Marlins lefty Jesus Luzardo hasn’t pitched since June 16 as a result of a stress response in his decrease again. The staff by no means introduced a proper timeline for his return, however Luzardo was moved to the 60-day injured checklist only a week after his preliminary IL placement, suggesting he’d be down for no less than two months. It now appears his absence will lengthen even additional, because the Marlins revealed yesterday that Luzardo’s no-throw interval is anticipated to final one other six weeks (X hyperlink through Isaac Azout of Fish On First).
Miami hasn’t mentioned as a lot formally, however a six-week timeline merely to renew throwing all however eliminates the opportunity of Luzardo making it again to the mound earlier than the tip of the season. Six weeks from yesterday would put Luzardo on about Sept. 16 earlier than he even picks up a ball. The common season ends simply 13 days later, on Sept. 29.
If the again harm certainly proves season-ending, it’ll shut the e book on a irritating yr for the proficient however inconsistent Luzardo. The 26-year-old southpaw pitched to a flat 5.00 ERA in a dozen begins spanning 66 2/3 innings. He missed time early with elbow tightness that led to considerations of one other main arm harm — Luzardo had Tommy John surgical procedure in highschool — however he returned sturdy, posting a 3.98 ERA in 40 2/3 innings between IL stints. Half the harm in opposition to him (9 of his 18 earned runs on this stretch) got here in a single brutal June 4 outing in opposition to the Rays. His different six begins ranged from good to glorious.
The harm complicates the outlook of a pitcher who earlier this yr regarded like a surefire commerce candidate. Even when Luzardo had been in a position to come again wholesome for 4 to 5 begins late within the season, that may’ve been sufficient to showcase his well being to potential offseason suitors. It’d hardly have been a super platform yr, however different golf equipment might’ve felt moderately assured they’d be getting a wholesome model of the pitcher who from 2022-23 pitched 279 innings of three.48 ERA ball whereas punching out almost 29% of his opponents with a stroll fee that sat a bit higher than common.
As a substitute, groups eyeing Luzardo should think about not solely the early elbow difficulty but additionally the again harm that torpedoed his season. That beforehand referenced 2022-23 manufacturing remains to be alluring, as are the remaining two years of membership management over Luzardo, however the well being danger will probably be simply as nice a spotlight (if not higher).
Marlins president of baseball ops Peter Bendix and his workers might want to weigh provides this winter in opposition to what they assume they might theoretically obtain in a midseason deal. It’s attainable, if unlikely, {that a} wholesome model of Luzardo in June/July might command greater than the offseason model with vital well being considerations — regardless that within the offseason Miami could be peddling two full seasons of membership management versus 1.5 seasons subsequent summer time. The Tigers went down the same path with fellow lefty Matthew Boyd a number of years in the past, fielding provides at a number of deadlines and thru a number of offseasons whereas accidents continued to affect his inventory. They finally wound up non-tendering Boyd in 2021 and shedding the left-hander for nothing.
Holding Luzardo into the 2025 season might carry related danger, however the entrance workplace additionally absolutely needs to keep away from taking what’s perceived as a lightweight bundle — solely to see Luzardo bounce again with a wholesome first half in 2025. It’s a high-quality line to stroll and will probably be one of the vital advanced selections for the Miami baseball operations workers this winter.
