The Phillies might not have shaken up their lineup this offseason, but they’ve sent a clear message: pitching is king. And in their quest to dominate the mound, they’ve landed a big fish from their division rivals.
Philadelphia has acquired left-hander Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, major-league sources confirmed to The Philadelphia Baseball Review. With Luzardo in the fold, the Phillies are assembling a rotation that could make hitters everywhere lose sleep.
Here’s how it stacks up: Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez — and now Luzardo. And don’t forget Andrew Painter, the Phillies’ top pitching prospect, who is expected to debut in the majors sometime next summer. That’s what we call a deep, scary group.
Of course, landing a talent like Luzardo doesn’t come cheap. Heading to Miami are two intriguing prospects: Starlyn Caba, a 19-year-old shortstop who’s one of the Phillies’ best young talents, and Emaarion Boyd, a fleet-footed outfielder who spent last season at A-ball.
But wait, there’s more! The Phillies also get a little extra depth behind the plate with minor-league catcher Paul McIntosh included in the deal.
Luzardo, 27, has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but let’s not ignore the elephant in the room — his health. After a career-best 2023 campaign (3.58 ERA, 208 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings), Luzardo’s 2024 season was a nightmare. He made just 12 starts, with elbow tightness and a lumbar stress reaction sidelining him after mid-June.
Still, the Phillies are betting on his upside. When Luzardo is healthy, he’s electric. From 2022-23, he posted a 3.48 ERA (129 ERA+) in 50 starts, including a memorable outing against the Phillies in Game 1 of the 2023 NL Wild Card Series.
He also comes with two years of club control and a manageable salary. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Luzardo is projected to earn around $6 million in 2025 through arbitration. For a team that’s already over the $301 million luxury-tax threshold, adding a high-upside arm at that price is a savvy move — especially with Suárez set to hit free agency after 2025.
The Marlins had dangled Luzardo in trade talks for months, but his injury history made teams hesitant. Not the Phillies. They see him as a key piece for 2025 and a hedge for the future. If all goes well, this could be the move that cements their rotation as the best in baseball.
