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The Miami Marlins were a playoff team in 2023, winning 84 games and reaching the postseason in a non-COVID season for the first time since their World Series victory in 2003. This 15-win improvement was a surprise after a 69-win campaign in 2022, but it has become clear that the club is not interested in becoming a regular contender. The franchise pushed away general manager Kim Ng, resulting in an ugly product on the field in 2024.
The Marlins have the worst record in the National League at 21-39 and have already traded away All-Star infielder Luis Arraez. As Miami enters another rebuild, the next player to leave could be starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo. With Sandy Alcantara on the sidelines with Tommy John surgery, Luzardo has become the team's ace and a valuable trade piece for the floundering franchise. These are the three best Jesus Luzardo trade destinations amid the Marlins' dreadful season.
Scouting Jesus Luzardo
A talented left-hander, injuries have hampered Jesus Luzardo's career thus far. The Peruvian pitcher had Tommy John surgery before even pitching a minor league inning while spending meaningful chunks of the 2021 and 2022 seasons on the IL. When healthy, Luzardo has been a borderline All-Star for the Marlins. The 26-year-old had a 3.48 ERA across 2022 and 2023 while striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings. He had a rough start to the 2024 campaign but bounced back with a 1.75 ERA in May.
Luzardo's arsenal includes a four-seamer, slider, change-up, and the occasional sinker. The slider has been his best pitch, with opponents batting just .112 against it this year while whiffing 48.6% of the time. His change-up is also much-improved, with a whiff rate also approaching 50%. Any club that acquires the lefty will have control of him through the 2026 season.
Jesus Luzardo trade destinations
Milwaukee Brewers
Injuries have decimated Milwaukee's starting pitching, with DL Hall, Wade Miley, Joe Ross, and Jakob Junis all on the Injured List. Miley is out for the year, while Junis is on the 60-day IL. Tobias Harris and Bryse Wilson have stepped up admirably in their absence, but it is unlikely that either can be depended upon long-term. Milwaukee's current second and third starters are Colin Rea and Robert Gasser — the latter dealing with some elbow soreness after his most recent start. These are hardly the pitchers one would expect to lead a playoff team. Outside of Peralta, the Brewers hardly have a starting pitcher who could be classified as “above average.”
11 pitchers have already made a start for Milwaukee in the season's first two months. Finding dependable starters to solidify the rotation will be crucial to the Brewers' success. The team loves acquiring players with multiple years of team control and could get Jesus Luzardo at a discount, given his slightly disappointing start to the season.
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota was the clear-cut favorite in the AL Central to begin the year, but things haven't shaped that way. While the team is seven games above .500, the Twins are also six games back in a surprisingly competitive division. The start rotation — a strength in 2023 — has been subpar. Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober, who had sub-4.00 ERAs a year ago, have ERAs pushing 5.00. The back end of the rotation includes rookie Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddack — the latter having made just seven appearances over the last two years.
The addition of Jesus Luzardo gives the Twins a fearsome top four starters and could prove to be the difference in the AL Central race.
San Francisco Giants
While the Giants added Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Jordan Hicks in the offseason, this San Francisco starting rotation is still the team's weakness. Giants starting pitchers rank 25th in WAR as Snell has struggled mightily while youngsters Keaton Winn and Kyle Harrison have also failed to get going. San Fran spent in the offseason, though not as much as fans would have liked. A trade deadline addition like Jesus Luzardo would appease the fan base and get the Giants back in playoff contention.
