One Chicago Cubs player who will probably be in a Jesús Luzardo trade

In a similar way that the Kyle Tucker trade rumors progressed for the Chicago Cubs last week, the Jesús Luzardo trade rumors are beginning to have the same feel to them

Since last Friday, Bruce Levine has been teasing that the Cubs may be approaching the finish line on a trade for a starting pitcher. Levine's report gained steam on Monday when the insider reported that the Cubs are working hard to complete the deal with the Miami Marlins. Adding confirmation to Levine's report, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma confirmed that the Cubs were working to complete a trade for Luzardo.

It's beginning to feel as if it's a matter of when Luzardo will be joining the Cubs' rotation instead of it being a matter of if.

While Owen Caissie's name was rumored to be included in a potential deal for Luzardo, it seems that the eventual package headed to the Marlins will be centered around infield prospect James Triantos. It also wouldn't be a complete shock if Alexander Canario is included in the deal.

Beyond Triantos and Canario, chances are the Cubs will also pluck from their Major League pitching staff in a theoretical trade with the Marlins.

The Cubs will likely trade from their Major League pitching staff in a trade for Jesús Luzardo.

If that's the case, expect one of Jordan Wicks or Javier Assad to be included.

Assuming the trade is completed, that leaves the Cubs with a rotation of Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Luzardo, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd. That leaves both Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad as part of the bullpen. While the Cubs could, in theory, use a six-man rotation where there is some form of rotation between Assad and Wicks, having both on the Major League roster in the bullpen feels redundant.

Given the success that Assad has had previously in the bullpen, Wicks may be the Major League-ready pitcher who will soon call South Beach his new home. With fans already complaining that the Cubs are moving a blocked Triantos in the potential deal, the "Jed Hoyer can do nothing right" crowd will likely try to chastise him for including Wicks. If Luzardo returns to being the top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher he was prior to 2024, it will be Hoyer who gets the last laugh.