Breaking: Marlins’ Ace on the Move: Cubs and Marlins Discussing Massive Deal for Rotation Ace
Sandy Alcántara is one of the best pitchers in all of Major League Baseball and is coming off of Tommy John surgery, the Chicago Cubs would be buying low on a valuable asset.
The Chicago Cubs so far this off season have done really well gathering the players needed to fill out the roster and hopefully get back to the playoffs after not making them since 2020 where they lost to the Miami Marlins in the National League Wild Card series 2-0. Now five years later the Chicago Cubs have a really good chance to make the playoffs in 2025 with the moves they have made already like acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade they made with the Houston Astros and adding Carson Kelly to fill out their catching depth just to name a few.
Why the Chicago Cubs can Seize the National League Central
Given the state of the National League Central with-it kind of being wide open, the Cubs are primed to seize the National League Central title this year. The Pittsburg Pirates so far have not made many moves to better their roster other than doing a little addition by subtraction and they don’t appear to be making a playoff run anytime soon. The Cincinnati Reds could take a step forward this season, but in reality, look to be the same as they were last season. The St. Louis Cardinals are entering a “rebuilding” phrase and are trying to play more of their younger players so they will look to be at the bottom of the standings in 2025.
That just leaves the Milwakuee Brewers who have won the National League Central title for the past two years. The Brewers still will be very competitive even with the subtraction of their All-Star Closer Devin Williams who they recently traded to the New York Yankees. So far, the Chicago Cubs are on the right track with the moves they have already made at competing with Brewers for the National League Central title, but the Cubs still need to add an Ace level starting pitcher to round out their pitching staff, and I believe that pitcher they need is Miami Marlins Ace Sandy Alcántara.
Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins already linked in Trade Negotiations
The Chicago Cubs were already involved in trade negotiations earlier this winter with the Miami Marlins in the hopes that the Cubs could acquire left-hander Jesús Luzardo, but the deal ultimately fell through with the Cubs backing out due to Luzardo’s medicals. Ultimately Luzardo was traded over to their divisional opponent the Philadelphia Phillies. Even though the Cubs missed out on Luzardo who has the potential upside to be a really good #2 starting pitcher, the Cubs should look to pluck another and even more talented arm from them in Sandy Alcántara.
Why trading for Sandy Alcántara makes sense for the Cubs to do
In the discussions the Cubs and Marlins were having prior to the deal going dead, prospects names such as outfielder Owen Caissie and James Triantos were being tossed out. Per Bruce Levine:
“Cubs and Marlins talking deal for starter Jesus Luzardo. Marlins want young controllable bat back. James Triantos or Owen Cassie would likely be in the deal.”
If names like Owen Caissie (Cubs #2, MLB #34) and James Triantos (Cubs #5, MLB #55) were being thrown out as the asking price for Luzardo, then certainly the same price can be asked of Alcántara. In the Luzardo deal Levine was saying either Triantos or Caissie “would likely be in the deal”, given Alcántara status of being a former Cy Young Winner which he won in 2022, the price in my opinion would be both prospects and not just one or the other.
