The Baltimore Orioles may emerge as the optimal trade ally for the Miami Marlins standout player.
The Baltimore Orioles are experiencing solid starting pitching performances early in the season, particularly from Grayson Rodriguez, now in his second year as a professional, and their recent acquisition, Corbin Burnes. However, there are uncertainties regarding a couple of pitchers.
John Means is currently undergoing rehab in the minors to recover from a left forearm strain suffered during spring training, unrelated to his previous Tommy John surgery in 2022. Meanwhile, Kyle Bradish, who finished in the top five for the AL Cy Young Award last year, is grappling with a right UCL sprain, a potential precursor to Tommy John surgery. While Baltimore remains hopeful for their recovery, the question looms whether they can rely on their pitching rotation to proceed as planned, especially given the injuries already sustained this season.
This uncertainty prompts attention toward the Miami Marlins as the trade deadline approaches. Baltimore appears well-suited to potentially acquire the Marlins’ star starting pitcher, Jesús Luzardo. Luzardo, a left-hander, is coming off a commendable 10-10 season with a 3.58 ERA in 2023, showcasing promising skills despite just recently gaining significant playing time.
Miami heavily relies on Luzardo’s performance, particularly due to numerous pitching injuries plaguing their roster. Both Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez, their top two starters, are sidelined for the year following Tommy John surgery, while two other starters are nursing shoulder inflammation on the injured list.
Given the Marlins’ challenging start to the season, there’s speculation, as per The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, that they may soon commence trading veteran players, including Luzardo. Luzardo’s contract, with a salary of $5.5 million in 2024 and two more arbitration years remaining before free agency, makes him an appealing asset in the current market.
Bowden suggests that Baltimore possesses a valuable commodity that many other teams lack: a surplus of prospects, particularly in batting. To kickstart a rebuild, the Marlins could potentially seek four prospects, primarily hitters, from Baltimore’s pool of talent. With players like outfielder Heston Kjerstad and infielder Coby Mayo at Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles boast an abundance of batting prospects, making them an attractive trade partner for Miami.
