Miami Marlins Moves Unlikely For Pitcher And Pair Of Outfielders

The Miami Marlins are open to trades on Jazz Chisholm Jr. They will have multiple pieces available in the next three weeks, but they’re not planning to move anyone and everyone off the roster.

According to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, the Marlins won’t be moving Jesus Luzardo until he’s fully healthy again. Luzardo is currently on the 60-day injured list due to a stress reaction in his lower back, which will extend beyond the July 30 trade deadline. That could signal an offseason trade or even a deal come next year’s deadline.

Mish adds that Bryan De La Cruz and Jesús Sánchez are both likely to stay with the Fish. De La Cruz has already drawn interest, however, he and Sanchez are controllable through the 2027 season.

Marlins Unlikely to Trade Jesus Luzardo, De La Cruz or Sánchez

It’s smart for the Marlins to keep Luzardo. At 26, he has two more seasons under club control and brings a strong pitching arsenal, making him a valuable asset to the team. Trading him while he’s injured would mean selling at a low value. Luzardo didn’t perform well before getting injured, dealing with a back injury and briefly being on the injured list due to elbow tightness early in the season. So far, he has a 5.00 ERA in 66 2/3 innings.

However, a 21.2 percent strikeout rate and an eight percent walk rate are signs of improvement. When healthy, Luzardo was one of the top left-handed pitching prospects who started 50 games with a 3.48 ERA. That went with a strong 28.7 percent strikeout rate and a solid 7.9 percent walk rate in 279 innings from 2022-23.

If Luzardo can return from his current injury and close out the second half healthy, then calls for Luzardo will increase. He won’t be 27 until September 30 but is only earning $5.5 million this season. A player of his caliber could command a significant prospect haul, especially the type that’s not likely to happen while he is on the IL.

De La Cruz and Sánchez Have Shown Some Upside

Both outfielders have shown some upside with the bat in the past. De La Cruz, 27, and Sánchez, 26, are having subpar seasons at the plate. De La Cruz is hitting .237/.286/.410 this season and on pace for a new career-high for home runs. His 26 percent strikeout rate and 6 percent walk rate offset some of that power. Sánchez is hitting a similar .239/.291/.386 with nine home runs. He strikes out less at 23.6 percent and walks at a comparable 5.8 percent rate.

Both players have good platoon splits. The right-handed hitting De La Cruz is.288/.318/.464 against left-handed pitchers but .210/.269/.380 against right-handers. Sánchez, the left-handed hitter, is batting .270/.323/.445 against right-handers but .091/.130/.159 against left-handers.

The Marlins are thin on outfielders altogether, trading either player, even at a low rate, would further sparse that position. Both Sánchez and De La Cruz each have three seasons of remaining club control, making it less of a possibility to move either.