MLB teams are roughly just over a third of the way through the regular season, but we’re already able to separate some pretenders from contenders. As is the norm, trade discussions will be heating up soon as teams look to build the best rosters possible before the July 30 MLB trade deadline.
This means sellers will use this opportunity to build a better foundation for their future, selling off star players and expiring contracts for prospects with upside. Meanwhile, buyers will gamble a bit by parting with high-potential prospects in an effort to land players who can help them win now.
Miami Marlins’ Jesus Luzardo named ‘most likely MLB player to be traded’
The Miami Marlins, who enter MLB games today as the second-worst team in baseball, are firmly in the sellers category. They’ve already dealt their top hitter in Luis Arraez, and now MLB insider Ken Rosenthal expects the Marlins to trade one of their best pitchers too.
“(Jesus) Luzardo to me is the single player most likely to be traded. The Marlins are going to keep going. They traded Arraez, they’re going to trade Luzardo as long as he stays healthy, but he’s gone.”
Ken Rosenthal on Jesus Luzardo
While he’s never quite made an All-Star team, Luzardo has been very close. The 26-year-old Peruvian lefthander holds a 3.48 ERA across his past 50 starts. Keep in mind, this has been done while playing on a Marlins team that’s won just 45% of their games over the past three years.
Luzardo is under team control for multiple seasons, where he won’t become a free agent until 2027. This makes him a very valuable trade chip for Miami and a pitcher who could quickly join the front of a contender’s starting rotation.
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