A’s get Marte from Miami for Luzardo (source)

The A’s acquired Starling Marte and cash considerations from the Marlins for left-hander Jesús Luzardo on Wednesday.

Marte, 32, was one of the most discussed position players on this year’s trade market. The 10-year veteran entered Wednesday with a career-high .859 OPS, seven homers and 22 steals, and he has also been a solid defender with 5 Outs Above Average recorded in center field, per Statcast. He was linked to big-market clubs, including the Yankees, Giants and Astros in the past several weeks, but the A’s sealed the deal.

TRADE DETAILSMarlins get: LHP Jesús LuzardoA’s get: OF Starling Marte, cash considerations

Marte, who reportedly turned down a contract extension offered by the Marlins earlier this summer, is owed roughly $4.6 million across the rest of the season before he enters free agency, which Miami will pay the majority of, a source told Feinsand.

Luzardo, 23, was the A’s top-ranked prospect as recently as last year, and he carried big expectations after an electric debut in 2019 that carried into a strong performance in that year’s American League Wild Card Game. But the southpaw’s road has gotten rockier since then; he recorded a 4.12 ERA in ’20, and he has struggled to a 6.87 ERA during a ’21 season that’s included an IL stint when he injured his pitching hand after banging a table while playing video games. He was also optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in June.

Luzardo has struggled in Triple-A, too, with a 6.52 ERA across eight starts with Las Vegas, but he represents a high-upside project for the Marlins’ coaching staff. He pitched for nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., before the Nationals selected him in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft.