The Twins should give their starting rotation a boost by acquiring Sandy Alcantara.
The Minnesota Twins decided to keep stars Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez this offseason, something that suggests they want to win in 2026. Minnesota was rumored to even be interested in Freddy Peralta before the Milwaukee Brewers traded him to the New York Mets. If the Twins are indeed looking to compete, they should not give up on trying to boost their rotation. Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara could be a player they can acquire in a trade.
Reports have indicated that Alcantara may not be traded this offseason. Although the Marlins are seemingly rebuilding -- they have already traded Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers this offseason -- Alcantara's trade value is quite low at the moment.
A National League Cy Young winner in 2022, Alcantara missed all of 2024 due to injury. He looked like a completely different pitcher in 2025. While he was able to make 31 starts, Alcantara turned in a lackluster 5.36 ERA.
His contract includes a 2027 club option. Acquiring him in a trade would not make him a true one-year rental player as a result. Given his underperformance, teams may be hesitant to give up too much for him in a trade at the moment.
The Twins should buy low on Alcantara, however. They could catch Miami's attention by offering more than other teams. If Alcantara is able to bounce back and find his Cy Young caliber form, a trade could prove to be an absolute steal.
One has to imagine the Marlins would at least listen to an offer. Miami is unlikely to seriously compete in 2026, and trading Alcantara would only help the team's rebuild.
Sandy Alcantara Can Help Twins Reach Next Level
Meanwhile, the Twins would have Alcantara join a starting rotation that already features Lopez and Ryan. Minnesota could become a contender in the American League Central if a trade happens and Alcantara pitches well.
Even if he does not look like a Cy Young candidate, Alcantara could perform at a more consistent level in 2026. 2025 was his first season back after missing all 2024, and he just simply never found his groove. He now has a full normal offseason and should be able to pitch at a respectable level at the very least during the upcoming campaign.
The Twins should reach out to the Marlins and see if Miami is interested in at least listening to a trade offer.