Sandy Alcantara Trade Rumors: Are the Dodgers the Favorites to Land the Marlins’ Ace?

By Oliver Wiener June 27, 2025 07:15

As the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Miami Marlins’ ace Sandy Alcantara has emerged as one of the most coveted pitchers on the market. The 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, Alcantara’s name has been linked to several contending teams, but the Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be front-runners in the race to acquire him.

Alcantara’s 2025 season started off rocky as he returned from Tommy John surgery. His early numbers were concerning, with an 8.47 ERA in his first 11 starts. However, recent outings suggest he is regaining his elite form. Over his last four starts, Alcantara posted a 2.74 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, striking out 19 batters while walking only five. In his last two starts alone, he delivered six scoreless innings with six strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in that span.

The Dodgers’ interest in Alcantara is understandable given their current pitching woes. Once boasting a rotation with five potential Cy Young candidates, injuries have severely depleted their staff. Key starters like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Rōki Sasaki have been sidelined, leaving the Dodgers’ rotation struggling to maintain consistency. Despite having a deep farm system, the Dodgers’ pitching depth is currently below average, making a trade for a frontline starter like Alcantara a pressing priority.

MLB insider Bob Nightengale highlighted the Dodgers as “one of the teams lurking” in trade talks for Alcantara, noting that the Marlins ace is “starting to look like himself again” just in time for the trade market. Nightengale also pointed out that Alcantara’s fastball velocity has returned to around 97.6 mph, and his command is improving, making him the top trade piece available.

From a financial and contractual standpoint, Alcantara is an attractive acquisition. He is under contract through 2026 for $17.3 million, with a club option for 2027, providing cost certainty for the Dodgers. This fits well with Los Angeles’ willingness to spend and their payroll flexibility. However, acquiring Alcantara will not come cheap. The Marlins, currently last in the NL East with a 31-45 record, are expected to be sellers and will likely demand a substantial package in return, possibly including top prospects like James Outman and Bobby Miller.

Former Marlins President David Samson weighed in on the trade dynamics, suggesting Miami will “absolutely try to crush someone in a trade for Sandy,” aiming to replicate the success of previous blockbuster deals. The Marlins hold leverage as Alcantara is still under team control, allowing them to wait for the best offer rather than rush a trade.

Other teams reportedly interested in Alcantara include the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, with the Cubs potentially offering their No. 2 overall prospect Owen Caissie as a centerpiece. Caissie’s strong Triple-A performance (.265/.368/.500 with 11 home runs) makes him a valuable asset for Miami’s rebuilding efforts. The New York Yankees are also rumored to be monitoring the situation, adding to the competition.

For the Dodgers, landing Alcantara would be a significant boost to their rotation and World Series aspirations. Despite their recent struggles, the franchise’s commitment to winning and deep prospect pool position them well to make a compelling offer. As one analyst put it, this could be “the ultimate example of the rich getting richer,” but in today’s MLB, the Dodgers are unafraid to buy at any opportunity to strengthen their championship chances.

While several teams are vying for Sandy Alcantara, the Los Angeles Dodgers stand out as favorites due to their urgent need for starting pitching, financial capability, and prospect capital. Whether they can close the deal remains to be seen, but if Alcantara continues his resurgence, he could soon be anchoring the Dodgers’ rotation as they push for another title run.

This article synthesizes recent reports and expert commentary to provide a comprehensive and nuanced view of the Alcantara trade rumors, adhering to high journalistic standards.