The Oakland Athletics appear to be going all in to win this season, acquiring All-Star outfielder Starling Marte from the Miami Marlins.
According to multiple media reports, star prospect Jesus Luzardo is headed to South Beach in the blockbuster deal.
The inclusion of the 23-year-old Luzardo has to be seen as eye-opening, especially considering Marte will be a mere rental for the small-market A’s.
Considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game a couple years ago, Luzardo has struggled at the big-league level. He’s pitched to a 2-4 record with a 6.87 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 13 games (six starts) this season. With that said, the tools are more than there for the Peru native to be a top-end rotation option.
As for Starling Marte heading to the Oakland Athletics, this is obviously a win-now move for Billy Beane and Co. The A’s sit at 56-46 on the season and six games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and have struggled recently.They are also just one game ahead of the division-rival Seattle Mariners for the final wildcard spot.
Marte will add a lot to the Oakland lineup. The former All-Star is hitting .306 with seven homers, 25 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 63 games this season. He also boasts a robust .859 OPS. With Marte in the mix, Oakland now has a capable three-headed group in the outfield, also consisting of Ramon Laureano and Mark Canha.