The Miami Marlins have considered trading Edward Cabrera in the past. As it turns out, they’re fortunate that nothing materialized from those conversations, because Cabrera is in the midst of a career year in 2025. The 27-year-old right-hander has learned to channel his immense talent into consistent results and he’s a huge reason why the rebuilding Marlins are only five games back of a National League playoff spot in late July.
There is no urgency for the Fish to move on from Cabrera at this year’s deadline—they would need to be overwhelmed by an offer. However, the Boston Red Sox are well-equipped to meet their asking price.
After the 2005 season, these teams consummated a seven-player swap. Veterans Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell went to Boston, where they won a World Series title together in 2007; Florida received a prospect package that featured Hanley RamÃrez and AnÃbal Sánchez, both of whom were instantly impactful as rookies and remained in South Florida until 2012.
Two decades later, are the ingredients there to cook up another win-win deal?
Â
How Cabrera fits in Boston
The Sox highlighted their 2024-25 offseason by bolstering their starting rotation, acquiring Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler through trade and free agency, respectively. While the former has been exceptional, boasting a 2.19 ERA through 21 outings and generating Cy Young buzz, the latter has been a liability. Buehler would rank dead last among American League starters in both ERA (5.72) and FIP (5.67) if he had enough innings pitched to qualify. Add Lucas Giolito’s inconsistencies and various injury setbacks, Boston is desperate for another high-end starter.
Beyond trying hard to cling to a 2025 AL Wild Card spot, the Red Sox are also playing the long game with a young core of star-caliber position players. They’ll be prioritizing trade candidates that they can build around over pending free agents. Under team control through 2028, Cabrera, fellow Dominican Brayan Bello and Crochet could spearhead a rotation marked by heat, heat and more heat for the foreseeable future.
If Cabrera were to continue the run of success he’s currently enjoying, there aren’t many organizations with a checkbook like Boston’s to keep him around on a lucrative extension.
Â
“The Password” is key
With a nickname derived from the complexity of his first name, Jhostynxon GarcÃa would fit right in with the Marlins’ deadline acquisitions of a year ago.
GarcÃa has been tearing the cover off baseballs since being promoted to Triple-A in late May, posting a .295/.370/.530 slash line and 134 wRC+ with 11 long balls and a 21/56 BB/K ratio. He has a knack for pulling the ball and hits the ball with great backspin, allowing him to out-slug his exit velocities.
An impressive all-around player, the 22-year-old possesses a 60-grade cannon of an arm to couple with 55-grade field and 50-grade run tools. He has shown the ability to play a good center field. That has propelled him to the Futures Game and consensus Top 100 MLB prospect status. Baseball America ranks him seventh among current Red Sox prospects.
The biggest concern evaluators have about GarcÃa is his ability to make consistent contact and tame an aggressive approach at the plate.
Under normal circumstances, GarcÃa’s call-up to the highest level would seem plausible in the coming weeks. But similar to the predicaments that Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers previously faced in Baltimore, he is essentially blocked. Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu are already roaming the outfield in Fenway Park, with Ceddanne Rafaela capably moving between center and second base as needed. Though Duran’s name has frequently come up in trade rumors this year, recent reporting suggests Boston plans to keep him.
It would be much easier for GarcÃa to fit in Miami’s plans, especially if Jesús Sánchez vacates right field in a separate trade.Â
Â
Complementary pieces
The Marlins have the leverage to ask for additional players from the Red Sox beyond the headliner GarcÃa.
Connelly Early, 22, is a high-floor southpaw with a five-pitch mix that features a plus changeup (#11 Red Sox prospect, per BA).
Selected in the fifth round back in 2023, Connelly has added strength and fastball velocity since being in the Sox’s system, now consistently sitting 93-94 mph, topping 96. The ex-Virginia Cavalier flexes an additional sweeper—ideal for the Marlins organization—slider and curveball. Early’s calling card is his command, with ability to work north-to-south and east-to-west, warranting a 55-grade on his control, per Baseball America.
Thus far in 2025, Connelly has dominated in Double-A Portland with a 2.51 ERA through 71Â â…” innings, punching out 96 while forfeiting just three home runs.
It’s not often the throw-in piece of a deal of this magnitude is the most well-known amongst the average baseball fan, but Blaze Jordan (#24 Red Sox prospect) would be an exception.
Since the age of 11, Jordan has been generating hype online for swatting unfathomable blasts in youth home run derbies across America. In January 2016 at 13 years old, the Mississippi native launched a 461-foot tank to win the competition at, you guessed it, loanDepot park.
Almost a decade later, Jordan’s adjustments have the 22-year-old surging. Hindered by a high chase rate for much of his minor league career, Jordan put in plenty of work in after an injury-riddled 2024 to correct his approach. It’s paid off in 2025.
Between Double-A and Triple-A, Jordan has already walked 31 times compared to 18 a season ago, raised his OBP from .305 to .373 whilst maintaining serious power, depositing 11 balls into the seats.Â
Defensively, there’s still plenty to be desired as evidenced by a 40-field and 30-run. Still working at third and first base, Jordan’s range is limited, leading to most scouts believing a permanent home at DH is the most likely scenario moving forward.
David Sandlin (#12 Red Sox prospect) is an 11th-rounder selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 2022 draft and traded to Boston in February 2024 for bullpen arm John Schreiber. Sandlin has a four-pitch-mix of a high-octane fastball, slider, cutter and splitter. In 78 innings this season, he has posted a 3.68 ERA with a 3.35 FIP. Sandlin has been able limit home runs unlike prior seasons, which has come at the cost of strikeouts, but made him a more effective pitcher.
Sandlin has a degree of reliever risk, but the Marlins may be able to develop him into a strong No. 4 in a rotation or decent No. 3.
A 2024 fourth-round pick, Zach Ehrhard (Red Sox #29 prospect) has already found his way to Double-A. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy shared the outfield with New York Mets first-rounder Carson Benge. Ehrhard has had a productive season between High-A and Double-A, slashing .274/.373/.443 with a 138 wRC+ and .379 wOBA. Making great contact and pulling the ball in the air, his hitting data shows a lot of promise. He is good on the basepaths with 23 stolen bases in 2025, fitting what the Marlins have been doing all year long throughout the organization.
Ehrhard is a potential everyday outfielder, or a fourth outfielder who can play the corners well and sub in at center field with his athleticism.
Â
Nate’s mock trade: Edward Cabrera to the Red Sox for OF Jhostynxon GarcÃa, LHP Connelly Early and 1B/3B Blake Jordan
Sean’s mock trade: Edward Cabrera to the Red Sox for OF Jhostynxon GarcÃa, RHP David Sandlin and OF Zach Ehrhard