MLB Deadline 2021: Starling Marte

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Marlins offered Marte a three-year, $30-plus million contract extension, which the outfielder declined. With Marte"s hesitancy, The Athletics’ front office made a big score on Wednesday morning. Having lost 4 games in a row, the A"s add a big bat and glove.

Starling Marte contract details

Starling Marte is entering the final year of his six-year, $31 million contract initially signed when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has since gone to the Arizona Diamondbacks and then the Marlins last year. The Oakland A’s are acquiring outfielder Starling Marte from the Miami Marlins in exchange for young lefty Jesus Luzardo, a former tip-top pitching prospect who has clearly taken a step back. In my opinion, this deal is great for both teams. The A"s get a big bat and glove while the Miami trade away an expiring contract for lots of upsides. What a return for the Marlins. (The deal was originally reported by Craig Mish, Ken Rosenthal, and Jon Heyman.)

Starling Marte signed a 6 year / $31,000,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including a $2,000,000 signing bonus, $31,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $5,166,667. In 2021, Marte will earn a base salary of $12,500,000, while carrying a total salary of $12,500,000. Marte"s adjusted salary with the Oakland Athletics is $205,489

Marte, 32, is enjoying another productive season at the plate. Through 63 games, he"s batting .306 with seven home runs and an .859 OPS. His 22 stolen bases also are tied for third in all of baseball. A"s GM David Frost was pumped in getting Marte, saying "we felt like Starling was frankly the best position player that was out on the market, we talked about him for weeks internally, considering what we felt was the need in the outfield and the need for a bat.“

MLB Trade Deadline; Jesus Luzardo

Miami received the once highly touted pitching prospect. Luzardo, still only 23, has struggled this season and currently is in Triple-A. In 13 appearances — six starts — he had a 6.87 ERA in the majors this season and gave up 11 home runs. 

In Oakland, Luzardo has been a major disappointment. Once seen as the future ace of Oakland"s staff, the A"s felt Marte was worth moving on from Luzardo. The young lefty made his MLB debut at 21 years old and allowed just two earned runs in 12 innings in 2019, but he was inconsistent last year and had a 4.12 ERA

Marte will be joining the team on Wednesday in Los Angeles before the A"s face the Angels for a four-game series, beginning Thursday. He will be available to play immediately, Forst said. 

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