At the beginning of the season, the Atlanta Braves boasted one of the most esteemed starting rotations in MLB. However, their ace, Spencer Strider, suffered a season-ending elbow injury, dealing a significant blow to the team.
In response to this setback, the Braves’ front office is reportedly considering a trade with the Miami Marlins, targeting starter Jesús Luzardo as a potential replacement.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report highlighted the Braves’ urgent need to reinforce their starting pitching following Strider’s injury. While other teams like the Baltimore Orioles may offer more enticing trade packages, the Braves are expected to be highly motivated to secure a deal to bolster their starting rotation.
A trade involving Jesús Luzardo could address the pitching deficiency for the Atlanta Braves.
Apart from Strider, the Braves have deployed seven other pitchers to start games this season. Among them, Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Chris Sale, Darius Vines, and Allan Winans have all posted ERAs exceeding 4.30 in the early stages, while Bryce Elder was recently sent down to the minors. However, Reynaldo López has emerged as a positive standout, conceding just 11 hits and a solitary run across three starts.
On the other hand, Luzardo has faced challenges in his five starts for the Marlins this season, recording a 6.58 ERA and allowing five home runs over 26 innings. Despite this, the 26-year-old southpaw remains a subject of trade talks due to his performance last season, where he achieved a 3.58 ERA and secured 10 wins over 178.2 innings, showcasing valuable durability on the mound.
Tim Britton of The Athletic projected that Luzardo’s impressive performance in 2023 could potentially lead to a lucrative six-year, $90 million contract extension. However, for the current season, he is owed a modest $5.5 million, and the Marlins are open to considering offers.
According to Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, who cited the Marlins’ trade of Jon Berti to the New York Yankees, it’s not too early to view the Marlins as potential sellers at the trade deadline. They indicated that the team’s current operating style suggests that neither Luis Arráez nor Luzardo is likely to receive a contract extension.
Consequently, Luzardo is expected to be a top pitcher available on the midseason trade market, although he may not be considered indispensable enough for the Marlins to retain.
“Trades within the division are becoming less rare,” noted Kelly. “While Jesús Luzardo is a valuable pitcher, he doesn’t carry the same franchise icon status, making a potential trade to the Atlanta Braves somewhat more palatable for the Marlins.”
The possibility exists for the Atlanta Braves to include prospects in a trade with the Miami Marlins involving Jesús Luzardo.
Regarding the potential assets heading back to the Marlins in a trade deadline deal, Kelly suggested that the Braves could be compelled to offer a substantial portion of their farm system in their pursuit of pitching depth.
Kelly proposed that Miami should strongly consider requesting Hurston Waldrep, ranked as the Braves’ second-best prospect overall, as part of the trade package. Additionally, other prospects such as pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach, shortstop Nacho Alvarez Jr., and catcher Drake Baldwin from the Braves’ farm system could also be viable options to include in the trade for Luzardo.