Acquiring LHP Jesus Luzardo along with catcher Paul McIntosh from the rebuilding Marlins for Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd was a trade that’s good for both sides. The benefits of adding a quality starting pitcher along with adding to the minor league upper level catching depth are immediately evident for the Phillies. Acquiring a standout young shortstop and an elite speed outfielder to ascend thru their minor league system is a strong return for Miami.
The thing about trades, especially in the present times of instant social media news, is reactions almost always discount one of the most important elements (from my perspective) which is the people impact. I don’t know Mr. Luzardo or Mr. McIntosh but they both are seemingly folks with positive outlooks that bring with them winning attitudes and are going to be great teammates.
I do know both Starlyn and Emaarion a bit. When you watch Caba play the enthusiasm for the game and his passion to play it shines thru. In my spotlight article with Starlyn this summer he told me “I love this sport, I have been playing it since I was four years old.” As most know he’s an outstanding defensive shortstop - the best all around tools in that regard I’ve seen on the backfields. He said “I love playing defense, because I can be creative and do unique things. I always try to be a captain.” Young Starlyn (he’s just 19) is also very focused on his goal of reaching the major leagues - “I came for a dream and I know I'm going to achieve it because my mind is only on baseball” and is a team oriented player who’s very popular “We are all brothers and we came here to give our best.” Starlyn is the same upbeat person whether he’s on or off the field, he treated complex security staff to homemade Domincan delicacy delivering it to them on site, he’s perhaps the most patient young man signing autographs for folks I’ve ever seen regardless of redundancy. Even when he was hurt and rehabbing at the complex in 2023 he always made time to wave or fist bump and seemingly truly appreciated that folks were there to watch. The Marlins are not only getting a very talented baseball player but a genuinely good person as well.
The same can be said for twenty one year old Emaarion Boyd. The mercurial speedster is a much more quiet and reserved person than Starlyn but he’s got the same internal fire and desire to excel. Folks who haven’t seen him play don’t realize that in addition to his game changing speed and defensive prowess that he has very real pop in his bat - the slender built young man can drive the baseball a long way - I’ve seen him pepper the scoreboard in left center field on Roberts Field on more than one occasion. Whenever we’ve had the chance to chat he’s been very polite - this past High Performance Camp we spoke and it was evident that he had become much more comfortable in the atmosphere. Maury is cautious by nature, being a young man from Mississippi that’s somewhat expected but he’s got a fun personality when he opens up. He became a well regarded teammate while with the Phillies and I’m sure he will be the same with the Marlins. Emaarion is also self motivated and driven - there’s a true passion to make his way to the top in his career and there’s a skillset to do it.
Just sayin - there’s more to trades than statistical data, to just names on a piece of paper and to just on field performance. It’s important as well to be able to fit in as part of a team, to provide a winning attitude and to adapt to and care about the club, your teammates and those who you work with in the organization. Some players paint themselves into bad corners by their actions, pettiness and inabilities to be part of the whole. I think it’s equally important to know what type of person is coming and going in order for a trade to be fully judged and I’m sure that folks who make those decisions weigh those factors with sincerity.
This one seems like it’s a good one all around and that’s as it should be - fans get too enamored with “winning the trade” where to me it’s more about garnering the respect each organization gains in a trade of both good people and players that provisions new opportunities for those involved. Just sayin - those are the things that are good trades.
Best wishes for success to all four players involved in this one.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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