Cubs Pull Off Blockbuster Trade! $56 Million Star Paired with Shota Imanaga
MLB’s “official” Opening Day is set for Thursday when 28 of the league’s 30 clubs will be in action. While only two games have counted toward the 2025 standings so far (Tokyo Series), it’s never too early to fire off some bold predictions for the season ahead.
That’s what MLB.com did this week, including a hypothetical blockbuster move that could turn a division contender — the Chicago Cubs — into a true postseason threat.
One of the ways that could happen is a mid-season trade for Miami Marlins ace and 2022 Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who signed a five-year, $56 million contract extension before his career-best season.
“I’m going with the premise that Alcantara is the darling of the Deadline, and the Cubs look like a team that will have the need to amplify its pitching, the desire to nail down the division and the financial might and farm system depth to get this done,” MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince wrote.
Right now, Chicago’s projected rotation features lefty ace Shota Imanaga followed by RHP Jameson Taillon, LHP Justin Steele, LHP Matthew Boyd and RHP Ben Brown.
But what might a trade package look like for the 29-year-old Alcantara coming off of a missed season due to Tommy John surgery?
“Though rookie third baseman Matt Shaw won’t be going anywhere, the Cubs have six other guys on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list,” Castrovince noted.
“With Kyle Tucker a pending free agent, the Cubs shouldn’t be prospect-hoarding this summer. They should be making every effort to return to October for the first time in a full season since 2018 and with a roster capable of going the distance.”
Five of Chicago’s other six most highly rated prospects are at the Triple-A level and between the ages of 21-23: Starting pitcher Cade Horton (No. 51 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list), outfielder Owen Caissie (No. 53), catcher/first baseman Moises Ballesteros (No. 68), second baseman/outfielder James Triantos (No. 72), outfielder Kevin Alcantara (No. 89) and middle infielder Jefferson Rojas (No. 96).
Given Miami’s prowess for developing pitchers in recent years, Horton, a former two-sport star who played quarterback at Oklahoma, is a logical anchor piece in a possible Alcantara deal.
However, a recent Bleacher Report Cubs-Marlins trade proposal included a return of right-handed starter Javier Assad, Ballesteros and Kevin Alcantara.
