MLB Rumors: Sandy Alcantara Trade Rumors: Marlins in No Rush to Move Former Cy Young Winner
The Miami Marlins have found themselves in a tricky situation with Sandy Alcantara — arguably the most obvious trade candidate in Major League Baseball — but according to a new report from The Athletic, the team isn’t rushing into any decisions just yet.
Alcantara's Status: On the Block… Eventually?
Alcantara, 29, is coming off Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2024 season, and while his name has circled trade rumors for months, the Marlins haven’t decided whether or not they’ll move their ace before the trade deadline.
It’s a wait-and-see game for now — and with good reason.
The Marlins are 8-7 to start the 2025 campaign, good enough to delay any fire-sale decisions until the standings shake out closer to July. Alcantara is under contract through 2026, earning $17.3 million this year, which makes him both Miami's highest-paid player and a significant trade chip — if healthy.
Why the Delay?
Several factors are keeping Miami from pulling the trigger:
-
Early-season competitiveness: The Marlins are hovering above .500 and not yet out of the playoff picture.
-
Payroll optics: Trading Alcantara would slash payroll to near-minimum levels, potentially drawing a grievance from the MLBPA.
-
Trade value timing: Alcantara is still working back to form, and the longer he shows he's healthy and effective, the higher the return.
Progress Post-Injury: Signs of the Old Sandy
After a bumpy 2023 (7–12, 4.14 ERA) and a lost 2024, Alcantara is shaking off the rust in 2025. In his first three starts:
-
Record: 2–0
-
ERA: 4.76
-
Strikeouts: Low, but improving
-
Walks: Still higher than ideal
Scouts note his velocity and command are still returning, but the signs are encouraging. Manager Clayton McCullough echoed the optimism:
“He’s felt good so far from a health standpoint… we’ll continue to see the Sandy that everyone is accustomed to.”
If Alcantara starts stringing together quality starts — especially with better strikeout-to-walk ratios — his trade stock could skyrocket by midsummer.
What’s Next?
Expect contending teams to monitor Alcantara’s starts closely over the next two months. If he looks like anything close to his 2022 Cy Young form, the trade offers will come flooding in — and the Marlins might be more inclined to listen.
But for now, Alcantara remains in Miami, healthy, and pitching for his next opportunity — whether it’s to carry the Marlins on a surprise run or become one of the most coveted names at the trade deadline.
Add a comment