On Thursday, the Miami Marlins dealt the longest-tenured position player on the team, Jesús Sánchez, to the Houston Astros in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Gusto and prospects Chase Jaworsky and Esmil Valencia. Michael Schwab was the first to report that Sánchez was traded.

This marks back-to-back years that the Marlins and Astros have struck a deal. In 2024, they swapped Jacob Amaya for Valente Bellozo.

Sánchez, who the Marlins acquired alongside Ryne Stanek back in 2019 when they traded reliever Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Tampa Bay Rays, finishes his career with the Marlins slashing .243/.310/.426/.736 with 69 home runs, 226 RBI and a 100 OPS+.

Through 86 games in 2025, Sánchez is slashing .256/.320/.420/.740 with 10 home runs, 36 RBI and a 105 wRC+. After the Marlins trade to give him an opportunity to face more left-handed pitching in 2024, he’s been primarily facing righties this season, which will likely be the case with the Astros.

Sánchez ranks 23rd in Marlins history in games played (532).

As for the return, Ryan Gusto was currently in the Astros rotation. He has posted a 4.92 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 9.10 K/9 and 2.93 BB/9 through 86 innings pitched. His last start came on July 30 against the Washington Nationals, going six innings, allowing one run on four hits, one walk and struck out five.

Gusto’s arsenal consist of a four-seam fastball, curveball, sinker, cutter, changeup, sweeper and slider. His fastball is his best pitch, posting a three run value, averaging 94.1 mph, generating a 28.4% whiff rate and 21.2% PutAway rate. 

With the Marlins surprisingly holding onto everybody in their major league rotation, expect Gusto to be optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Infielder Chase Jaworsky was one of two prospects acquired in this trade. He is the 22nd ranked prospect according to Baseball America and 13th per MLB Pipeline. Through 57 games at the High-A level, he’s slashing .242/.353/.359/.712 with three home runs, 29 RBI, 24 stolen bases and a 100 wRC+.

Esmil Valencia, who isn’t ranked in any Top 30 list, is currently in Low-A slashing .263/.325/.357/.682 with five home runs, 36 RBI, 50 stolen bases and a 103 wRC+. Right away, Valencia joining the organization puts him as the system’s stolen base leader, ahead of Jakob Marsee who currently stands at. The 19-year-old outfield prospect is striking out 24.6% of the time, which is an increase from last year’s 17.5% rate.

Overall, the Marlins did well in this trade. They acquired Gusto, who was struggling a bit in the Astros organization, but has the makings of a middle-of-the-rotation starter, while the two other prospects have some nice underlying tools which the Marlins have been looking for in prospects ever since Peter Bendix joined the organization.