The St. Louis Cardinals are heading into a pivotal offseason, one that will define the direction of their franchise for years to come. After falling short of expectations in 2023, the Cardinals are finally embracing the rebuild they should have started a few seasons ago. With a roster that’s filled with aging veterans on expiring contracts, many expect the team to offload pieces for future assets and stockpile prospects.
However, not all ideas floating around are in line with the Cardinals’ rebuilding strategy. One trade proposal that has generated some buzz on the internet—though not for the right reasons—suggests a one-for-one swap between the Cardinals and the Miami Marlins, where St. Louis would acquire Marlins’ ace Jesús Luzardo in exchange for second baseman Nolan Gorman.
The Proposed Deal: A Risky Gamble for Both Sides?
The trade proposal, which was pitched by Josh Jacobs of Redbird Rants, centers on a high-risk, high-reward swap. According to Jacobs, the Cardinals, who have struggled to find top-of-the-rotation starters, could benefit from acquiring Luzardo, who has shown flashes of ace potential but has yet to fully establish himself as a consistent front-of-the-rotation arm.
The trade breakdown:
– St. Louis Cardinals receive: LHP Jesús Luzardo
– Miami Marlins receive: 2B Nolan Gorman
Luzardo, 26, has shown considerable upside over the past few seasons. With a 3.75 ERA and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 2023, the left-handed pitcher has the potential to develop into a legitimate ace. The Marlins, who are in the midst of their own rebuilding process, have invested heavily in pitching, and Luzardo is a centerpiece of that effort.
On the other hand, Gorman, 23, is one of the Cardinals’ top young hitters. A power-hitting second baseman, he posted a .737 OPS in 2023, with 25 home runs. Though Gorman is still developing and has shown some flashes of brilliance, he’s far from a finished product and remains a player with substantial swing-and-miss concerns.
Jacobs argues that both teams could take a gamble with this deal: the Cardinals need pitching, and the Marlins could benefit from adding an established hitter like Gorman, who might be able to contribute immediately to their lineup. But let’s be honest—this trade doesn’t pass the sniff test for Miami.
Why This Deal Makes No Sense for the Marlins
Let’s break this down from Miami’s perspective. Jesús Luzardo, as mentioned earlier, is an ace in the making. He’s not a player who’s just going to be dealt away for a single, unproven asset. Sure, Gorman is a solid player with some power potential, but trading Luzardo for him would be a colossal mistake for the Marlins.
Luzardo’s value on the trade market is extremely high. He’s under team control through 2026 and has shown the ability to dominate in the majors, posting a 3.32 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 2022 before improving his numbers even further in 2023. That kind of arm—especially one as young and under control as Luzardo—is worth more than a power-hitting second baseman with a .737 OPS and a strikeout rate north of 30%.
In reality, if the Marlins were to move Luzardo, they would be looking for a haul of top-tier prospects, not just a single infielder with potential but also glaring weaknesses in his game. Luzardo is the type of pitcher teams don’t trade unless they are getting a massive return in talent, and Gorman does not come close to meeting that threshold.
The Cardinals’ Pitching Woes: Why They Need to Think Bigger
For the Cardinals, the idea of adding Luzardo makes sense on paper. As Jacobs points out, they’ve struggled for years to find that second dynamic arm to pair alongside Sonny Gray, who they added in free agency to help stabilize their rotation. But Luzardo should not be the team’s only target in the pitching market.
If the Cardinals are serious about building a rotation that can contend, they need to acquire multiple impact pitchers—ideally one at the top of the rotation and another who can add depth. The Cardinals have some intriguing young arms in the system, but the reality is that their pitching staff has been inconsistent for far too long. Adding an ace like Luzardo could be a step in the right direction, but it’s a risky move to expect him to be the solution for a team that’s had far too many pitching question marks over the years.
The Cardinals need to be realistic about their trade assets. While Gorman is an exciting young player with plenty of potential, he’s not a cornerstone piece who would make a deal for Luzardo worthwhile for a team like Miami. If the Cardinals want to land a top-tier arm, they’ll need to part with more than just a solid infielder with decent upside. Gorman could very well be a part of a larger trade package, but a one-for-one deal with Luzardo would be a non-starter for the Marlins.
Conclusion: The Cardinals Need to Adjust Their Approach
The proposed trade for Jesús Luzardo is a clear example of why the Cardinals need to re-evaluate their approach to this offseason. As they enter a rebuild, they have to be smart about how they build their roster. If they are serious about competing again soon, they’ll need to make moves that address their pitching staff, but a trade for Luzardo that involves just Nolan Gorman is far too one-sided in favor of the Cardinals.
While Gorman may have a bright future ahead of him, trading him for a potential ace would be a massive gamble—especially when you consider the Marlins’ likely asking price. St. Louis will have to put together a much more compelling package if they want to land a pitcher of Luzardo’s caliber.
