Jesus Luzardo

The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly added to their already strong rotation.

Per The Athletic's Matt Gelb, the Phillies traded 19-year-old shortstop Starlyn Caba to the Miami Marlins in return for starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo. Per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Philadelphia will also receive catcher prospect Paul McIntosh in the deal.

Per Spotrac, Luzardo has an estimated salary of $8.6 million for the 2025 season, bringing the Phillies estimated payroll to $243.407 million. Caba was on a one-year, $3 million deal a season ago but doesn't have a new contract for the 2025 season yet. The Marlins currently have $31.550 million in payroll allocations, per Spotrac.

Here's a look at the Phillies and Marlins' rotations after the trade.

Projected 2025 Phillies Rotation

1. Zack Wheeler
2. Aaron Nola
3. Cristopher Sánchez
4. Ranger Suárez
5. Jesús Luzardo

Projected 2025 Marlins Rotation

1. Sandy Alcántara
2. Ryan Weathers
3. Braxton Garrett
4. Edward Cabrera 
5. Max Meyer

Luzardo, 27, is coming off a year in which he recorded a 5.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 12 starts for the Marlins. He landed on the injured list with an elbow injury in April before missing time later in the summer due to a back injury.

He told MLB.com's Christina De Nicola last week that he's "been able to go through my normal offseason progression" and is "feeling really good" in his back and elbow.

In his last healthy season in 2023, he had a 3.58 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, picking up a career-high 208 strikeouts in 32 starts. The seven-year veteran has a 4.31 career ERA.

The Phillies posted the 11th-best ERA in the majors last year at 3.85 but seem dedicated to having one of the best rotations in baseball next season. Star ace Zack Wheeler had a career year a season ago, posting a 2.57 and 0.96 WHIP in his 32 starts. Aaron Nola had a 3.57 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 2024.

Philadelphia has talented pitchers behind Wheeler and Nola with Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez, and the Phillies bolstered the rotation even further by adding Luzardo.

For the Marlins, they added another young piece as they continue their rebuild this offseason. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter lists Caba as the No. 65 prospect and he could end up playing a big role for Miami in the near future.

The Miami Marlins have traded left-handed starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo to the Philadelphia Phillies for two minor leaguers, shortstop Starlyn Caba and outfielder Emaarion Boyd, the team announced Sunday.

The Athletic's Matt Gelb was first to report the news, with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand adding that minor league catcher Paul McIntosh is included in the trade package going to Philly.

The 27-year-old Luzardo went 3-6 with a 5.00 ERA (1.25 WHIP) over 12 starts of an injury-shortened 2024 season. He landed on the injured list since June 22 with a lumbar stress reaction and unfortunately never returned.

Luzardo has been brilliant at times, but he's ultimately had an up-and-down career. Injuries have played a big part, with a strained left rotator cuff (2019), a fractured pinky finger (2021) and left forearm strain (2022) hindering him along the way.

He's only started more than 18 games once in a season (2023) but did well, going 10-10 with a 3.63 ERA and 208 strikeouts during that campaign. That performance showcases why teams have had interest in Luzardo for quite some time.

This past May, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and The Athletic reported this on Foul Territory (3:10 mark).

"Luzardo to me is the single-most likely player to be traded," Rosenthal said. "The Marlins are going to keep going. They traded [Luis Arráez], they are going to trade Luzardo as long as he stays healthy. He had that little flare-up physically earlier, but he's gone."

Unfortunately, Luzardo ended up on the injured list a short time thereafter, but trade rumors sparked up again during the offseason, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network as well as Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Per The Athletic:

"The Miami Marlins are open to trading left-hander Jesús Luzardo, according to sources briefed on their discussions. MLB Network's Jon Morosi mentioned Monday that Luzardo was drawing interest.

"Luzardo, 27, is projected to earn $6 million in arbitration, which would make him the second-highest paid Marlin after righty Sandy Alcantara.

"But like Alcantara, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, Luzardo's trade value might be higher at the deadline, as long as he establishes that he is healthy. He did not pitch after June 16 last season due to a lumbar stress reaction.

Luzardo, who is not eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season, spent his first three seasons (2019-2021) with the Oakland Athletics. The A's then dealt Luzardo for outfielder Starling Marte before the 2021 trade deadline.

If Luzardo regains and maintains that 2023 form post-injury, then he's a great addition for his new team. The Phillies already had a rotation that included Cy Young runner-up Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.

As for the Marlins, they just appear to be in perennial rebuilding mode, and dealing Luzardo now and top hitter Luis Arráez to the San Diego Padres earlier in 2024 signals another reboot.

The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins are discussing a trade centered around Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo, according to Bruce Levine of Marquee Sports Network.

For the Cubs, Outfield prospect Owen Cassie or infielder James Triantos will "likely" be included in the exchange as Miami wants a "young controllable bat" in return for Luzardo (via Levine).

Chicago has already been active on the trade market, acquiring Kyle Tucker in a deal with the Houston Astros on Friday.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale previously reported that the Cubs were showing interest in Luzardo on Friday.

The 27-year-old has shown that he can be an effective rotation contributor when healthy, but he's coming off an injury-riddled 2024 campaign. Luzardo made 12 appearances, with his last occurring on June 14 before dealing with a lumbar stress reaction that ended his regular season.

He struggled in his limited playing time, posting a 5.00 ERA and 1.245 WHIP. Luzardo also recorded 58 strikeouts compared to 22 walks in 66.2 innings of work.

He's only exceeded 100 innings pitched in 2022 and 2023, but the results from both seasons are promising. In those two years combined, he compiled a 3.48 ERA and averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Given Luzardo's prior success and the two remaining years of team control on his contract, his name has surfaced in trade buzz throughout the offseason. MLB Network's Jon Morosi revealed that the lefty was drawing interest at the winter meetings on Monday

The Cubs haven't been shy about their desire to add rotation depth behind Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon, signing Matthew Boyd to a two-year deal on Dec. 7. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic also reported that Chicago was eyeing free-agent starter Jack Flaherty.

With the Cubs and Marlins reportedly discussing a deal centered around Luzardo, he could experience a change of scenery in the near future.

A host of good MLB starting pitchers are "potentially available" via trade, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

"According to sources, those pitchers potentially available include Seattle's Luis Castillo, Miami's Jesús Luzardo, San Diego's Dylan Cease, Houston's Framber Valdez and St. Louis' Sonny Gray," Feinsand wrote. "Of that group, Gray is the only one with a full no-trade clause in his contract."

Of course, that's in addition to solid arms already available via free agency, including Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Jack Flaherty.

Feinsand broke down the contract situations for all four pitchers mentioned.

"Castillo is signed for $68.25 million over the next three years, with a vesting option for 2028 if he throws 180 innings during the 2027 season. The Mariners are loaded with starting pitching and need a bat, making Castillo a logical contract to move to acquire an impact hitter.

"Gray is set to make $25 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026, with a $30 million club option for 2026.

"Cease and Valdez are arbitration-eligible for the final time this winter, set to become free agents next offseason. Like Crochet, Luzardo is under club control for two more years before becoming a free agent."

Castillo was brought into Seattle after a 2022 midseason trade from the Cincinnati Reds, and he immediately helped the Mariners make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. In September of the 2022 season, Castillo signed a five-year, $108 million extension to remain with the team.

But it appears Seattle, whose faltering offense torpedoed the team's postseason hopes last year, could be going in a different direction now with the M's in need of hitting.

Gray fared well in his first year for the St. Louis Cardinals after landing in town following an American League Cy Young runner-up season with the Minnesota Twins in 2023, going 13-9 with a 3.84 ERA and 109 ERA+.

But St. Louis tried to vault itself into the World Series with Paul Goldschmidt (a free agent) and Nolan Arenado leading the way. That didn't happen, and perhaps now is the time to look forward to a new era.

The situations with Cease and Valdez could very well be ones where the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros, respectively, want to see what they get on the trade market to avoid losing those pitchers for nothing in free agency. The Boston Red Sox appear to have interest in Cease, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

As for Luzardo, the Miami Marlins, as has been the case for seemingly forever, are in rebuilding mode. So they too could be looking to deal Luzardo in hopes of building up the farm system.

In essence, it wouldn't be a big surprise if some of these names move. Fans are already expecting the likes of Burnes and Fried to find new homes in free agency, but they could be flanked by others in the trade market as well.

Miami Marlins left-handed starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo is the MLB player "most likely" to be traded, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and The Athletic.

Rosenthal reported that news on Foul Territory on Thursday (3:10 mark).

"Luzardo to me is the single-most likely player to be traded," Rosenthal told ex-MLB catcher and Foul Territory host A.J. Pierzynski.

"The Marlins are going to keep going. They traded [Luis Arráez], they are going to trade Luzardo as long as he stays healthy. He had that little flare-up physically earlier, but he's gone."

Luzardo, 26, is 2-4 with a 4.18 ERA over nine starts this season. He's struck out 50 batters over 51.2 innings.

Luzardo had a 6.58 ERA after five starts before he missed three weeks due to injury. Since he's return, he's rebounded over four appearances with a 1.75 ERA. Opposing batters have hit just .204 off him during that span.

It's easy to see why Luzardo is highly coveted. First, he's a 26-year-old left-hander under team control through 2026. Second, he's been impressive over the past three years, posting a 3.59 ERA over 59 starts. Luzardo has also posted a 10.3 K/9 rate and 1.15 WHIP.

It's also easy to see why the Marlins would trade him. Miami is languishing in last place at 20-37. The Marlins have all but acknowledged that their season is effectively over after trading their best hitter in Arráez, and the team is clearly looking to do the same with the top starting pitcher on the staff right now.

Ultimately, all signs point to Luzardo leaving town. The questions that remain are to whom and for what and when at this point.

Amid an 0-7 start to the season, the Miami Marlins might already be turning their focus to trading away veteran players with high value to add prospects to their farm system.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin, the San Diego Padres could come calling the Marlins because they already made an offer for Luis Arráez during spring training.

Even though Arráez was a desirable player for the Padres, the report noted they were "more focused" on Jesús Luzardo at the time.

It's unclear how much interest the Padres might have in either player now that the season has started.

Rosenthal and Lin noted San Diego's interest in Luzardo was at a point before the team acquired Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox on March 13.

That deal cost the Padres four prospects, including three in their top 10 coming into 2024. Right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe is a top-100 prospect who was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade.

Even though the Padres have been one of the most aggressive teams with trades over the past two years, their farm system is still a strength. MLB.com's Sam Dykstra, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo ranked it as the fourth-best system coming into this season.

That ranking came out before the Cease trade, but even if they move down a few spots because of the talent they gave up, it's still good enough to be considered a top-10 system. They didn't give up any of their top four prospects in the deal.

Luzardo has three years of team control remaining, including this season. The left-hander is only making $5.5 million in 2024. Arráez, who is making $10.6 million this year, will become a free agent after the 2025 campaign.

Another potential issue is the Padres spent most of the offseason cutting significant money from their payroll. After having the third-highest payroll in MLB last year ($256.05 million), they are 15th right now ($160.5 million).

While neither Luzardo nor Arráez is making a significant salary this year, would Padres ownership sign off on adding an extra couple of million to their payroll?

All of these questions are likely very premature because it's extremely rare for a significant trade to take place this early in the season. The earliest these types of deals have typically happened over the past 15 years is in early July.

If the Marlins continue to struggle and end the month of April facing a double-digit deficit in the National League East, perhaps they go into sell mode very quickly just to avoid paying the salaries for their most expensive players.

The Padres are off to a slow start with a 4-5 record through nine games. Their interest in making any additions could be dependent on where they are in the standings by the midway point of the season.

Luzardo has allowed five earned runs with 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings over two starts this season. The 26-year-old had a terrific 2023 with a 3.58 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 178.2 innings.

Arráez led the AL with a .316 batting average in 2022 when he played for the Minnesota Twins. He one-upped himself last season with the Marlins, leading MLB with a .354 average in 617 plate appearances.