Dec. 16: Bruce Levine of 670 The Rating stated in an look on the Mully & Haugh present this morning that the Cubs and Marlins have been engaged on a possible Luzardo deal for a while now (audio hyperlink, Luzardo discuss at 7:37am mark). Levine provides {that a} commerce for Luzardo is one thing the Cubs “would like to get performed … within the subsequent few days.”
That, in fact, doesn’t essentially point out {that a} commerce is shut for the time being, however it’s however notable that the 2 events are in ongoing discussions and that the Cubs really feel strongly about making an attempt to push one thing throughout the end line.
Dec. 14: The Cubs already added Matthew Boyd to their rotation this winter however stay eager about including one other outstanding title (if not somebody on the prime of the free agent market) to a starter group that already consists of Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon as the highest three. Such commerce and free agent targets as Luis Castillo and Walker Buehler have been linked to Chicago already, and USA At present’s Bob Nightengale stories that the Cubs have additionally proven curiosity in Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo.
Studies surfaced in the course of the Winter Conferences about some groups checking in on Luzardo’s companies, because it could possibly be that groups have been investigating a buy-low risk. Luzardo has been talked about as a possible commerce candidate even earlier than the Marlins entered their newest teardown, and had he been wholesome in 2024, it’s fairly potential he would’ve already been shipped off to a special workforce previous to the final commerce deadline. Sadly for Luzardo and the Marlins, he was restricted to 12 begins and 66 2/3 innings as a result of elbow issues and repeated again issues, together with as a stress response in his decrease again.
Accidents have basically been the story of Luzardo’s profession over his six Main League seasons with the A’s and Marlins. He has 512 innings pitched throughout elements of these six seasons, with 178 2/3 of these frames coming in 2023. Luzardo’s profession 4.29 ERA consists of a number of peaks and valleys, with struggles in 2021 and 2024 undermining his in any other case above-average numbers.
The inconsistency resulted in decreasing Luzardo’s price ticket as he entered his arbitration years, and MLBTR initiatives him to earn $6MM this winter in his second of three arb-eligible seasons. If he can replicate his 2023 kind, his 2025-26 salaries shall be a major discount for the Marlins or no matter workforce Luzardo is pitching for, and he’s solely getting into his age-27 season.
The upside right here is apparent, besides the apparent concern for any groups is that they don’t know what model of Luzardo will present up in 2025. This might make it arduous for Miami to land on an appropriate commerce bundle with the Cubs or some other workforce, just because the Marlins naturally wish to get as a lot as they’ll in return for considered one of their prime commerce chips. Ready till the deadline may be the wiser tack for Peter Bendix’s entrance workplace, as whereas Luzardo runs the chance of getting damage once more, a wholesome and efficient first half would restore his commerce worth.
670 The Rating’s Bruce Levine stories that Miami is in search of a “younger controllable bat again” in a Luzardo deal, and means that the Cubs must hand over a prime prospect like Owen Caissie or James Triantos. Contemplating these two are each throughout the prime 55 of MLB Pipeline’s rankings of the highest minor leaguers in all of baseball, it will be daring on Chicago’s half to maneuver Caissie or Triantos for an injury-prone pitcher coming off a 5.00 ERA season.
Then once more, the Marlins scored a pleasant commerce bundle for one more oft-injured, inconsistent pitcher on the final deadline when they acquired Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers from the Orioles for Trevor Rogers. Whereas the deal raised eyebrows on the time, it underscored the worth that groups placed on controllable pitching. After all, the truth that Rogers closely struggled after the commerce to Baltimore additionally highlights the chance concerned in such trades. The Cubs have already proven their aggression this winter by buying and selling for Kyle Tucker, and may be prepared to dip into their deep farm system once more to be able to make a doubtlessly large rotation improve. Assuming that the likes of Caissie or Triandos are even on the desk in potential trades, Chicago would possibly desire to choose to maneuver these sorts of prospects just for a extra dependable pitcher.
