Pitching depth, a prized MLB commodity, is proving fragile across the league. And amidst that, whispers around baseball suggest a major arm could be available. An ace who has been eyed even by the New York Yankees. Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara. Now, his potential availability lines up perfectly, or perhaps desperately, with growing crises in Los Angeles and Chicago. Their recent injury woes have potentially cleared the way for a blockbuster bidding war at the trade deadline much sooner than expected.
The injury bug has bitten both NL powerhouses hard, particularly on the mound. For the defending champion Dodgers, the situation seems more urgent.
Star pitcher Tyler Glasnow just landed on the IL with shoulder inflammation — his second early exit recently. He joins Blake Snell (also shoulder issues), Clayton Kershaw (recovering from surgery), and Emmet Sheehan (out long-term post-Tommy John). Plus, Shohei Ohtani isn’t expected back on the mound just yet!
Meanwhile, the North Siders, too, lost their ace, Justin Steele, for the season to elbow surgery. Top arm Javier Assad was also placed on the IL with an oblique strain, leaving the Cubs searching for a dependable innings-eater.
And all that makes Miami’s Sandy Alcantara the most practical, high-impact target. Newsweek’s Zach Pressnell suggested this very scenario for the Dodgers recently. He said, though Alcantara is coming back from his own Tommy John surgery, his pedigree is undeniable. This is the guy who won the Cy Young in 2022 with dominant stuff. Pressnell suggested the Dodgers pursue the $56 million star, seeing him as a potential solution to their pitching gloom.
Alcantara won’t just be a rental; his contract offers the team control through 2026 with a club option for 2027.
True, the price for the Marlins’ ace won’t be cheap, and the Dodgers will have to dip into their highly-regarded farm system. Pressnell specifically named some trade chips, suggesting, “The Dodgers could build a trade package around prospects like James Outman, Dalton Rushing, or Bobby Miller to land Alcantara.”
LA has other prospects, too, that Miami may desire. Outfielder Zyhir Hope, versatile infielder Alex Freeland, and pitchers Justin Wrobleski and Jackson Ferris. And if anything, Andrew Friedman does not hesitate to make blockbuster deals.
But the Dodgers are not the only ones in the competition. The Cubs have equally compelling reasons for a strong push with their loaded farm system that could headline a blockbuster deal. Top outfield prospects like Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara can offer outfield depth. They could also potentially dangle elite pitching prospect Cade Horton, advanced catcher Moises Ballesteros, or infield talents like Jefferson Rojas and James Triantos. Even the young lefty Jordan Wicks might be included as an MLB-ready arm.
Well, they both need an ace, and Alcantara fits the bill perfectly. Now, which deal is around the corner – time is the best answer!
Dodgers or Cubs: Which team lands the Alcantara prize?
Of course, any confirmed deal hinges on Miami’s willingness to move their star and Alcantara wanting to go. Marlins President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix has left the door open: “We never rule out anything. We listen to everything.” He acknowledged Sandy’s importance but maintained flexibility.
Alcantara, too, addressed the rumors, “I feel happy to be here,” but also recognized baseball’s business side, adding, “…before they do it, they need to talk to me first.”
Well, Los Angeles and Chicago have already proven they are not afraid to make significant moves when injuries strike. Just last July, the Dodgers acquired starter Jack Flaherty from Detroit to patch rotation holes during their championship run. And last offseason, the Cubs were exploring a trade for Cleveland ace Shane Bieber before Bieber wound up needing Tommy John himself. They also included prospects for reliever Yency Almonte, indicating a trend of fulfilling pitching needs through trade.
Now, the big question is what the current version of Alcantara looks like after he missed all of 2024. The results, though, are mixed through his first five starts in 2025. He holds a 2-2 record but sports a high 6.56 ERA over 23.1 innings. He’s striking out fewer hitters (17.0% K-rate) and walking more (12.0% BB-rate) than his peak. So, teams would need to balance this current inconsistency against his Cy Young potential and affordable contract.
Let’s hear it from you now: Which team needs Sandy Alcantara more? Who do you think has the prospect firepower to pull off the trade? Probably give it a thought before going with the obvious! IYKYK…
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