Miami Marlins pitcher Jesus Luzardo has been a preferred commerce candidate since final yr.
The Padres had reportedly focused Luzardo as a part of a commerce involving Luis Arraez. Whereas Arraez did ultimately land in San Diego, Luzardo stayed put. The Royals additionally had curiosity in Luzardo, with Vinnie Pasquantino named as a part of the supply.
Luzardo has battled accidents this yr. He missed two weeks attributable to left elbow tightness and is presently day-to-day with a stiff again. He has disillusioned this season, posting a 5.00 ERA and a 1.245 WHIP over his 66.2 innings, putting out 58 batters with 22 walks.
Nevertheless, Luzardo is 26 years previous and has two-and-a-half years of group management. The expectation is that the lefty will get traded – it’s only a matter of the place.
Let’s check out three potential touchdown spots.
Baltimore Orioles
The Marlins want to seek out something that might assist their lineup. In the meantime, the Orioles have a glut of prospects and never sufficient room for all of them.
A deal would make sense between the 2 sides. The Orioles desperately want one other starter with John Means and Tyler Wells being misplaced for the season. Whereas the Orioles usually don’t transfer main items on the deadline, including a younger arm with a number of years of group management might change their philosophy. The Orioles did transfer a former high prospect in DL Corridor and a stable participant in Joey Ortiz to amass Corbin Burnes, indicating a possible change in strategy.
Houston Astros
The Astros are more likely to promote and veteran gamers equivalent to Justin Verlander may very well be on the transfer. Nevertheless, the Astros may look to construct their rotation transferring ahead.
Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier each underwent Tommy John surgical procedure this season. Not solely are each misplaced for the remainder of the season however they may miss the vast majority of 2025 as properly. Luzardo, along with his remaining group management, may pair with Framber Valdez to present the Astros a stable 1-2 punch atop the rotation. The issue is that the Astros have one of many worst farm techniques in baseball, with MLB.com rating Houston’s minor leagues twenty seventh throughout the preseason. The Astros might not have sufficient items to make a deal occur.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals tried to remake their rotation throughout the offseason. Kyle Gibson, Sonny Grey and Lance Lynn have been all signed to enhance a rotation that ranked twenty sixth within the majors in 2023 with a 5.08 ERA.
These signings have labored out however the Cardinals nonetheless need assistance. Miles Mikolas has not returned to the shape that earned him a three-year, $55.75 million extension and Steven Matz is injured and has been a disappointment all through his Cardinals tenure. Including a controllable arm equivalent to Luzardo would make sense because the Cardinals are contending for a playoff berth. Nevertheless, as is the case with the Astros, they might not have the items crucial as MLB.com ranked their farm system twenty third to start out the season.
