MLB Trade Rumors: Improving Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara Endorsed By Red Sox Legend
Alcantara impressed in what could have been his final start with the Marlins
Time is running short for Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to upgrade his starting rotation ahead of Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Among the biggest names on the market when it comes to starters is Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. And the 29-year-old has a big fan in former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.
“Sandy Alcantara needs a fresh start, somewhere he can win and feel that fire again,” Martinez posted Tuesday on X. “I think he’s gonna be traded.”
But will it be the Red Sox who get a deal done? Masslive.com’s Sean McAdam reported Tuesday that Boston called as recently as 10 days ago to inquire about both Alcantara and Edward Cabrera.
“The message (the Marlins) seemed to be saying, according to someone with knowledge of the talks, was: ‘Don’t move him without checking back with us.’
“But since then, there’s been little contact between the Marlins and Red Sox,” McAdam reported. “That could stem from the high asking price for either pitcher, which according to a source, ‘starts with two elite prospects … plus.'”
McAdam also cautioned Red Sox fans not to get their hopes up about acquiring ANY starting pitcher.
“The chances of the Red Sox landing a controllable starter seem negligible,” McAdam wrote. “With so little pitching inventory available to begin with, the handful of starters with more than a year of control remaining is short, and accordingly, the ask is through the roof.”
However The Athletic’s Jim Bowden is more optimistic about trades getting completed. “The buzz from the MLB GM Community believe that the starting pitching market is robust and moving fast including: Sandy Alcantara, Dylan Cease, Mackenzie Gore, Joe Ryan, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly & Mitch Keller…it’s going to be a fascinating 47 hours,” Bowden posted Tuesday on X.
“The Sandy Alcantara market is picking up drastically and now looks like there is a real chance he gets traded by Thursday according to industry sources,” Bowden added.
Alcantara took the mound Tuesday for the Marlins and impressed, throwing five shutout innings in Miami’s 5-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He gave up three hits while striking out four and walking three batters. Alcantara threw 94 pitches, 55 for strikes.
The righty improved to 6-9 this season while lowering his ERA to 6.36. Yes, you read that right. Alcantara, who won the 2022 National League Cy Young Award, has struggled to regain his form following Tommy John surgery in 2023.
Tuesday’s performance might be just what teams need to wheel and deal with Miami. “It should be (Alcantara’s) final appearance in a Marlins’ uniform,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale posted Tuesday on X.
According to Spotrac, Alcantara is making $17.3 million this year. He’s on the books for the same price in 2026 and his deal includes a $21 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.
