Levine: Cubs and Marlins Talking Jesus Luzardo

[Bertz]

The Cubs' search for starting pitching was seemingly put on pause while the team finalized their deal for Jesus Luzardo, but it appears to have resumed in earnest.

Jesus Luzardo had a lost season in 2024 with separate elbow and back injuries, not pitching at all after June 16th. However, in 2023, Jesus was one of the best pitchers in baseball and seemed to be a young budding ace.

With that immense talent and two years of control at low arbitration salaries, Luzardo still figures to command a sizable prospect return even after his down year in 2024.

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[Dfan25]

Cassie for Luzardo ?  WTF ?

[Bertz]

Caissie/Alcantara and Assad for Luzardo and one of Miami's lefty relievers would make me a very happy camper.

[WhyCantWeWin]

Doesnt Luzardo only have 2 years of control? That feels really steep

[KCCub]

This is a good buy low opportunity for the Cubs. If Luzardo is never injured last year, his price is 2x-3x. With that said, please hold onto Caissie and let this be Triantos that goes. I can cope with the thought of Tucker walking after this season knowing it’s giving us a year to groom Caissie for taking over in RF. I do wish this was the Boyd move however and we were in on a more sure thing at the top end of our rotation. 

[KCCub]

 

[Rcal10]

Not a huge fan of the idea of Luzardo. And he only has 2 years left. Hopefully they do something else.

[Jason Ross]

This feels like the Marlins asked for Caissie but will eventually settle on Triantos + a smaller arm, like maybe Assad.

[WhyCantWeWin]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

This feels like the Marlins asked for Caissie but will eventually settle on Triantos + a smaller arm, like maybe Assad.

Id rather trade wicks

[Dfan25]

1 minute ago, 1908_Cubs said:

This feels like the Marlins asked for Caissie but will eventually settle on Triantos + a smaller arm, like maybe Assad.

Hopefully thats the case 

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Id rather trade wicks

Why? Assad isn't particularly good. He's alright, but Wicks reworked his fastball last year. There's a pretty good arm there.

[Dfan25]

I wonder if Canario goes on this deal . Not talking as the main guy , but part of it where Cubs get a reliever as well

[NorthsideAvenger]

Back issues are no joke. So unless someone else is coming along with Luzardo, that Cassie for Luzardo deal is a hard no for me.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Triantos and Caissie probably do have about equal value considering the SB chops Triantos just displayed and Caissie might hack it in LF for a few years before moving to DH. I'm skeptical of his value outside of the bat. They quite possibly could both be peak 3 win guys.

 

I'd rather hold onto Caissie because our immediate OF picture could get dicey pretty quickly in the next couple years. 

 

I'm starting to feel like Alcantara isn't on the table for Jed this year. 

[Rcal10]

Circling back to Luzardo, if the Cubs did trade for him and then got rid of Bellinger saving $20M where does their budget stand? I feel they would have a decent amount of money to still spend and only need a bench bat that can play first and third and a pen arm or two. Would they be able to get Scott and Finnegan? Then sign Solano, Moncada or Wisdom? Do they have that much left? If so maybe Luzardo does work. But I wouldn’t do it for Cassie and I wouldn’t add Brown or Wicks. Triantos and Assad might work. Still not a huge fan of Luzardo, but if getting him allowed them to go bigger elsewhere that could work. 

[Cuzi]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

This feels like the Marlins asked for Caissie but will eventually settle on Triantos + a smaller arm, like maybe Assad.

There's gotta be better out there than a gamble on Luzardo if we are talking about top 100 prospects. Luzardo only has 2 years remaining. He's always had health issues with his arm and now not only did he have arm issues last year, but he also had back issues. The guy is a pitch away from never suiting up in a Cubs uniform and we are talking about giving a top 100 prospect? Ugh. Hopefully this is more the Cubs just feeling out the situation and not seriously considering it.

Edited December 14, 2024 by Cuzi

[Cuzi]

To me the Twins and Blue Jays are kind of wild cards here. I can see them both selling.

If the Cubs are looking for 3B options outside of the FA options, then what does a Willi Casto + Zebby Matthews deal look like? Castro could be our Kike Hernandez and Zebby Matthews is the Twins version of Will Warren.

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

There's gotta be better out there than a gamble on Luzardo if we are talking about top 100 prospects. Luzardo only has 2 years remaining. He's always had health issues with his arm and now not only did he not have arm issues last year, but he also had back issues. The guy is a pitch away from never suiting up in a Cubs uniform and we are talking about giving a top 100 prospect? Ugh. Hopefully this is more the Cubs just feeling out the situation and not seriously considering it.

That is my concern with him as well. But who then. I know you like Cease. I do too. But let’s face it, he would only be 1 year. And he would probably cost more. Who does that leave the Cubs. Mariners have pitching, but they don’t want to part with it. And even if they did they want major league talent. Earlier I heard Cristopher Sanchez was a guy the Phillies would consider moving. But, again, I am sure they want major league talent. Bellinger + a prospect? Keller is available. Not sure I care. Would have loved Clarke Schmidt in a Bellinger + prospect deal. But with Cortez gone, I doubt Schmidt is an option. The trick is to find a guy on a team that will take prospects back. There aren’t many of those teams available. 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

To me the Twins and Blue Jays are kind of wild cards here. I can see them both selling.

If the Cubs are looking for 3B options outside of the FA options, then what does a Willi Casto + Zebby Matthews deal look like? Castro could be our Kike Hernandez and Zebby Matthews is the Twins version of Will Warren.

When you mention Twins I go to Pablo Lopez. But I am not sure they would want to move him. 

[SOFNR]

I'm really torn on Luzardo. Obviously he's a guy with a bunch of potential but his 2024 was pretty scary. If not for the Boyd signing I'd probably be interested in the gamble. Maybe it's my fault for talking myself into the idea the Cubs were going to add a rotation piece that would comfortably fit ahead of Taillon. But adding two guys, one who hasn't pitched over 80 innings in five years, the other who just had 2 injuries and only pitched 66 innings last year seems like a risky route. 

Reasons it might be worth it: He's 27 years old, makes 6 million, and had a great two year stretch before last year. The Cubs have Wicks, Brown, and Assad as depth, and Horton and Birdsell potentially lurking. All of the other pitching options also come with risk. Flaherty has plenty of injury concerns and will require more money and years. Eovaldi will cost money and is getting old. Castillo may be on the decline and is going to cost you atleast 3/75 plus prospects. I'd be much more excited about making a move for Cease, but we don't even know if that's on the table.

Cassie is too much. Even trading Assad is a little worrisome when you've got pretty major concerns about your 4 and 5 pitching a full season. I think it's a fair risk for Triantos + somebody else outside the top 10.  Slightly excited. Slightly scared. Atleast this offseason has been entertaining.

Edited December 14, 2024 by SOFNR

[Rcal10]

If the Jays will sell, what does Berrios cost? He is signed thru 2028  at about $20M a year. 

Edited December 14, 2024 by Rcal10

[SOFNR]

15 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Circling back to Luzardo, if the Cubs did trade for him and then got rid of Bellinger saving $20M where does their budget stand? I feel they would have a decent amount of money to still spend and only need a bench bat that can play first and third and a pen arm or two. Would they be able to get Scott and Finnegan? Then sign Solano, Moncada or Wisdom? Do they have that much left? If so maybe Luzardo does work. But I wouldn’t do it for Cassie and I wouldn’t add Brown or Wicks. Triantos and Assad might work. Still not a huge fan of Luzardo, but if getting him allowed them to go bigger elsewhere that could work. 

If the Cubs were around 30 last week, the Tucker deal cost them around 8, Carson Kelly around 6, and Luzardo would be 6. That would leave them 10 before a Bellinger move. So if someone takes Bellinger with the Cubs only eating 5-7 you'd likely be looking at 30-32 left to fill out the team.

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

If the Cubs were around 30 last week, the Tucker deal cost them around 8, Carson Kelly around 6, and Luzardo would be 6. That would leave them 10 before a Bellinger move. So if someone takes Bellinger with the Cubs only eating 5-7 you'd likely be looking at 30-32 left to fill out the team.

I would say that could get them Finnegan, Scott and Moncada. Or sign Torres to play 3rd and go with Minter and Finnegan. Not sure Torres wants to play 3rd, however. Regardless, they would have a lot of options. And honestly if it got tight. I would be fine with just dumping Bellinger to anyone who took his entire salary. Don’t care about getting anything back. His money used elsewhere is more important then getting a prospect who would end up outside the Cubs top 12-15. 

Edited December 14, 2024 by Rcal10

[Tryptamine]

I could convince myself to have Triantos be the main piece if not much else is going. Not interested in giving up Caissie.

[JBears79]

I'd give up Triantos and Assad for Luzardo. No to Cassie though. I'm a Luzardo fan but Cassie is too much imo.