The Cubs pulled out of an offseason trade agreement with the Marlins that would have sent Jesús Luzardo to Chicago after a review of the lefty’s medical records, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Luzardo spent time on the injured list last season with both elbow inflammation and a lumbar stress reaction in his back; the latter injury kept him from pitching after late June. Specifics on the return that the Cubs would have sent to Miami remain unreported.
It stands to reason the trade would have occurred in the middle of December. Rosenthal writes that the Luzardo talks took place after the team’s two-year agreement with Matthew Boyd on December 2. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on December 14 that the Cubs had shown interest in Luzardo. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported two days later that the Cubs were pushing to get a deal done. By December 19, Levine had reported that talks were essentially dead.
Miami pivoted quickly, trading Luzardo to the Phillies on December 22. Philadelphia sent prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd to their division rivals while also acquiring minor league catcher Paul McIntosh. The Cubs aimed lower in their rotation pursuit. They signed swingman Colin Rea to a one-year, $5MM deal in January. Rea began the season as the sixth starter but has drawn into the rotation after Chicago lost Justin Steele to season-ending UCL surgery.
In his first session with Philadelphia media around the New Year, Luzardo said he’d “felt 100% the whole offseason.” He noted that the back injury had impacted him for most of the ’24 season before becoming something through which he could no longer pitch. He said in December that he felt it was “all figured out” and “back to normal.”
The Phillies were clearly comfortable with their review. It’s not unheard of for teams to have differing evaluations on a player’s medicals. The Yankees pulled out of a Jack Flaherty deadline deal before he was traded to the Dodgers last summer. The Braves and Orioles each backed out of free agent agreements with Jeff Hoffman prior to his three-year deal with the Blue Jays. They’re not completely analogous — free agent signees go through a physical examination, while teams usually just review the medical records of their trade targets — but this isn’t unique.
Luzardo has gotten out to a fantastic start with the Phils. He’s averaging just over six innings per appearance and owns a 2.08 earned run average through 30 1/3 frames. He has fanned 30% of opponents while averaging 96.4 MPH on his fastball — a tick above last season’s 95.2 mark. None of that guarantees that he’ll stay healthy, of course, but the Phillies are surely pleased with the early returns.
The southpaw will take the ball at Wrigley Field tomorrow opposite Ben Brown in the second game of a weekend set. He’s making $6.225MM this season and will likely earn something in the $10-12MM range for his final arbitration trip in 2026. Luzardo will hit free agency in advance of his age-29 campaign two years from now.
FKN Cubs
Your name is great
Cubs gonna Cubs
several cubs fans here
I understand that he has gotten off to a solid start, but again I feel like the Cubs need a sure thing top-of-the-rotation guy. Not really sure this would have filled that need at the time anyways even with Steele being uninjured at the time.
I know this one: sour grapes
I am not sour at all. I just want the Cubs to get a consistent beginning of the rotation guy with a proven track record. We do not need anymore 3, 4, or 5 spot guys in the rotation. We have plenty of those both at the big league level and farm already. I am well aware of hour cheap Jed is.
The guy has pitched over 100 innings twice in his career (101 one year) and is definitely no “sure-thing.” Middle to end of the rotation guy, we do not need that.
Boyd is no sure thing either. Luzardo is leading the league in FIP he’s certainly pitching like an ace so far. It’s early but he’s pitched great.
I agree Boyd is not, definitely not saying he was the answer either. But in terms of back end rotation, I would rather not give up a top 100 prospect when I could just go out and get a guy like Boyd who has a decent track record.
Well the Cubs could have spent the money saved from not signing Boyd on a legit 3b. That was an option.
We had the money to sign both Bregman and Scott if we did not have cheap management lol. That has nothing to do with it.
You can always complain your team should have spent more money. What I said is they could have taken the money they spent on Boyd and put it towards 3b.
What 3B did you want for $14.5MM? That really wasn’t enough for a solid 3B in this past winters FA market.
Ok pen help then. The Cubs did and still do need help at both 3b and the pen.
Dude, you just keep digging simply to argue.
Literally just said we could have gotten Bregman and Scott if we were willing to bite the luxury tax bullet that would be associated with it, and being the Cubs and having Marquee now, they sure as hell do.
Cubber4415: The cubs already have a top of rotation guy. His name is Imanaga.
You need more than one top of the rotation guy to seriously compete in the playoffs. Some teams even have 3.
Like I said all teams fans can complain their team could have spent more money. But the Cubs spent x amount of dollars and I am saying spending more on 3b and the pen would have been a better use of the funds they actually did spend
Cubber – that’s all he does is argue for the sake of arguing. It’s his thing.
So you want to sit here and make arguments that Jesús Luzardo may be the best pitcher in baseball right now, but now are refusing to take that same short, narrow-minded, and terrible approach when looking at Boyd….. using your approach, Boyd would have been a phenomenal way to spend that capital. Make what you’re saying make sense, lol.
Luzardo didn’t cost as much money. What Luzardo would have costed was prospects but the Cubs have plenty of those. And yeah Boyd looks good so far. If it wasn’t for the Steele injury the Cubs pitching would be fine right now.
Okay! Thanks for proving my point! AT THE TIME OF FREE AGENCY WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT BREGRMAN AND SCOTT. Thanks!
You can always just spend more money fella. You sound like an ungrateful fan.
This comment proves exactly why Cubs fans are the stupidest fans in the sport.
Philadelphia didnt give up anything that cant be replaced but I like Caba, 15BB to 7K, the hits will come. Miami had the depth in the rotation, with Garrett and Weathers both out, that depth shortens up a bit. They still have one of the better front three in Alcantara, Meyer and Cabrera, and they’ll get Eury Perez back later this summer. Agustn Ramirez is going to be a great player. They are scoring runs and winning games.
Luzardo has been great for the Phillies, these trades can certainly make a difference. I dont think even the Marlins thought they could be competitive this season.
He creates multiple profiles so he can argue with himself.
And Steele has pitched over 134 innings once in his career! Luzardo has pitched for HORRIBLE teams before this year, A’s & Marlins. Starters usually get eased into things unless their team is on a playoff run, so why overwork him?
Point is, most pitchers are injury prone in the MLB nowadays. If Phillies use him wisely this year he could be and will be a steal!
Here’s an example of a guy not being eased in- how many innings did Yankees starter Luis Gil throw last year. How many has he thrown this year?
Answers- 151 innings (and some in playoffs) & he won’t pitch for first 3 months or more of this season. Yankees rode him hard though.
Tucker is going to be leaving next yr for a megabucks deal. Better work on 2025 only.
Are you having a moment? I just read a conversation in which one person tried to engage and explain things and was open to different viewpoints while the other person acted like a child having a tantrum. Do you need a binky to calm down?
WTF are you referring to? Are you illiterate?
You are dumb
lmao
Now we have upped it from 100 to 134! I did not say Steele was a sure thing either. That was kind of the point of me saying we NEED A SURE THING. SMH. Being on a bad team does not mean your pitching ability is lowered. His FIP numbers are not far off from ERA lol.
I really hope this is not the truth.
You can’t handle the truth!
nice
See Cubbie fans, Hoyer was at least trying. Your boy was working the phones, medicals spooked him. Trade deadline may pan out. Keep hope alive. Best team in the NL. (Non-snark).
He also tried with 200000 other people and took “second place”
“Sure thing top of the rotation starter”????
I’m guessing Yamamoto and Skenes aren’t available. Skubal? Nope. Wheeler…probably not.
Let’s see….that pretty much exhausts that list.
I am more that comfortable in believing that there’s ample stuff going on that all the experts on this site just aren’t privy to.
You simply make it happen lol. Other teams find ways. If you really believe in your roster, you make it happen.
Partially explains why the Phillies got him for so such a lacklustre package.
Caba was a big get for Luzardo. Scouts compare his defensive upside with Andrelton Simmons.
Caba. Next Ozzie Smith.
I think both Boyd and Luzardo are big time health risks. I think the risk made sense for the Cubs at the time in either case because they had depth but now with Steele being out for the year the Cubs need more help.
Injury histories are not a stereotype. It’s a track record. While I wish him continued success, don’t be surprised when he breaks down again at some point this season.
Lots of fellow Os fans were clamoring for Elias to go get this guy, but seems there was/is good reason for pause.
Luzardo is leading the league in FIP. And the Orioles signed Morton who is one of if not the worst pitcher in all of baseball right now.
Elias is looking like a fool at the moment. Let’s be honest.
Let’s be honest. You are incapable of proper reading comprehension, as usual.
My point is that he will break down again.
He’s always shown flashes. We all know that. However, Luzardo has never been able to sustain production before he succumbs to an injury. It’s inevitable.
Luzardo is perhaps the best pitcher in all of baseball at the moment. And Morton perhaps the worst. You have no idea who will be healthy from here on out so stop pretending like you do. What we do know is so far Crochet and Luzardo, the 2 lefty starters traded in the offseason, are pitching like aces and the Orioles have no ace. We know that.
Luzardo has started more than 18 games in a season a grand total of once.
That was in ‘23 when he earned more than half of his career WAR in that single season.
In his 7 MLB season, his 2nd most innings pitched in a season is 100 1/3.
You can just say I’m right about his injury history and track record and move along.
Lol. No, you just do not see it skins! He is GARUNTEED to stay healthy and now will keep pitching as the best pitcher in the MLB! He is not due for regression at all! At this point the pirates should trade Skenes and O’neil Cruz for him! What a move by the 0.500 Phillies!
The Orioles need pitching help yes or no?
Heck the Orioles traded for a lefty starter with the freaking Marlins within the last year they just picked the wrong guy they got Rogers not Luzardo.
Dude. The title and point of the article is about how the Cubs passed on Luzardo because of his medicals. It’s not about how you feel like you can armchair QB about how the Os need pitching help.
Now that we’re a month into the season and they’re without their number 1 and 2 in GRod and Elfin, you’re just picking low hanging fruit that anyone with half a brain can do.
I said all offseason the Orioles needed an ace and they also needed a lefty starter. Even if Efflin and Rodriguez were healthy they would still need a an ace and a lefty. Getting Crochet was the move but getting Luzardo would have made a lot of sense too. Oh well live and learn.
Who doesn’t need an ace? Cards, take your mindless arguments to a Cardinals post. Quit trolling.
They had the money and trade capital to get an ace they chose instead to sign Morton, Sugano and keep hoarding their prospects. Then their division rival got Crochet.
If Luzardo breaks down he still probably provides more value than Morton for the year.
I don’t think it’s normal for Tucker to have 8 steals already. I think he wants a 40/40 season. Reaching for that brass ring.
He’s seeing how much Vladdy got and he’s chasing that bag.
40/40 is still an amazing feat, 50/50 I dont know where that came from, I imagine it will be done again but could be another decade or two
Unless Ohtani does it again this year.
50 HR, 50 SB, 200 SO
Bryan Woo for Seiya Suzuki -OR- Luis Castillo for Nico Hoerner.
I like the fit with the Cubs trading an outfielder for a starter and vice versa. Maybe Castillo for Suzuki.
King.: Except Suzuki is atrocious on defense. Definitely not worth Castillo.
Castillo isn’t worth Suzuki. You have that backwards. Woo would be but that’s not happening. And I’m not adding what it would take either.
I agree unc. No urgency yet, on the Cubs part to give up Seiya – they need all the quality RH hitting they can get.
I like your idea for the Woo trade a lot considering the depth we are supposed to have in outfield in the farm. At least one of those prospects should hit.
No. No. No. You don’t try to improve one spot by creating a problem somewhere else. Seiya is your #3 hitter and there is nobody to replace Nico at his level.
Someone please understand how important Seiya is to this team and do not think that you can plug ONKC or Alcantara in there now.
The outfield should theoretically consist of Tucker and PCA in the long term… what long term pitching do the Cubs have?????? If you cannot plug a singular hole in the outfield between upcoming and free agency and the farm, there is a serious problem.
I would rather make a win now move for a 25 year old proven 1 or 2 spot pitcher than we can build a rotation around with pieces like Horton and give up a 30 year old outfielder that we are rich in prospects to replace, rather than having 5 30 year old starters.
ps….in this day and age of baseball there is no such thing as “long term” pitching any more.
Every year Hoyer goes cheap on a Closer. Every year it bites him in the A**. Hoyer is like the kid who sticks his fork in the electric socket, Gets zapped, Likes it, And keeps doing it.
Hi Uncle! Hope you are doing well.
Let’s let the market create itself first among other teams. That closer the Cubs seek could be coming from a source that we don’t know yet.
Guessing Miller from A’s isn’t available—-will it be Helsley? How about from an unexpected source…Philly? Who knows.
And while we are at it—how about we let Pressly completely fail first—-April ERA….0.00. Hasn’t given up an earned run all month (did give up that run on the brutal drop by Justin Turner).
Let’s also see how things piece together (if) when Miller and Brasier get back. If they can get to a place with healthy guys and a 6th inning of Miller/Brasier, 7th inning of Palencia/Merryweather, 8th inning Hodge and 9th inning Pressly (or flip 8th and 9th) they can settle fairly nicely. Let’s see if the numbers compact without the skewing innings of guys like Morgan and Pearson (Pearson will still be important at some time).
So far the difference this year is that the depth they have goes pretty far this year and the Cubs have not been afraid to pull the trigger and get guys to Iowa quickly after not performing.
That’s all well and good. But so far his “April ” ERA notwithstanding Pressly neither dominates or scares anybody. Except maybe himself looking in the mirror. I’m sure a lot of pitchers would love to select games out of their stats to make themselves look better. So far Hodge has been great( When used correctly), And Palencia seems to have figured out that 97 over the plate is better than 102 and to the backstop, Knock on wood. Something Little and Horton should take to heart. Most of the times the bullpen fails is when Counsell insists on trying to get ” Extra” Outs out of them. Keller is fine if you bring him for a clean inning, Only times he’s failed is when the try to extend him. If you think Miller and Brasier are answers to any question other than who should be next on the DFA list I say you’re wrong. Keep on sipping that Hoyer Kool Aid. Defend him until the end. Hope you are still having a good time at those Cubs games in June. You’re paying enough for it for them to cheap out in all the wrong places. Be well my friend and have fun!
Mike127:
I too see enough depth for Counsell to choose from, to feel pursuing a new closer should not be Hoyers top priority. I think a guy you might be overlooking in your post, is Keller. I feel he’s been solid, although his numbers at this time, don’t indicate that. Keller has been throwing strikes. The other day was a disaster due to a flyball dropping between 3 fielders – followed by a swinging bunt hit.
All that said, I do wish they went the extra mile for Tanner Scott in the offseason.
Depth doesnt matter for the postseason though.
Cubs had better keep every piece of that offense in tact with how its clicking, they cant afford to trade anybody, not even Swanson.
The Rangers are looking to line up a trade for Tyler Mahle and/or Jon Gray. Problem is they are in first place and have hit like pickle juice early. The Rangers could run away with that division when they start hitting — but I could still see them dealing a starter at the TDL with their CBT situation.
Mahle or Gray would be a nice addition for any team in the post season mix come June. Both will command a nice package of prospects
From the Cubs Id want Cade Horton, Kevin Alcantara, Grant Kipp and Ivan Brethowr. That’s a pretty decent return.
LMAO Are you having a stroke? Call 911. I wouldn’t trade Horton alone for both of them. Let’s keep dreaming. Horton and Wiggins will be going nowhere.
This is the same guy who said Cam Smith will be the Cubs starting third baseman in ’26, in a similar tone I might add.
I think the Padres should trade the Cubs Dylan Cease for that package I proposed next week. Padres are toast if they dont trade Cease for a good SP prospect.
Cubs got a good start from Colin Rea the other day, and Boyd has been good. They aren’t pressing but the Brewers, Cardinals, Reds and Pirates are all competitive. The Cubs aren’t running away with the division.
They will need a other starter.
Cam Smith SHOULD be the Cubs starting 3B in 2026 if he wasn’t traded by an idiot for a 1 year rental.
I am a fan of Parades, and thought it was a bad trade but its a trade that has worked out for the Cubs, Kyle Tucker has been real good and has sparked that entire lineup. Bellinger has been awful for the Yankees.
I still think Tucker tests free agency, he has made a good amount in arbitration. The Cubs have all season to butter his biscuits.
He might prefer Texas Toast. We’ll see.
Ivan Brethowr is one to watch. Looks like a real beast. Hope the Padres dump Cease on the Cubs for a prospect haul.
Wait till Boyd and rea start going south and the team as a whole start having problems which inevitably will occur in a long season.
11 appearances between the two…11 solid outings. Wait is the word. Troll away, Bruce.
You pound that keyboard long enough…and wait….and sooner or later you will be right.
Generally, I agree Bruce might be trolling, but considering these guys long track records, I do not foresee this sustaining. I feel like we need both starter and bullpen help bad.
Nobody said they are going to “sustain”. Of course Rea isn’t ending with a sub 1.00 ERA, but as recently as, oh, eight months ago he had a 27 start season. It’s not unrealistic that the Cubs can get 20 starts from a #4-5 guy with respectable results.
The help we need in the bullpen is health…not much more. Julian Merryweather being healthy sets up the innings before the seventh and Hodge and Pressly and a key add later after the 7th.
Miller and Brasier coming back healthy is important also.
I agree with what you’re saying about the rotation, but the end goal of this season is PLAYOFFS… other than Imanaga, who do you trust to start a playoff game? NO ONE. In regards to the bullpen, Pressley has been very lucky. Walk rate is higher than K rate and he had the 4th most blown saves in the MLB last year. He is regressing. I think Hodge would be a respectable closer, but again, I am not viewing this team in the sense of the regular season, I want playoffs. I trust Hodge to pitch a 7th in the NLCS, but I do not necessarily feel as comfortable with the 8th or 9th. Pressly I definitely do not feel comfortable, and all of the other guys you mentioned will be nice pieces for regular season depth, but other than Hodge taking an inning, who do you trust in high contention playoff games? We need 2 more bullpen arms I believe. I know it is a lot, but I just can’t think in my head that porter hodge and another guy (theoretically someone we trade for) are our 8th and 9th innings guys, and we leave the rest of that bullpen to figure out the 6th and 7th in a NCLS game. Especially considering the lack of high-level pitching we have with Steele out when looking at it from a play-offs perspective. Starters are already pulled earlier in the playoffs as it. As of right now our number 2 and 3 starters would be Boyd and Taillon – to me that sounds disastrous.
Bruce IS trolling.
Cubber4415 I like how you’re looking at it thru a playoff lense. That’s how winners need to think about these things. And collect as many high velocity bullpen arms as you can. Even the guy coming in for the 6th inning needs to be firing 95+.
Cubs have a long track record of heating up when it’s cold and going cold when it gets hot. So far Busch and PCA are not suffering sophomore slump. Have a really nice lineup. I do not believe any team has a lineup from 1-9 that does not have a hole or two. That includes the 2024 World Series champs. At least they were smart enough to have four third basemen available to start the season. Have a feeling a patchwork 3b of Berti as the starter with JT playing twice a week can work.
Yeah, I do not think JT is going to stay this bad. Definitely has regressed, but I do not think it’ll stay like this.
Yup April Showers begat Tyler Flowers. May Cray turns to June Swoon.
That would have been a formidable rotation and they would have had 4 lefties in their rotation. Luzardo is pitching quite well this season, to the tune of a 2.79 SIERA.
Ben Brown from the David Robertson trade a couple of seasons ago.
I wouldn’t mind a Cubs reunion with Robertson.
You know what I keep hoping? That Suzuki walks into Hoyer’s office in late June and asks to be traded. Because he’s bad? No. but because 1) He was made a DH so he wouldn’t get hurt. Guess what? He’s hurt anyway. Because 2), I hate him and don’t want him around? Absolutely not. But because of all the higher priced guys on this team he’s the most easily replaceable, Would bring the most savings that would bring something they need at the deadline, Basically relief help. Suzuki has to want to go. Otherwise you have to cater to whatever whims he wants to add. Cubs have bats in the minors and lets face it, Is it really hard to find a DH at the deadline? I’ll worry about a starter later. If they have enough solid bullpen guys, They really don’t need killer starters. See Cleveland , Last year. Their best P in the Playoffs last year was Boyd. The defense rests.
Suzuki would fetch a good return, especially because you’re right he’s probably not thrilled to be a DH. That’s not what he wanted when he signed. But for sure, the bullpen is yet again an issue and Hoyer should have doubled down on strengthening it.
Listen to all the Cubs fans complain like they aren’t having their best season in years.
It’s April dude. We’ve played 1/8 of the season. Not like anything can go wrong right? We’re just doing what the stupid management should have been doing. Planning ahead.
No your just being idiot ungrateful fans that can’t be pleased.
Don’t you have enough problems with your expensive Closer and 700 million dollar hitter stinking like an old sock? Maybe you should stick to your own team because you know nothing about this one. Go back to trolling the Yankees.
I don’t have any problems. I’m not ungrateful and have enjoyed the season very much as the same should be said for Cubs fans.
27/162=16.666=1/6 of the season. Your avatar fits your posts and not just because “you can’t do math”.
Here’s hoping Lazardo throws a no-no today to show hoyer is just fine. Hoyer loves his reclamation projects but yet turned down lazardo because of his medical report. Cubs need pitching sooner than later.
jed hoyer also let Schwarber for no reason, he later admitted it was a big mistake
More like Cubs backed out of buying cashmere sweater at cash register after viewing receipt
Tristan McKenzie, ex-guardian, perfect candidate for hoyer to go after in the cheap rather than a pitcher like luzardo with his supposedly lousy medical records. Which of our prized farmhands will go as hoyer deems expendable now in this all important year for hoyer to win or else?
I imagine Jed Hoyer was not very pleased when PCA, mic’d on ESPN, referred to Amaya as “one of very few Latin guys on our roster.”
Some of you have raked me pretty bad for saying the obvious about the Cubs’ virtually all-white team. Guess you’re going to have to start hating on PCA now too.
This is such a dumb take.
Ben Brown is going to figure it out, I get that impression about him. He got through three innings against the Phillies, struck out five. Then imploded and gave up six in the fourth.
I dont know what it is but clearly he can get whiffs on that knuckle curve ball. As soon as he loses confidence in it, he falls back on his fastball and gets hit all over the yard but he is going to figure something out at some point and be real good.
Padres should trade the Cubs Cease for Horton, Brown and Ivan Brethowr.
And they also don’t consider bringing up Cade Horton because of walks. So what else is not new? With these cub pitchers, they all give too many free passes and are not consistent pitching in the zone
Jed will make big trade only out of desperation when he see our season slipping away after fantastic start——only then will it be too late.
Why is dansby still batting 5th every day not even days off which he o viously needs. We know Lopez can’t hit but he’s fine defensively like Swanson.