"Walker Buehler Cubs wow"; "I'm scared sh*tless right now" - Fans react to Phillies acquiring Jesus Luzardo from Marlins
The Philadelphia Phillies have made headlines with their recent trade acquisition of left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins. The deal, which reportedly sends prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd to the Marlins, shows an important step in the Phillies' efforts to improve their pitching department ahead of the 2025 MLB season.
However, the trade has also raised eyebrows and led to a mix of excitement and concern among the fanbase.
Jesús Luzardo, 27, was seen as a valuable addition to the Phillies despite his injury-hit 2024 season, during which he made only 12 starts due to a lumbar stress reaction. Before his injury, Luzardo had shown promise with a 3.58 ERA in 2023 and was an important contributor to the Marlins' unexpected Wild Card run.
His ability to strike out batters, while managing a career average fastball velocity of nearly 97 mph, makes him a good addition for the Phillies as they seek to improve their starting rotation.
On Sunday, Fansided's Robert Murray reported the trade of Luzardo from the Marlins to the Phillies, and it got mixed reactions from the fans. Concerns from Marlins fans regarding the trade were noted.
"Return is sh*t," one fan wrote.
As another NL club, the Chicago Cubs missed out on acquiring Luzardo, the situation regarding Walker Buehler's free agency is getting to a new point, as his future is still uncertain, as he became a free agent after the end of the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite the uncertainty regarding his future, Bleacher Report's Zachry D. Rymer predicted that the Chicago Cubs are likely to sign the two-time All-Star pitcher on a three-year deal. This prompted reactions from the fans.
"Aim higher," one fan said.
The fact that the Cubs also have the option to sign a free-agent pitcher like Corbin Burnes was also acknowledged by the fans.
"Corbin Burnes," one fan remarked.
Other teams in the race for the signature of Walker Buehler and his struggles in the 2024 season
After suffering a right hip injury during the 2024 season, Walker Buehler was out for two months. The 30-year-old struggled during the 2024 season, as he played only 16 games for the Dodgers. He had a win-loss record of 1-6, an ERA of 5.38 and 64 strikeouts in the regular season.
Even after Buehler's struggles during 2024, he has been linked to a move to teams like the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, who are all looking to get his signature, according to CBS Sports.
What Buehler's next destination will be is still not known. It would be interesting to see which team lands the 2x World Series champion.