Miami Marlins pitcher Jesus Luzardo has been a popular trade target since last year.
The Padres reportedly eyed Luzardo in a trade involving Luis Arraez, although Arraez did end up in San Diego, while Luzardo stayed with the Marlins. The Royals also showed interest, with Vinnie Pasquantino mentioned in their offer.
This year, Luzardo has struggled with injuries. He missed two weeks due to left elbow tightness and is currently day-to-day with a stiff back. His performance has been underwhelming, with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.245 WHIP over 66.2 innings, striking out 58 batters and issuing 22 walks.
Despite this, Luzardo is just 26 years old and has two and a half years of team control remaining, making a trade likely. Here are three potential landing spots for him:
**Baltimore Orioles**
The Marlins need offensive help, and the Orioles have an abundance of prospects. A trade could benefit both sides. The Orioles need another starter, especially with John Means and Tyler Wells out for the season. While the Orioles usually avoid major trades at the deadline, acquiring a young pitcher with team control like Luzardo could shift their strategy. They have already shown a willingness to trade significant pieces, such as former top prospect DL Hall and solid player Joey Ortiz for Corbin Burnes, indicating a possible change in their approach.
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**Houston Astros**
The Astros might be sellers, with veterans like Justin Verlander potentially on the move. However, they might also look to strengthen their rotation for the future. With Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier both undergoing Tommy John surgery and expected to miss most of 2025, Luzardo could be a valuable addition alongside Framber Valdez. The challenge is the Astros’ weak farm system, ranked 27th by MLB.com in the preseason, which might limit their ability to offer competitive trade pieces.
**St. Louis Cardinals**
The Cardinals revamped their rotation by signing Kyle Gibson, Sonny Gray, and Lance Lynn after their rotation struggled in 2023. While these signings have been successful, the Cardinals still need more help. Miles Mikolas hasn’t regained his form, and Steven Matz has been injured and underperforming. Adding a controllable arm like Luzardo would bolster their playoff push. However, similar to the Astros, their farm system, ranked 23rd by MLB.com at the start of the season, may not provide enough assets for a trade.
