Marlins Frontline Starters Available; Cardinals Are Logical Trade Partners

St. Louis could trade for starting pitching

The St. Louis Cardinals have made moves to retool their rotation this offseason and are looking ready to compete in 2024.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak expressed that the club is turning their focus toward bolstering the bullpen after landing three starting pitchers this winter.

However, Mozeliak left the door open to the possibility of adding another starting pitcher via trade and an available pair of Miami Marlins starters might be worth pursuing.

"Left-hander Jesús Luzardo (three years of club control) and right-hander Edward Cabrera (five) continue to draw interest," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote Friday. "On one hand, the Marlins need to proceed with caution, considering right-hander Sandy Alcántara will spend the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and righty Eury Peréz will be on some kind of innings limit. On the other hand, new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix is said to be perhaps more open to moving a starter than his predecessor, Kim Ng."

Luzardo posted a 10-10 record with a 3.58 ERA, 209-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .239 batting average against, and 1.21 WHIP in 178 2/3 innings pitched for Miami last season.

The left-handed pitcher ranked seventh in strikeouts and 12th in total innings pitched in 2023. Adding his ability to produce strikeouts and eat innings would certainly benefit the Cardinals' rotation.

Cabrera recorded a 7-7 record with a 4.24 ERA, 118-to-66 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .215 batting average against, and 1.44 WHIP in 99 2/3 innings pitched for Miami in 2023.

The 25-year-old hurler is off to a promising start in his career and could have a monumental season in 2024 if he continues the trend he's following.

The Marlins are looking to add bats and could look to St. Louis' outfield for aid. The Cardinals have an abundance of outfielders and a trade of Dylan Carlson or Alec Burleson to Miami for pitching would make sense.

The Cardinals have missed opportunities to strengthen their rotation and should consider making a trade to land Cabrera or Luzardo.

More MLB: Ex-Cardinals Homegrown Hurler Signs Elsewhere After Inconsistent Season