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Marlins trade Jesús Luzardo to the Phillies for two prospects
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Photo credit: © Brad Penner - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Dec 22, 2024, 18:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 22, 2024, 18:22 EST
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One of the best left-handed starting pitchers that was available via trade is on the move.
According to multiple sources, the Philadelphia Phillies traded for Jesús Luzardo (and Paul McIntosh), giving up prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd in the process.
Luzardo is the big piece of this trade. It was a rough season for the 27-year-old left-handed pitcher, as he posted a 5 ERA and a 4.26 FIP in 66.2 innings pitched, with a 21.2 K% and an 8 BB%. In late June, he was placed on the 60-day Injured List with a lumbar stress reaction and missed the rest of the season.
In 2023, Luzardo had a 3.58 ERA and a 3.55 FIP in 178.2 innings pitched, along with a 28.1 K% and a 7.4 BB%. The year before that in 2022, he had a 3.32 ERA and a 3.12 FIP in 100.1 innings pitched, with a 30 K% and an 8.8 BB%.
Luzardo, born in Peru, was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft by the Washington Nationals. In mid-July 2017, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in a five-player trade, before being traded in Jul. 2021 for Starling Marte.
The lefty averages 95.2 mph on his four-seam fastball and features a four-pitch mix, including a slider, changeup, and two-seamer. In 2023, his fastball averaged a Run Value of 15 according to Baseball Savant, as the fastball averaged 96.7 mph that season.
As for the Marlins’ return, Caba ranked as the Phillies’ fourth-best prospect in the mid-season update and the 91st-best prospect in all of baseball. The shortstop slashed .254/.427/.335 with two home runs in 225 plate appearances in the Florida Complex League but struggled once he reached Single-A, as he had a 59 wRC+ in 115 plate appearances.
Boyd ranked as the Phillies’ 23rd-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Last season in High-A, the 21-year-old slashed .239/.316/.330 with three home runs in 400 plate appearances for a 90 wRC+.
On paper, it looks as if the Marlins have lost this trade from the get-go, as neither prospect had a particularly good season in 2024. Luzardo has two more seasons of team control as he’ll be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, and despite his poor numbers in 2024, he’s a good pitcher at the end of the day.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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