3 best Mets starting pitcher trade targets with Garrett Crochet off the board

3) Jesus Luzardo

The New York Mets are on the lookout for upgrades in their starting rotation and should consider pursuing a trade for Miami Marlins pitcher Jesús Luzardo. While the young left-hander comes with some risk, his potential reward is immense.

Luzardo possesses electric stuff, with a high-end and devastating slider.    Luzardo's arsenal has ace potential commanded by a fastball that averages 96 mph, to which is added an elite slider and change-up that manages to generate more than 40% swing and miss.

Acquiring Luzardo does not come without risk as his history has elbow injuries that have affected his durability. The Mets should carefully weigh the risks and rewards before making a decision.

However, the fact of having this history and coming off a season of low performance in 2024 means that Luzardo's trade value does not require an exorbitant return as would have happened in previous seasons. In any case, Luzardo's contractual value makes him a striking asset on the market, he would earn just $8 million in 2025 and would go to its last arbitration in 2026.

A package of a couple of prospects located between the top 10 and top 20 of the organization could be enough to acquire Luzardo. In a trade like this, If the Mets can mitigate the risk associated with their injury history, the reward could be substantial.