Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome back to Top of the Order, where each Monday, Wednesday and Friday I will begin your baseball day by sharing some news, notes and thoughts related to our shared passion – baseball!
Friday night, after an awful 9-24 start to their campaign, Miami issued its formal surrender when they traded back-to-back batting champion Luis Arraez to San Diego in exchange for four prospects. Miami likely will look for ways to rebuild in future seasons under Peter Bendix as president of baseball operations and look at trade possibilities this season.
At present, only two Marlins players should be off limits to prospective trade partners: starting pitchers Eury Perez and Sandy Alcantara have both undergone Tommy John surgery, rendering themselves unavailable for trade partners. Alcantara signed a five-year $56 million extension after 2021 season that should allow him to return by Opening Day; Perez likely to miss at least several months during 2022 campaign.
Now is an opportune time for us to review some of the potential players the Marlins could trade before July 30.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has long been one of baseball’s most entertaining players and an essential asset to the Marlins since he debuted as their starting second baseman back in 2021. Chisholm batted 507 times across 124 games back then due to injuries; that season marked one full season’s worth of production across 2022-2023 at an astonishing 116 wRC+ with 33 homers, 34 steals, and above-average defense at both second base and center field! Unfortunately though injuries limited him over his first full year out there: 507 times across 124 games was more than any other season since.
Chisholm’s 2024 hasn’t been stellar (102 wRC+), but he remains healthy, taking more walks than ever with an improved strikeout rate and lower strikeout rate than before. Lefties continue to give Chisholm fits (66 wRC+), though teams might consider moving him back to second base if that better suits their roster needs. Chisholm currently earns $2.625 million this season before becoming free agent until 2026 season concludes; any deal for Chisholm could potentially yield benefits both ways – Phillies Mariners Royals Guardians would likely benefit most from trading him early versus waiting longer;
Jesus Luzardo, SP
In 2021, the Marlins made an excellent move when they acquired lefty starter Jesus Luzardo from the A’s for 56 games of Starling Marte. While Luzardo missed half the 2022 season due to forearm tendinitis, his 18 starts still produced outstanding results; last season alone saw an outstanding 3.58 ERA (3.55 FIP). And striking out 28% of batters was no small accomplishment!
Luzardo had an uncertain start to this season, pitching just 26 innings across his first five starts while surrendering 19 runs (6.58 ERA), his strikeout rate dropping four percentage points and walk rate reaching above 11% before landing on the injured list with a strained flexor tendon injury on April 26. While typically such diagnoses spell long absences for patients like Luzardo, his rehabilitation started this past Sunday and seems to be progressing quickly with no timeframe set yet for his return; like Chisholm Luzardo has two more years under club control following this season – best fits with Dodgers Rangers Giants Twins Astros or Dodgers Rangers Rangers Rangers Rangers Giants Twins or Astros
Bryan De La Cruz has not had an impressive career thus far; in four seasons combined, his wRC+ stands at 99 and he has yet to produce one full WAR in any one season. But De La Cruz always showed glimpses of great potential: in 2022 his xwOBA and sweet-spot percentage were both elite (the latter even leading MLB). While last season his power diminished slightly while his sweet-spot percentage held steady. Now in 2023 he appears content trading ideal contact for harder hits — his barreling rate has dropped nine points while hitting more balls harder; yet still managing excellent sweet-spot rate figures at 96% this time!
De La Cruz may not know how best to utilize his bat, as evidenced by constant fluctuations that prevent any meaningful breakthrough. Never having been considered one of baseball’s elite hitters, De La Cruz remains ineffective at hitting; some teams who specialize in hitting development could help iron out some kinks with hopes that things start clicking more effectively for him. He won’t become free agent until 2027 season is complete but could benefit greatly from change of scene and direction.
Phillies, Rays, Mariners and Cardinals would make ideal partners. Unfortunately for the Marlins though, many trade candidates such as Tim Anderson (shortstop), Josh Bell (1B and DH), Jesus Sanchez (1F/OF/DF), starting pitcher Trevor Rogers / Edward Cabrera (2/3rds of an ERA below 1.70 and reliever Anthony Bender (1/5) as well as Braxton Garrett/Braiden Burgadtr/Jake Burger (3B/OF/1; while Tanner Scott (2.77 ERA and walk rate that exceeds strikeout rates by 3.2/3) have proven ineffective enough that any returns offered.
Certain players could likely be traded, even if only to cut payroll costs. Anderson, Bell and Scott will become free agents after this season; therefore the Marlins should be willing to trade them away for anything in return if that can’t happen by late July if necessary. As for others who remain, Miami could hold onto them until a suitable offer emerges and look to trade later…
Alek Manoah Returns To Pitching After Ineffective Start
On Sunday, Blue Jays righty Alek Manoah made a triumphant return to major league pitches after nearly eight months battling injuries, ineffectiveness, and mechanical issues that limited him from making starts in August 10.

Washington’s pitcher Manoah provided plenty of easy takes; Washington only offered up 18% of pitches outside the strike zone – well below league average of 31% – which enabled their batters to make less contact on swings both inside and outside the strike zone, yet rarely swing: Washington only hit at 36% of Manoah’s offerings; 10 percentage points below league average!
Manoah saw his velocity improve significantly compared to last season, averaging 94.3 mph versus 92.6. But ultimately if he wants to remain in the rotation and rebuild his career – which appears unlikely due to Yariel Rodriguez and Bowden Francis being absent for an extended period – more competitive pitches must be delivered; otherwise hitters will simply wait it out and score easily off your stuff. Now that Yariel Rodriguez and Bowden Francis may miss time due to injury concerns for Toronto Blue Jays pitchers; Manoah should get plenty of chances to learn at major league level pitching staffing opportunities while missing two injured Blue Jays players for extended periods time so can work his craft more freely at major league level pitching staffs without their peers at AAA.

The post Top of the Order: Should the Marlins Trade Next? first appeared on RawNews.