Baltimore Orioles Could Be Best Trade Partner For Miami Marlins Star

The Baltimore Orioles, with its wealth of MLB-ready prospects, could be the best possible candidate to pry this Miami starter away from the Marlins.

Mar 1, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) throws a pitch in the first inning of the spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. / Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

On one hand, the Baltimore Orioles are getting good starting pitching early in the season, especially from second-year pro Grayson Rodriguez and their trade acquisition, Corbin Burnes.

On the other hand, the Orioles are in wait-and-see mode on a couple of pitchers.

John Means is starting to work in the minors on a rehab assignment as he builds back up from a left forearm strain in spring training. That injury is unrelated to the Tommy John surgery he had in 2022.

The other worry is Kyle Bradish, the Top-5 AL Cy Young finisher from a year ago who has a right UCL sprain. It’s the type of injury that could lead to Tommy John surgery, though Baltimore is hopeful that rest and rehab will help him avoid it.

If Means and Bradish return healthy and no one gets hurt, that’s an embarrassment of riches in their rotation. But given the pitching injury casualties already this season, can the Orioles count on anything going according to plan?

That’s why the Miami Marlins’ situation bears watching as the trade deadline gets closer. Baltimore might be the team best positioned to dislodge the Marlins’ best starting pitcher, Jesús Luzardo.

The left-hander is coming off a 10-10 season with a 3.58 ERA in 2023, which was the best of his career. Luzardo has quality stuff, but he’s just now getting the chance to flex it.

Miami needs him to come up big because they’re dealing with a cadre of pitching injuries.

Their top two starters, Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez, needed Tommy John surgery and are out for the year. Two other starters are on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.

That’s probably why The Athletic's Jim Bowden wrote that the Marlins’ awful start means it is only a “matter of time” before that team starts trading its veteran players, including Luzardo.  

If Miami resort to this type of trade, they would be dealing a third-year player who is making just $5.5 million in 2024 and has two more arbitration years left before he hits free agency. Those are enviable traits in a starting pitcher these days.

Bowden believes Baltimore has something most franchises don’t — a wealth of prospects, especially at the plate. He believes the Marlins would be looking for four prospects, mostly hitters, to start a rebuild around.

From outfielder Heston Kjerstad to infielder Coby Mayo, the Orioles have hitters aplenty at Triple-A Norfolk. They’re one of the few franchises that have that kind of talent.

Would the Orioles do it? Would the Marlins?

Only time will tell. But it’s worth monitoring.