This Date in Florida Marlins History: A Big Trade or Two

There have been 17 transactions on this date through Marlins history.

A lot of Spring Training invitations, minor league deals, and one “B” round compensation pick. In 2005, however, things got a little more shaken up for the Florida Marlins.

Early on Thanksgiving Day in 2005, the Marlins traded away Carlos Delgado and his team-leading 33 home runs (along with $7 million) to the New York Mets. In return, the Marlins received two of the Mets then-top four prospects, first baseman Mike Jacobs and hard-throwing right-hander Yusmeiro Petit. Shortstop Grant Psomas also joined the Marlins in the deal.

Trading power for power, the Marlins were trading a proven commodity in Delgado for a roll of the dice in two prospects, but they weren’t done wheeling and dealing.

Later that night, most of us had eaten turkey and were tuning in to the National Football League’s yearly pair of Thanksgiving games. That year, the Atlanta Falcons topped the Detroit Lions, 27-to-7 and the Denver Broncos needed overtime to send Drew Bledsoe and the Dallas Cowboys to a 24-21 defeat. Sometime during the third quarter of that second game, the Marlins made their second sorta-big-deal deal of the day.

The Marlins sent third baseman Mike Lowell, starting pitcher Josh Beckett, and reliever Guillermo Mota to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Hanley Ramirez, starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez, and minor league right-handers Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia. According to Juan C. Rodriguez at the South Florida-Sun Sentinel:

"With Mota and his $3.5 million projected salary off the books, the Marlins carved approximately $30 million from next year’s payroll. – “These are major steps to get that market correction in order.” – Larry Beinfest"

Josh Beckett was later quoted in that same Sun-Sentinel article (subscription required):

"I’m still going to miss a lot of people. They were always so great to me through the bad times, the good times. The ownership there has always been a class act."

As for the guys who left, Carlos Delgado hit 104 home runs over the next four seasons with the Mets. Lowell played five seasons for the Red Sox, earning an all-star nod and a World Series Championship in 2007. Mota went 3-0 in a short look with the Mets before they flipped him to the Cleveland Indians. He played through 2012, retiring with a 39-45 record and a 3.94 career ERA over 232 games (no starts). Beckett made three all-star appearances in his six seasons with the Red Sox, and later played three years for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He retired with a 138-106 record and a 3.88 ERA.

Jacobs hit 69 home runs in his three years with the Marlins, but was 41 defensive runs below average while manning first base. Despite his solid offensive output, his collected -2.9 WAR ranks him near the bottom of the Marlins career leaderboard.

Sanchez is still pitching, currently with the World Series Champion Washington Nationals. Over his 14-season major league career, he is 108-108 with a 3.98 ERA.

Petit did get up to the major league level while with the Marlins organization, but stumbled to a 9.57 ERA over 26 1/3 innings, with a 2.089 WHIP. Despite that, he’s gone on to a productive major league career, leading the American League with 80 appearances in 2019.

Of greatest impact to the Marlins was the acquisition of Ramirez, who ranked at the top of a lot of offensive categories by the time he left the team (since eclipsed – mostly by Giancarlo Stanton). In his seven seasons in Florida / Miami, he hit .300/.374/.499 with 148 homers, 482 RBI, and 230 stolen bases.

Other Transactions on this Day in Marlins History

1998 – Brian Daubach was released.

2003 – Cedrick Bowers, David Manning, Delvin James, Felipe Crespo, Marty McLeary, Matt Treanor, Mike Fyhrie, Ryan Christenson, and Scott Sanders were signed and/or resigned and/or invited to Spring Training.

2004 – The Marlins received a 2005 round “B” compensation pick after losing catcher Mike Redmond to the Minnesota Twins. They eventually spent it on Brett Hayes.

2015 – Signed D.J. Johnson and Matt Martin to minor league contracts.

2017 – Signed JB Shuck and Yadiel Rivera to two-way deals.

Marlins Birthdays

Outfielder Angel Morales (30) spent the final year of his eight-season minor league career between the Jacksonville Suns and the Jupiter Hammerheads, going 15-for-68 with four stolen bases and six RBI.

Right-hander Kendry Flores (28) spent his first six professional seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization. After joining the Marlins in 2015, he eventually made eight major league appearances, going 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA. He hasn’t appeared anywhere since the close of the 2016 campaign.

Outfielder Jose Vilera (21) went 22-for-99 in 28 contests with the 2016 DSL Marlins.

Infielder Jose Lopez (36) enjoyed a nine-season major league career, spending part of the 2011 season with the Florida Marlins. In 44 games, he went 24-for-106 with six long-balls and 13 RBI.

Left-hander Kelvin Marte (32) spent the final year of his 10-season professional career with the New Orleans Baby Cakes in 2017. He went 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA for the triple-A club, striking out 69 in 86 innings.

RHP Francis Martes (24) pitched in 32 games for the 2017 Houston Astros, but he got his start with the DSL Marlins in 2013. He was 3-3 with a 3.04 in 12 contests for the rookie-club, and followed that with a 2-2 record and a 5.18 ERA with the GCL Marlins in 2014 before joining the Astros organization.