The New York Yankees are having a good start in the 2024 season, but they still have concerns about the starting rotation, especially with their main pitcher Gerrit Cole starting the season on the 60-day injured list.
It's well known that the Yankees have been looking to acquire a top starting pitcher. They were in talks with the Chicago White Sox for Dylan Cease before he joined the San Diego Padres, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. They also made a $72 million offer to free agent Jordan Montgomery before he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Now, the team might want to trade for 26-year-old left-handed Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, who is available for trade, according to The Athletic. Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report projected that they would offer top prospects Spencer Jones, Roderick Arias and Everson Pereira to the Marlins to get Luzardo. The New York Yankees Have Been Unwilling to Part With Prospect Spencer Jones in Trade Talks for a Pitcher “Even though many teams were interested, the Yankees didn't want to give up Jones during the winter,” Rymer mentioned. “But it's hard to imagine them getting Luzardo without doing so. With Jasson Domínguez still recovering from Tommy John surgery, the 6’6”, 235-pound Jones is currently the most attractive prospect in New York’s system.”
Jones was the main focus of initial trade talks for Cease, and the Yankees didn't want to let him go even as recently as last month,
as reported by Nightengale
And it seems unlikely the Yankees would be more desperate to get a starter now, since they have been pitching well as a team so far, with a top-five ERA. In the end, Jones might be off-limits in almost any trade discussions. He has been a “main attraction” in Double-A this season, according to The Trentonian.
he performed exceptionally well, hitting .444/.583/.722 in 18 Spring Training at bats this year The New York Yankees Have Been Searching for a Pitcher Like Jesús Luzardo, and he But if they become more desperate for a starter, maybe if Cole's recovery doesn't go well, Luzardo could be the answer to their rotation problems..
“The Yankees are off to a 6-1 start, but that’s more so despite their rotation than because of it,” Rymer noted. “This is where Luzardo would fit in, and he would further help the Yankees’ rotation do something it’s currently struggling to do. At 18.7 percent, its strikeout rate is the fourth-lowest in MLB.”
In his six seasons in the major leagues
, the 26-year-old Luzardo has a career 4.19 ERA in 79 starts. In 2023, his ERA was 3.58 in 32 starts and so far this season, he has achieved 13 strikeouts in two starts. What's particularly appealing for the Yankees, who are close to facing significant financial penalties, is that Luzardo will be
In under club control until 2027 and is currently earning only $5.5 million this seasonWhen he becomes a free agent, Luzardo is expected to receive a six-year, $90 million contract due to his talent. according to The Athletic.
The New York Yankees trade top prospects, including Spencer Jones, to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Jesús Luzardo in a new hypothetical scenario. according to The Athletic.
