The Marlins are open to provides on middle fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and can have a number of bullpen items obtainable within the subsequent three weeks, however they’re not planning to maneuver anybody and everybody on the roster. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reviews that the Fish aren’t going to maneuver lefty Jesus Luzardo till he’s absolutely wholesome once more, which possible factors to an offseason commerce or perhaps a deal at subsequent yr’s deadline. Mish provides that Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sanchez are each more likely to keep in South Florida as effectively. De La Cruz has already drawn curiosity, however he and Sanchez are each controllable by way of the 2027 season.
With regard to Luzardo, the notion of holding onto him is fairly simple. The gifted 26-year-old is on the 60-day injured record as a consequence of a stress response in his decrease again. That 60-day time period will prolong past the July 30 commerce deadline. Buying and selling Luzardo proper now would require promoting low, and for a pitcher of his caliber with two remaining seasons of membership management, that’s not a palatable plan of action. It’s possible potential {that a} membership might nonetheless receive Luzardo by blowing the Marlins away with a proposal commensurate with that of 1 for a wholesome Luzardo — but it surely’s additionally extremely unlikely a crew would make that sort of provide with Luzardo ailing.
Past that, the southpaw merely didn’t pitch as much as his capabilities previous to touchdown on the shelf. Maybe that again damage performed a task, and Luzardo additionally had a short IL stint for some elbow tightness early within the season. Whether or not he’s been absolutely wholesome at any level this season isn’t clear, however the lefty has been tagged for a 5.00 ERA in 66 2/3 frames.
It’s an unflattering mark, although a 21.2% strikeout charge and eight% stroll charge are each portents for some enchancment. And it’s in fact essential to emphasise how good Luzardo was within the two prior seasons; the previous third-round decide who as soon as rated as the game’s prime left-handed pitching prospect began 50 video games and notched a 3.48 ERA with an enormous 28.7% strikeout charge and sharp 7.9% stroll charge in 279 innings from 2022-23. He averaged 96.7 mph on his heater in these two years, although this yr’s common fastball dipped to 95.5 mph — nonetheless a robust mark however a crimson flag for a pitcher who hasn’t been at his finest.
If Luzardo is ready to return from his again damage within the second half and shut out the yr in good well being, then offseason curiosity ought to be sturdy. He gained’t flip 27 till Sept. 30, nonetheless boasts an influence arsenal, is barely incomes $5.5MM this season and is managed by way of 2026 by way of arbitration. That sort of pitcher ought to command a big prospect haul — the kind that’s extraordinarily unlikely to be obtainable when Luzardo is on the 60-day IL and questions on his potential to recuperate from this again damage persist. Luzardo has reportedly continued to attract curiosity whereas on the injured record, but it surely’s secure to presume the provides aren’t near what they’d be if he had been wholesome and performing as he did in 2022-23.
As for the pair of outfielders, neither is a family identify however each De La Cruz and Sanchez have proven some upside with the bat prior to now. They’re each having below-average seasons on the plate in 2024 however have roughly common batting strains of their careers so far. De La Cruz is 27 years outdated. Sanchez is simply 26.
De La Cruz is hitting .237/.286/.410 this season (94 wRC+). He’s popped 15 residence runs and is on tempo for a brand new career-high, however his 26% strikeout charge and 6% stroll charge each offset a few of that strong energy. Sanchez is hitting a comparable .239/.291/.386 (92 wRC+) with 9 residence runs. He strikes out a bit much less (23.6%) and walks at the same 5.8% clip. Each gamers have notable platoon splits. The left-handed-hitting Sanchez is batting .270/.323/.445 in opposition to righties however simply .091/.130/.159 in opposition to lefties (albeit in solely 44 plate appearances). The righty-hitting De La Cruz has hit lefties at a .288/.318/.464 tempo however floundered to a .210/.269/.380 line in opposition to righties.
There’s a case for the 2 to easily be platooned, and maybe on a deeper roster that’d be how they’re utilized. However the Marlins are skinny on outfielders as it’s, and buying and selling one or each Sanchez and De La Cruz — possible at a reasonably low charge — would solely additional expose that deficiency. With three seasons of remaining membership management apiece, there’s no urgency to maneuver both. A giant second half or sturdy begin to the 2025 season might enhance the commerce worth of both participant.
Sanchez, particularly, has displayed some tantalizing batted-ball metrics that would signify the potential for progress. He’s averaged a whopping 93.5 mph off the bat this season with an enormous 51% hard-hit charge. These figures rank within the 96th and 94th percentile of MLB hitters, respectively. It’s additionally value noting that present Marlins president Peter Bendix is aware of Sanchez effectively from his prospect days within the Rays system, the place Bendix beforehand served as normal supervisor. (Though that additionally signifies that Bendix was within the Tampa Bay entrance workplace when Sanchez was traded for Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards.)