So Far, So Good For Miami Marlins With Starling Marte Trade

The Miami Marlins just got their biggest win of the 2021 season by landing SP Jesus Luzardo in exchange for OF Starling Marte.

And just like that, the 2021 MLB season is officially over for the Miami Marlins.

Between recent starting pitcher injuries and the trading away of their best player in Starling Marte, it would be impossible for even the most optimistic Marlins fan to come to any other conclusion. After a one year respite in 2020, it will be another losing season for Miami. However, the wins and losses the rest of the way couldn’t matter less compared to the huge win just recorded by Miami’s front office.

Starling Marte…in exchange for Jesus Luzardo? Massive win for Derek Jeter and Kim Ng.

Luzardo is just a sixty game season and four months removed from being the top prospect in the Oakland A’s organization. Yes, he brings some injury concerns with him, and the four months of 2021 baseball we’ve seen from him so far have left a lot to be desired. Still, nothing about the current MLB landscape has suggested that you’re supposed to be able to get a prospect this good for what is likely going to just a summer rental for the Athletics.

Luzardo could flop. The fact that an organization as smart as Oakland made the move in the first place should not be dismissed out of hand by Marlins fans. The A’s are clearly going for it all this year, but Luzardo is a lot to give up if you don’t have at least some legit concerns about his becoming the stud pitcher he was to projected to turn into.

For right now though…none of that matters at all if you’re the Miami Marlins front office.

Because what needed to happen first and foremost in a Marte trade, once extension talks fell through, was for it not to be perceived as a money dump. Miami needed to win this trade in the here and now to sell this to their fan base. Get a player fans have heard of, an MLB ready talent that could be part of a winner as soon as next season. Not just some High A prospect that might make a difference in 2024.

The pundits needed to be wowed. Twitter needed to be happy. Miami needed to be willing to pay to make sure they got the best possible piece they could get. Anything less than that, and the “same old Marlins” chant was going to start up in earnest.

Well, full marks across the board. Jeff Passan seemed impressed. ESPN gave Miami an A. And Miami is paying every penny of Marte’s remaining salary.

Seemingly, the Miami Marlins got the best player they could get in exchange for who was clearly their best hitter. Without question, they got a more highly regarded prospect than any dared to reasonably project or expect.

Miami won the moment, and fans can’t help but feel good about the direction of the organization right now. That’s what the Marlins needed to do to get through the rest of this season. Mission accomplished.

Until the offseason, at any rate.