The Miami Marlins are looking to do a big trade for hitting. Recent reports are indicating that The Fish are looking to trade one of four specific starting pitchers for hitting. The starting pitchers being offered are Trevor Rogers, Pablo López, Jesús Luzardo and Edward Cabrera. Which one would bring the most value back? Which one is the most likely to be traded? Which one is the best option to trade?
The Miami Marlins are shopping four starting pitchers.
Pablo López is the most likely trade candidate as his salary is rising in arbitration and he is hitting free agency in two years. This means that he's the pitcher with the least team control. He also has an extensive injury history and has been inconsistent throughout his career. He finished the 2022 season with a 3.75 ERA/3.71 FIP in 180.0 innings. I think that he's the best option to trade as he's not as valuable as the others for the Miami Marlins. He does have potential top of the rotation stuff, which is why other teams have interest.
Jesús Luzardo has had injury issues throughout his career as well, but has finally put together an impressive season in 2022 for the Miami Marlins. He had a 3.32 ERA/3.12 FIP with 10.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 100.1 innings. He's also under team control through 2026. I think that he's better than Pablo, and he has more team control is too good to trade. I do think that if the better offer comes for him, the Miami Marlins should take it.
Trevor Rogers is next on the list. He was phenomenal in 2021 with a 2.64 ERA/2.55 FIP with 10.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 25 games and 133.0 innings. He was unable to replicate that production in 2022, producing a 5.47 ERA/4.35 FIP with 8.9 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 23 games and 107.0 innings pitched. It turned out that he had back problems and after it healed, was back to his 2021 ace self. I think that the Miami Marlins will be selling low by trading him now.
Edward Cabrera is the last starting pitcher available, and produced an excellent 3.01 ERA in 14 games and 71.2 innings pitched. The downsides with Cabrera are his 4.59 FIP and 4.1 BB/9, though his 9.4 K/9 is excellent. I hope that the Miami Marlins keep Cabrera, but if he has to be traded for hitting I support it if it's for the best return possible.