Bob Nightengale: 'Now is the time' for Marlins to trade Sandy Alcantara

[Ely Sussman]

In his latest USA Today column, MLB insider Bob Nightengale insists that the Miami Marlins have modified their stance regarding veteran right-hander Sandy Alcantara.

"The Marlins never got the offer they wanted to move their former Cy Young winner," Nightengale writes referring to trade talks that took place during the 2025 season, "but this winter, are set to accept the best offer they receive, believing now is the time."

Nightengale continued by noting that Alcantara's salary will be a team-high $17.3 million in 2026 and that his contract includes a $21 million club option for the 2027 season, as if this would be a financially motivated trade. But that's preposterous—the Marlins carried the league's lowest payroll this past year and they're currently projected to do so again.

Miami's front office is actually weighing whether Alcantara's overall mediocrity coming off Tommy John surgery (5.36 ERA in 174.2 IP) is indicative of how he'll perform moving forward, or if his substantial improvement during the second half of the season is more relevant. Also, the Fish must factor in the potential that top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling have to fill the 30-year-old's shoes. Snelling, in particular, should be making his major league debut by next June, if not sooner.

The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and New York Yankees were among the teams that contacted the Marlins about Alcantara in the days leading up to the 2025 deadline.

Edward Cabrera "has never had more trade value than now," Nightengale adds in the same column. Cabrera overcame a late-season elbow injury scare to end his age-27 campaign on a high note. He is two and a half years younger than Alcantara and considerably cheaper (projected for $3.7 million in 2026).

 

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[Slacker Mills]

Clearly, the Yankees didn't offer their young OF Dominguez for Alcantara or a trade would have been completed. Personally, I would trade Sandy in March, especially if he gets off to a hot spring start.

[Slacker Mills]

Alcantara, Perez, Cabrera, Weathers, Junk, Garrett, Snelling, and Meyer, along with the five best relievers from last season, would make for a formidable staff to start the 2026 season.