The Philadelphia Phillies are bolstering their rotation by acquiring lefty Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, the team announced Sunday. With Luzardo, the Phillies can form one of the best rotations in baseball next season.
Luzardo will slot fifth in the initial rotation behind Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez. The top prospect Andrew Painter is expected to contribute later in the summer. This deep unit provides a safety net for potential injuries or player slumps.
Luzardo, 27, has a career ERA of 4.29 but had his best season in 2023 with a 3.58 ERA and 208 strikeouts. However, he struggled with left elbow tightness and a lumbar stress reaction that ended his 2024 season. The Phillies are banking on bouncebacks from Luzardo, as well as reliever Jordan Romano and outfielder Max Kepler.
The Marlins received Starlyn Caba, an 19-year-old shortstop, and A-ball outfielder Emaarion Boyd in the trade. Caba signed a $3 million bonus last season, while Boyd is expected to hit .239/.317/.331 next year.
Luzardo has two years of club control remaining and is projected to make approximately $6 million in 2025 through salary arbitration. The acquisition helps the Phillies avoid the high free-agent starter market and dedicates resources to other needs. With Luzardo, they can create a formidable rotation that can handle injuries and provide depth.
The Phillies can also trade Suárez for a hitter if needed, but indications suggest they will focus on run prevention with Kepler’s signing and Luzardo’s addition. With their deep rotation, they can better handle an injury to one of the pitchers or manage innings if Luzardo or Suárez hit a wall during the summer.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6011962/2024/12/22/jesus-luzardo-trade-phillies-marlins