Tracking all Sandy Alcantara rumors counting down to 2025 trade deadline

[Ely Sussman]

The Miami Marlins have a long history of trading away their most accomplished players. Some of those decisions were more logical than others, but the pattern is undeniable. It could soon be Sandy Alcantara's turn in advance of Thursday's 6:00 p.m. ET MLB trade deadline.

The Marlins do not need to force a trade that they're uncomfortable with. Alcantara remains under contract for 2026 ($17.3M salary) and 2027 ($21M club option). There is a good chance that his performance and consistency will improve as he gets further removed from Tommy John surgery, though there's also some risk that injuries or natural decline could continue to erode his value.

The following deadline deals involving starting pitchers may have influenced Alcantara's market:

• Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays
• JP Sears to the San Diego Padres
• Michael Soroka to the Chicago Cubs

 

---

July 31, 11:40 a.m. ET

 

---

July 31, 10:46 a.m. ET

This would be a bizarre landing spot for Alcantara considering that the Astros have one of baseball's weakest farm systems. They don't have any Top 100 MLB prospects, according to Baseball America, and the guys who come closest to clearing that bar (INF Brice Matthews and OF Jacob Melton) are already on the Astros active roster.

Thinking outside the box, what about Spencer Arrighetti as the centerpiece of a package? Sidelined for most of 2025 by a broken thumb, he held down a rotation spot in Houston for most of last season and had some electric outings (4.53 ERA and 4.18 FIP in 145.0 IP overall). Arrighetti is still pre-arbitration eligible and under club control through 2029.

 

---

July 31, 8:10 a.m. ET

The Cubs are "still in the market for another starter" despite acquiring Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

 

---

July 30, 3:15 p.m. ET

 

---

July 30, 1:31 p.m. ET

Take Jim Bowden's word with a grain of salt. At least since Peter Bendix arrived, he has reported with a pro-Marlins slant, often inflating the value of Miami's players and characterizing trade negotiations in ways that our own sources and other MLB insiders have disputed.

That being said, I want to be thorough with this rumor roundup.

 

---

July 30, 12:12 p.m. ET

This current version of Alcantara is more like a solid No. 4 than a "strong No. 2," as I wrote on Tuesday. If the Red Sox genuinely hold the latter opinion, perhaps they'll be the team to make an outlandish offer that's too good for the Fish to refuse.

 

---

July 29, 7:00 p.m. ET

 

---

July 29, 2:15 p.m. ET

Chris Paddack is the only starting pitcher to be moved in a deadline deal so far, leaving plenty of potential landing spots for Alcantara.

 

---

July 28, 10:30 a.m. ET

Alcantara continues to be listed as the Marlins' probable starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

If Bob Nightengale's reporting below is to be believed, they would have very little to gain from letting him take the mound again before the deadline. The Marlins could simply scratch him at any point before first pitch and pivot to a bullpen game if trade negotiations intensify.

 

---

July 27, 10:30 a.m. ET

Trade interest in Alcantara has "soared since his last start with teams now convinced he will be moved by the July 31 deadline," according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Alcantara went a season-high seven innings in that July 23 outing against the San Diego Padres, allowing one unearned run. It was only the second time in 2025 that he's held an opponent without any walks or hit-by-pitches. He also induced a pair of his signature ground ball double plays.

 

View full article

[Hans Herrera]

What if, just a wild thought, the Fish decides to be a buyer? For example, O’Hearn shouldn’t cost a whole lot… or Cedric Mullins…

Or maybe go after a bullpen arm like Dennis Santana or David Bednar or Finnegan?

Perhaps a 3B like Nolan Gorman or maybe even Brendan Donovan?

I get that we should sell but if an opportunity arises to get a better player at a “low cost”, why not?

[MarlinFaninGA]

If Sandy gets traded, I wonder if he will ask for his glove back from Eury. I hope not. 

[NewMarlinsFan]

If Sandy goes to Yankees, then their number 5 prospect, pitcher Bryce Cunningham looks to be an interesting target as part of a trade.

[Ely Sussman]

3 minutes ago, NewMarlinsFan said:

If Sandy goes to Yankees, then their number 5 prospect, pitcher Bryce Cunningham looks to be an interesting target as part of a trade.

It would be unusual time to trade for Cunningham when he's been on the IL for the past 2 months. Then again, Matthew Etzel (Fortes trade) was in the exact same situation, so maybe.

[NewMarlinsFan]

2 hours ago, Ely Sussman said:

It would be unusual time to trade for Cunningham when he's been on the IL for the past 2 months. Then again, Matthew Etzel (Fortes trade) was in the exact same situation, so maybe.

A  True.  A young pitcher package from the Yankees.  Maybe Schlittler, Cunningham, and a salvage project like Oswald Peraza.   Not sure if Schlittler is in their current plans.  Would like more though.  

[Shawn]

Don’t trade any starter other than Cal, there’s not a lot of depth at triple a with starters. I’d trade Jesus, Faucher, and call it day. Possibly get weathers back late August and you’re looking at a strong rotation that can surprise the league and make a playoff push. 

[NewMarlinsFan]

8 minutes ago, Shawn said:

Don’t trade any starter other than Cal, there’s not a lot of depth at triple a with starters. I’d trade Jesus, Faucher, and call it day. Possibly get weathers back late August and you’re looking at a strong rotation that can surprise the league and make a playoff push. 

Would be nice to keep both starting Pitchers, Cabrera and Sandy.   But don't think this front office is on board with competing next year.  Would think, it might be worth trading one pitcher if team could get a serious bat.  Then would make it possible to compete next year.   Might be why they seem to want Spencer Jones from Yankees.  

[One Regend]

I was honestly expecting one of the bullpen arms to be shipped out, particularly Faucher or Bender. Surprised none of them were traded.

I'm also surprised they didn't trade Edward Cabrera. His value isn't going to get any higher, and I sincerely doubt he can repeat this performance year to year. The fact they didn't trade him is purely because they deluded themselves into believing they can be a playoff team sooner than they realistically are.

I'll spare you the details. We have literally ZERO depth in AAA that can plug the holes in 1B, 3B, and our COF spots, and our team is playing way above their talent level. Jakob Marsee is being hyped, as usual, because thats what the Marlins social media does, but I don't view him as a superstar. Literally no one in our MiLB system has superstar potential.

The Marlins 21-10 stretch fooled everyone else into believing this team can compete with the two-headed Mets/Phillies monster, the two-headed Brewers/Cubs monster, the Reds, and the Padres. But not me. Did y'all suddenly forget this team got SWEPT by THE ROCKIES? This team is nowhere close to ready, and them balking at the deadline might've done more damage than helped.

Do you want to see more 76-86 seasons from the Marlins? Because that's what stretches like this and deadlines like this and MiLB system outlooks like this do to a franchise.