3 Sandy Alcantara mock trade proposals heading into final pre-deadline start

Sean McCormack · July 29, 2025

Sandy Alcantara is slated to take the mound at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night for the 159th start of his Miami Marlins career. It could very well be the final time he wears this uniform. With the MLB trade deadline looming on Thursday and the Marlins not yet in true postseason contention, Alcantara is reportedly one of the most popular names on the market.

Alcantara has struggled this season (6.66 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 104.0 IP), but industry insiders still estimate that the former NL Cy Young Award winner has substantial value. He's been gradually regaining his command as gets further away from Tommy John surgery and there are no concerns about his arm health with a fastball that's sitting above 97 mph. His contract provides two years of club control after this season at prices that would be considered team-friendly if he simply performs to his career averages moving forward.

We believe these are the sort of prospect packages that deadline buyers would be willing to offer for Miami's consideration.

Toronto Blue Jays receive: Sandy Alcantara and $5.6 million cash

Miami Marlins receive: 3B Orelvis Martínez, LHP Kendry Rojas, RHP Gage Stanifer and SS Juan Sánchez

The proposed cash would cover what Sandy is owed for the rest of the 2025 season, allowing the Blue Jays to add payroll in other transactions as they continue their run for an AL East title.

First, Orelvis Martínez is a former Top 100 MLB prospect who has struggled to find consistent playing time in the major leagues. Martinez was suspended in the middle of his 2024 campaign for PEDs. He slashed .267/.346/.523 with a 123 wRC+ that year in Triple-A. He's still in AAA this season and it's been ugly statistically, hitting under .200, although his BABIP is unsustainably low at .235. The third baseman brings loud pop and perhaps just needs a change of scenery the same way much like afterthought turned All-Star Kyle Stowers did at last year's deadline.

Kendry Rojas has risen up prospect boards in 2025. The Cuban native is a lefty who sits mid-90s. Rojas has a advanced feel for throwing strikes, with a repeatable delivery. Rojas' best pitch is his changeup. He throws a slider as well. As long as he stays healthy and collects innings, Rojas should be in the majors by mid-to-late 2026.

A 19th-round draft pick in 2022, Gage Stanifer has made his way to High-A. He brings loud stuff to the table—a fastball with a lot of ride and 17-20 inches of induced vertical break, plus a gyro slider. Nobody can question the arm talent. The problem with Stanifer has been the control. In 70 innings this season between Low-A and High-A, he has posted a 13.1% walk rate. He's been extremely effective in spite of that thanks to a 38.1% strikeout rate and no home runs allowed. There is a lot of reliever risk in Stanifer, but if the Marlins can shore up the command problems, they got themselves a potential mid-rotation arm.

Lastly, Juan Sánchez is a widely unknown Dominican Summer League prospect who signed with Toronto earlier this year. Sánchez would be a dart throw in this deal, but has shown some promise with his bat, slashing .340/.451/.560 with a 159 wRC+. Importantly, he gets good lift with a 45.5% fly ball rate to go along with decent contact numbers. Sánchez may not stick at shortstop, but early on, the 17-year-old has shown some skills there.

San Diego Padres receive: Sandy Alcantara and Dane Myers

Miami Marlins receive: RHP Braden Nett, LHP Boston Bateman, 1B/C Lamar King Jr and SS Brandon Butterworth

In this scenario, the Padres would also acquire Dane Myers to add good defense and a decent cheap bat. These teams have a good working relationship, having completed deals at each of the last two trade deadlines as well.

Like Kendry Rojas, Brandon Nett has flown up prospect rankings. The 2022 undrafted free agent signed for $10k it's safe to say the Padres found a diamond in the rough. Nett has great stuff and a deep arsenal. He brings a plus fastball, slider and underrated cutter along with a curveball and changeup. The flaw for Nett is his command—he has had trouble locating pitches in the zone. Rounding that out would be an additional boon to his prospect status.

Boston Bateman came to the Padres with more pedigree, selected in second round of the 2024 draft out of high school. Bateman is a tall glass of water standing at 6'8". Assigned to Low-A, he has a 25.8% K-rate and 8.6% walk rate with a 4.08 ERA, although his FIP is 3.25. Impressively, Bateman has only allowed one home run in 68 ⅓ innings. Only 19 years old, the California native's upside isn't far behind current Marlins lefties Thomas White and Robby Snelling.

Both Lamar King Jr. and Brandon Butterworth have had strong seasons in 2025. King was a 2022 fourth-round pick out of high school. Regarded as a "raw" prospect at the start of his pro career, major swing adjustments have King looking ready for higher level competition. He currently has a 121 wRC+. He lacks a true defensive home and profiles best at first base or DH long term. A 12th-rounder last season out of NC State, Butterworth stuck out to scouts with his glove, but seemingly has out-performed with his bat. In 87 games, he has hit 11 homers in A+ and is slashing .262/.324/.455 with a 113 wRC+ and .359 wOBA. Unranked on many prospect lists for the Padres, Butterworth has an up arrow next to his name.

Chicago Cubs receive: Sandy Alcantara

Miami Marlins receive: OF Owen Caissie and SS Juan Tomás

The Marlins have specifically asked about Owen Caissie in Edward Cabrera negotiations. If these teams cannot find common ground on Cabrera's worth, maybe the focus shifts to Alcantara. Through 81 games at Triple-A this season, Caissie is slashing .278/.377/.563 with 20 home runs, 46 RBI, and a 137 wRC+. The one concern is his 29.3% strikeout rate—slightly up from last season—but he’s also walking at an encouraging 12.8% clip. With nearly two full years of AAA experience under his belt, Caissie appears ready for the next step. If the Marlins end up moving on from Jesús Sánchez in a separate deal, Caissie would have a path to be called up immediately and take over in right field.

Juan Tomás is a name that should sound familiar to Marlins fans who follow the international market. He was once expected to sign with Miami, but instead inked a $1.1 million deal with the Cubs. Through 31 games in the Dominican Summer League, the 17-year-old infielder is slashing just .200/.371/.337 with one home run, 16 RBI and a 93 wRC+. However, Tomás is trending in the right direction after an early-season slump and has been walking at an impressive 21.8% rate, showing an advanced eye for his age. The tools are there, including an above-average arm. Tomás might outgrow shortstop as he fills out his 6'2" frame. That said, third base could be a natural fit.

Trading one of the most accomplished pitchers in franchise history is never easy. But in the Marlins’ case, they can feel comfortable about the arms in their prospect pipeline and others due back from injuries in 2026. The Cubs are in need of rotation help, and Alcantara would give their pitching staff a major boost as they gear up for what they hope will be a deep postseason run.

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