As Miami’s offense falters and the postseason slips away, the former Cy Young winner emerges as the trade market's premier target for desperate contenders seeking rotation help.
The Miami Marlins have failed to carry their momentum into May after taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers to close April.
The Marlins went 4-6 in their 10-game homestand to open May, which included a lot of help from Triple-A Jacksonville. They called up catcher Joe Mack to replace the struggling Agustín Ramírez and promoted Robby Snelling to make his MLB debut in place of Chris Paddack, who was designated for assignment following a winless start to the season.
Braxton Garrett returned to the Marlins on Thursday for his first big league start after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, it came after Snelling was sent to the injured list for a UCL sprain. Even worse, Garrett went only 1.1 innings and was tagged for five runs in a 9-1 loss to the Twins.
The struggles in May have attention shifting away from the team’s on-field performance to the possibility of a trade involving starter Sandy Alcantara. The Miami ace and former Cy Young winner is becoming one of the most discussed names in MLB when it comes to early trade talks.
According to Bob Nightengale, “Dave Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations, said that with so many teams with big payrolls struggling this year, trade talks have already picked up. The hottest commodity at the trade deadline is expected to be Miami Marlins ace, Sandy Alcantara.”
But despite trade talks picking up steam, according to Ken Rosenthal, a deal is not certain, stating, “Is Sandy a goner? Maybe not, and as long as the team remains in contention, a trade of Alcantara would send the wrong message.”
If contention is going to factor into a potential move involving Alcantara, the Marlins’ lack of consistent run production raises questions whether they can stay in the race to the Aug. 3 deadline. The Marlins offense this season ranks 22nd in runs, having scored 146 and 27th in home runs with just 25.
The Marlins also face questions about how a decision to trade Alcantara would be perceived, especially with the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball. Moving Alcantara would be viewed as a step backwards, rather than a step forward toward contention, something that the fans want.
As long as Alcantara remains healthy, interest in the starter will remain strong. He has posted a 3.04 ERA, a 5.9 K/9, and a 1.16 WHIP this season, all while leading the National League in innings pitched with 57.2. His next start will be a crucial one on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Combined that with $21 million club option for next season, Alcantara could will set the Marlins up for a strong return if they decide to move him. Any potential deal will likely depend on how the Marlins perform leading up to the deadline.
Any trade involving Alcantara will yield a significant return. But it could also raise questions among fans about whether the franchise is truly serious about winning. Keeping him carries risks of missing out on what could be the maximum return the Marlins would receive for the former Cy Young winner.
The Marlins’ decision regarding their star’s future is coming, and will play a major role in shaping the team’s direction and success moving forward.
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