move stateside in 2024, putting up a combined slash line of .228/.385/.284 in 78 games between the Rookie-level Phillies and Single-A Clearwater.

According to MLB Pipeline's scouting report, the switch-hitter has elite run (60) and field (65) grades on the scouting scale (20-80), with a knack for making contact from both sides of the plate. Despite his struggles this past season, one constant remained: He has walked more than he has struck out at every level.

MLB Pipeline also goes on to say Caba could be a plus shortstop for a very long time because of his outstanding range, soft hands, excellent footwork, good internal clock and above-average arm. He has drawn comparisons to Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.

Boyd, 21, was an 11th-round pick by the Phillies in the 2022 MLB Draft out of South Panola High School in Mississippi.

In his second full professional season in 2024, the right-handed-hitting Boyd hit .239/.317/.331 with 13 doubles, five triples, three homers and 40 RBIs in 96 games for High-A Jersey Shore. With a 70-grade run tool, Boyd finished second in the Florida State League with 56 steals in 2023 -- but he was caught 18 times. Due to his elite speed, Boyd saw more time in center rather than left field this past season.

The 27-year-old Luzardo, whom the Marlins acquired from the A's as a reclamation project for Starling Marte in a July 2021 deal, had been the subject of trade rumors each of the past two offseasons. With two more years of club control, Cot's Baseball Contracts projected him to make $6.5 million via arbitration in 2025.

After a career year in 2023, local kid Luzardo dealt with left elbow tightness and then sustained a season-ending lumbar stress reaction in late June 2024. He finished with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 12 starts. Luzardo was the club's 2024 Roberto Clemente Award nominee.

McIntosh, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia University in 2021, had been stuck at Double-A Pensacola (.725 OPS) due to the upper-level catching talent in the system. The Marlins already have four backstops on the 40-man roster, three of whom joined the organization within the past year: MLB Pipeline’s No. 96 overall prospect Agustin Ramirez, Rule 5 Draft selection Liam Hicks and Jhonny Pereda. Miami also has No. 9 prospect Joe Mack and Bennett Hostetler.

The last time the National League East rivals made a trade was in February 2019, when Miami sent catcher J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia for top prospect Sixto Sánchez, catcher Jorge Alfaro, left-hander Will Stewart and future considerations.