Jesús Luzardo for Vinnie Pasquantino trade rumor doesn't add up

[Ely Sussman]

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[Guest]

This team will never be competitive unless they spend money on a free agent player. This exercise of trading promissing talent for promising talent may cure one problem but create another. When I see Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, making moves it is depressing being a Marlins fan when we can't acquire talent unless we give away the store.

[Guest]

Any interest in Duran from Texas as part of a trade? Maybe him + Justin Foscue for a starting pitcher from the Marlins? The Rangers have extra offensive and need a pitcher especially since Scherzer is out for the first half.

[Ely Sussman]

Yes, I could see something centered around Duran working out (provided that it's a NON-Luzardo starting pitcher we're talking about)

[Guest]

Luzardo will probably get even better over the next two years. I would not understand why the Marlins would trade him this offseason.

 

Maybe, maybe when Sandy is back to form, Eury is well established and any of the Cabrera, Rogers or Garrett group have taken one or two steps forward. That should be mid next season at the earliest.

 

If the Marlins can address both C and SS with decent/replacement level players (say, sign Knizner and trade for Farmer or Polanco), this lineup is a LOT better than last season’s OD lineup.

 

So again, why trade Luzardo when he is the “ace” of the rotation and will be needed next season?

[Ely Sussman]

The thinking would be, at least from what I can tell, that Luzardo is the key to acquiring a long-term C or SS. Instead of kicking those issues further down the road, pay the steep price now and trust in the other young pitchers to improve in Luzardo's absence.

 

I can't comprehend how trading him for a 1B/DH like Pasquantino would even be on the table.

[Guest tpjoseph0130]

In my opinion, the best way for the Marlins to compete is to hoard their young pitching. We all saw last year how things change quickly. Without Alcantara, the situation is more tenuous. No available/affordable FA pitching is better than what we have. Trading controllable and affordable arms for a patchwork offensive player is a losing proposition. The Marlins should rely on pitching and defense for 2024, which is highly unlikely to be a repeat of the unicorn 2023 season. Pitching at the trade deadline will be at a premium and, more importantly, we have an opportunity to raise the values of Cabrera and Rogers significantly from their current low points. We hold all the cards, and a piecemeal trade will not move the needle.

[Guest]

Ely, you aren't thinking about the role of our esteemed owner. There is a savings involved in this preposterous proposal...OUCH! To date, this observer has not seen a single deal since our new GM arrived, that didn't involve a policy of NOT spending any significant money at all! In my aged opinion, a new GM should initially make some sort of newsworthy positive move. To say that he hasn't is an understatement. If management keeps this up, who will want to even root for this team, no less actually attend a game?

[Ely Sussman]

I'm likewise disappointed that Bendix doesn't feel compelled to "win over" his new fanbase with impactful moves, but the one thing he's been transparent about since taking over is the emphasis on LONG-TERM success. He wasn't hired with the mandate to win in 2024. It's frustrating considering the franchise's history of always taking significant step backs following each playoff berth.

[Guest]

Ely, long term equates to younger players, and that equates to less salary, and I'm terribly upset by such thinking. We got into the playoffs, let's strive for that goal again while there is still some semblance of a fan base to help finance the future.

[Guest]

Your sentiments are eminently understandable. Yet, I feel we're misplacing some of our finger-pointing. We know scouting l, drafting, and development are the only path for success. The previous baseball folks failed miserably, yet me keep insisting another $30 or $50 million in payroll will catch us up with the Braves, Phillies, or even the Mets. We literally have no choice but to support the Bendix initiative.

TP Joseph