With the Miami Marlins expected to be sellers at the MLB Trade Deadline, Jesus Luzardo was considered one of the team's best assets. However, the Marlins have made a sudden change when it comes to Luzardo's trade plans.
Miami has placed Luzardo on the injured list with a back issue. Because of that, he is no longer expected to be traded, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The left-hander has spent time on the IL previously in 2024 with an elbow injury.
As those injuries have mounted, teams have likely been more reluctant to give Miami the offer they were expecting for Luzardo. While he is strong pitcher when healthy, the fact that isn't a guarantee certainly hurts his value.
The lefty is still under team control through the 2026 season, meaning the Marlins won't lose him for nothing in free agency after the season. However, at 26-50, it's clear things need to change in Miami. But now without their star trade piece in Luzardo, the Marlins with have a much trickier time building for the future at the trade deadline.
Perhaps a team changes their mind, sees the value in Luzardo and still trades for him despite his injury problems. However, it doesn't appear like that will be the case at this time. Jesus Luzardo has now gone from being one of the most obvious trade candidates to being taken off the market completely.
Why Jesus Luzardo was considered prized trade piece
Much of Luzardo's value comes from his years of team control. Oftentimes at the trade deadline, contenders are looking to add a rental to an already playoff bound team. In Luzardo, the acquiring organization would him him in their pitching rotation for the foreseeable future.
His 2024 numbers are nothing to write home about. Like much of the Marlins' organization, he has struggled to a 5.00 ERA. That output – alongside the injuries – surely didn't impress many teams looking for pitching. But at just 26-years old, Luzardo is still in the prime of his career.
He set a new career-high with 208 strikeouts during the 2023 season. It came one year after Luzardo set a new career-best in ERA at 3.32. Over his entire six-year MLB career, Jesus Luzardo holds a 4.29 ERA and a 559/180 K/BB ratio.
With how bad they've been, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Marlins enter a full fledge rebuild. In that case, Luzardo won't be around for when Miami is ready to contend again. But if the front office decides to retool instead, maybe Luzardo can be a difference maker in 2025 and beyond.
For now, Luzardo will rehab from his back injury and look to get back on the mound as quickly as possible. When he does so, the left-hander will still be donning a Marlins jersey.
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