After constant trade rumors, Marlins send Jesús Luzardo to rival Phillies

[Kevin Barral]

The Marlins have moved on from Luzardo after three-and-a-half seasons with the organization. Prospect Paul McIntosh is also headed to Philly in the deal.

The Miami Marlins received an offer that was "too good to pass up" and traded left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo and catcher Paul McIntosh to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in exchange for shortstop Starlyn Caba and outfielder Emaarion Boyd. Robert Murray of FanSided was first to report the deal.

Luzardo, 27, was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in the midst of the 2021 season in exchange for Starling Marte. Although Luzardo struggled in his Marlins 12 starts that season, the Broward native had an excellent 2022 despite being limited to only 18 starts. He posted a 3.32 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 10.76 K/9 and 3.14 BB/9 through 100 ⅓ innings pitched. His best season would come in 2023 as he pitched a career-high 178 ⅔ innings and had a 3.58 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 10.48 K/9 and 2.77 BB/9. He started Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the same Phillies team that he now plays for.

In 2024, Luzardo was named the Marlins Opening Day starter. Less than one month into the regular season, he suffered left elbow tightness and was placed on the IL. In June, a lumbar stress reaction knocked him out for the remainder of the season. He was limited to 12 starts, pitching to a 5.00 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 7.83 K/9 and a 2.97 BB/9.

Luzardo's name has come up in trade rumors dating back to the 2023-24 offseason. Last week, the Chicago Cubs pursued him, but the teams couldn't finalize a deal.

Entering 2025, Luzardo is arbitration-eligible for the third time. He has another year of club control beyond that before he can become a free agent. The Phillies are the fourth different MLB organization he has played for (previously the Marlins, A's and Washington Nationals).

A former undrafted free agent, McIntosh spent the 2024 season at the Double-A level and slashed .246/.340/.385/.725 with 12 home runs, 55 RBI and a 118 wRC+. He has always hit on his way through the minor leagues, never posting a wRC+ below 100. However, defensive limitations have held him back from getting a major league call-up as he enters his age-27 season.

The main player returning in this trade is 19-year old shortstop Starlyn Caba who slashed .228/.385/.284/.669 with two home runs and 26 RBI between the complex and Low-A. As one of the top international prospects in 2023, he signed with the Phillies for $3 million. His best tool early on has been his defense. The expectation is that he will stick at shortstop. Baseball America ranks Caba is the No. 54 overall MLB prospect.

"I think he's got a chance to be a superstar...He's extremely athletic, excellent tools, really good shortstop, great makeup, great bat-to-ball skills, great swing decisions," Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix says. "It's the whole package of what you're looking for from a prospect."

Also involved in the return was outfielder Emaarion Boyd who slashed .239/.316/.330/.647 with three home runs, 40 RBI and a 90 wRC+. Boyd's plus-plus speed is what stands, stealing 56 bags in 2023 and 27 in 2024. He's seen time primarily at left and center field. He has the ability to stick in center field. 

This is the first trade made between the Marlins and Phillies since February 2019 when they swapped J.T. Realmuto for Sixto Sánchez, Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart and international bonus pool money. The Marlins would come to regret that move—Realmuto remains Philly's starting catcher, while none of the pieces received for him are still with Miami.

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[Slacker Mills]

They say you can only judge a trade over time. Not true. That was just an awful ... make that pathetic... deal.

[Slacker Mills]

Pretty soon the Marlins will need just a single walk-up-to -the-plate song for the entire team: Randy Newman's "Short People."

[rurrusuno]

I'm surprised he even got traded at all. I'm in agreement with Slacker Mills though as I'm unimpressed with this trade. The only thing going for Caba and Boyd is that they're stolen base threats. 

[One Regend]

So we gave up a highly talented left-handed starting pitcher in favor of... an Adeiny Hechavarria type and a Magneuris Sierra type.

...Actually, comparing these two prospects to those two names might be a compliment. I don't see them coming anywhere close to making a major impact on the major league level.

I've come to learn something over the past year. Peter Bendix and his crew can be many things. But talent evaluators, they are not. Maybe I should be glad we got screwed by the lottery. Even if we got the #1 overall in the 2025 draft, Bendix and his crew would've found a way to screw it up.

[rurrusuno]

6 minutes ago, One Regend said:

So we gave up a highly talented left-handed starting pitcher in favor of... an Adeiny Hechavarria type and a Magneuris Sierra type.

...Actually, comparing these two non-prospects to those two names might be a compliment. I don't see them coming anywhere close to making a major impact on the major league level.

I've come to learn something over the past year. Peter Bendix and his crew can be many things. But talent evaluators, they are not. Maybe I should be glad we got screwed by the lottery. Even if we got the #1 overall in the 2025 draft, Bendix and his crew would've found a way to screw it up.

They make Jeffrey Loria seem not that bad after all. 

[One Regend]

40 minutes ago, rurrusuno said:

They make Jeffrey Loria seem not that bad after all. 

Honestly, I'd compare Peter Bendix more to Gary Denbo. And honestly, from what it looks like, he's making Gary Denbo look good.

That's not a good sign of things to come.

[Slacker Mills]

Bendix says Caba is going to be a superstar! And to think I thought this was a bad deal for the Marlins.

[Leo Armbrister]

The Marlins will be fielding a pretty good tripple a team next year.

[jalmirall]

Wouldn't it make more sense to have traded him mid season to a contender desperate for reinforcements?  Same with Burger...   Not sure I see the strategic value of the pre-season trade... Anyone care to chime in?

[Russell]

9 hours ago, One Regend said:

So we gave up a highly talented left-handed starting pitcher in favor of... an Adeiny Hechavarria type and a Magneuris Sierra type.

...Actually, comparing these two prospects to those two names might be a compliment. I don't see them coming anywhere close to making a major impact on the major league level.

I've come to learn something over the past year. Peter Bendix and his crew can be many things. But talent evaluators, they are not. Maybe I should be glad we got screwed by the lottery. Even if we got the #1 overall in the 2025 draft, Bendix and his crew would've found a way to screw it up.

Funny, as I was reading about Caba I was muttering under my breath was anyone ever excited about Adeiny Hechavarria.  Wow!  I can't get excited over a guy with 0 power and an 

 

9 hours ago, One Regend said:

So we gave up a highly talented left-handed starting pitcher in favor of... an Adeiny Hechavarria type and a Magneuris Sierra type.

...Actually, comparing these two prospects to those two names might be a compliment. I don't see them coming anywhere close to making a major impact on the major league level.

I've come to learn something over the past year. Peter Bendix and his crew can be many things. But talent evaluators, they are not. Maybe I should be glad we got screwed by the lottery. Even if we got the #1 overall in the 2025 draft, Bendix and his crew would've found a way to screw it up.

too funny, as I was reading about Caba I kept muttering Adeiny Hechavarria under my breath.  Wow!  Yeah, I can't get excited about a guy with 0 power and an OPS of .670.  That output just doesn't move the scoreboard and makes zero impact where it matters.

[Slacker Mills]

Might as well trade Xavier Edwards now.

[One Regend]

20 hours ago, Leo Armbrister said:

The Marlins will be fielding a pretty good tripple a team next year.

Our AAA guys are better hitters than the guys we got from this trade.

Let that sink in.

[1993 fan from start]

All I am hoping this better than J.T.  trade right now..  Witch I SAID was bad from day one.     Would like to seen more major ready players return .