The Chicago Cubs have already pulled off the biggest trade of the MLB offsesason. Now, they’re reported to be working on another. According to Bruce Levine of WSCR (670-AM in Chicago), the Cubs and Marlins are discussing a trade that would send left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo to the Windy City.
The trade would give the Cubs one of the deeper starting rotations in the National League, and affirm their ambitions to break their four-year playoff drought after acquiring Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros.
For a team that already dealt one of its top prospects, infielder Cam Smith, in the Tucker deal, the cost to acquire Luzardo could be steep. As Levine notes, Luzardo made an affordable $5.5 million in 2024 and has two years of team control remaining before he’s eligible for free agency.
Luzardo is projected to earn $6 million in 2025 by MLB Trade Rumors.
More news: Cubs Make Blockbuster Trade, is Extension Next for All-Star Outfielder?
A lumbar stress reaction ended Luzardo’s 2024 season in June. Prior to the injury, he was 3-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts.
In 2023, Luzardo went 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts as the Marlins clinched a surprising National League Wild Card berth.
More news: Former Major League Pitcher, 35, Reportedly Dies in Car Accident
The first native of Peru to reach the majors, Luzardo’s baseball journey has been anything but conventional. Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft, his promising career was initially delayed by Tommy John surgery.
Despite the setback, Luzardo quickly showed he was a steal for the Nationals, who traded him to the Oakland A’s in a deal that sent Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to Washington in July 2017.
More news: Popular MLB All-Star Outfielder, Broadcaster, Coach Dies
Luzardo debuted with the A’s in Sept. 2019, impressing in a three-inning relief appearance. He finished the year with a 1.50 ERA and earned a spot on the A’s postseason roster, pitching three scoreless innings in the AL Wild Card game.
In 2020, Luzardo made his first major league start, shutting down the Texas Rangers. His solid season continued with a 3.12 ERA in 12 games, including nine starts. But 2021 brought struggles, including a broken finger after an unfortunate video game accident.
More news: Legendary Chicago Slugger, Television Analyst, Dies at 79
Luzardo was traded again in July 2021 to Miami, where he quickly found his footing with a victory over the New York Mets. In 74 starts with the Marlins from 2021-24, Luzardo went 21-28 with a 4.15 ERA (107 ERA+).
The Cubs already bolstered their rotation by signing left-handed veteran Matthew Boyd to a two-year, $29 million contract. Adding Luzardo to a rotation that includes Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Justin Steele would give them four left-handers among their top five.
More news: Baseball Hall of Famer Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
Trading for Luzardo would also add depth to a group that got an impressive 83 percent of its starts from its top five starters in 2024. One of the five, Kyle Hendricks, signed a free agent contract with the Angels in November.
