Marlins use final day before trade deadline to build depth at an organizational weak spot

In the hours before MLB’s trade deadline on Friday afternoon, the Miami Marlins traded away a starting position player and a middle-inning reliever to build depth at one of the organization’s thinnest positions.

“One of our primary targets,” Marlins general manager Kim Ng said, “was creating more depth with the catching spot. I think we did that today.”

Gone are outfielder Adam Duvall and right-handed pitcher John Curtiss.

In are prospects Alex Jackson and Payton Henry, both of whom were among their respective organization’s top prospects.

Jackson, acquired from the Braves for Duvall, was the No. 22 overall prospect in the Braves’ organization according to Baseball America. The 25-year-old has batted .287 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 30 games for Triple A Gwinnett this season and has also appeared in 10 games at the Major League level this season.

Henry, acquired from the Brewers for Curtiss, was the No. 19 overall prospect in the Brewers’ organization according to MLB Pipeline. In five Minor League seasons, Henry is a .248 career hitter with 33 home runs and 185 RBI.

Ng said Jackson will join the big-league club once he arrives in town, while Henry will start with Triple A Jacksonville.

As of right now, Jorge Alfaro and Sandy Leon are their big-league catchers this season. Nick Fortes, Santiago Chavez and Brian Navarreto were their top options in the minors Triple A Jacksonville. Will Banfield, Miami’s top-ranked catching prospect, is in Class A Advanced Beloit.

But in order to make those trades, the Marlins had to give up a pair of players who were beneficial to the club this year but might not have been in their future plans.

Duvall, who has a $7 million mutual option in his contract for the 2022 season that includes a $3 million buyout if not picked up, was the lone position player the Marlins added this offseason, hoping his power in the middle of the team’s lineup would boost a sluggish offense. His tenure with the Marlins lasted 90 games.

In that span, he led the Marlins and was tied for 16th in MLB with 22 home runs this season. His 68 RBI are the 11th most in the majors.

But while the discussion normally focuses on Duvall’s power at the plate, he was just as valuable in the field. Duvall’s 13 defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs, are tied with Michael A. Taylor for second most among outfielders, just one behind Joey Gallo.

With that, the Marlins’ entire starting outfield from Opening Day has been traded away. Miami sent left fielder Corey Dickerson to the Toronto Blue Jays along with reliever Adam Cimber for infielder Joe Panik on June 29. And on Wednesday, the Marlins traded center fielder Starling Marte to the Oakland Athletics for left-handed starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo.

Their primary fourth outfielder, Garrett Cooper, is also out for the season with a small tear in the UCL of his left (non-throwing) elbow.

The Marlins are now using the next two months to give prospects and players in prove-it years a chance to get regular playing time. Brian Miller and Bryan De La Cruz (acquired in the Yimi Garcia trade Wednesday) are making their MLB debuts Friday. Magneuris Sierra, Lewis Brinson and Monte Harrison — three players who might not be on the roster in 2022 — are the top internal options to play center field.

Curtiss, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the start of spring training, has primarily been used as an opener on bullpen days, as a multi-inning pitcher and in low leverage situations. He had a 2.48 ERA over 40 innings with 40 strikeouts against nine walks on the season.