Latest news with #SandyAlcantara
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers Urged to Acquire Marlins' Sandy Alcantara by Pedro Martinez
Dodgers Urged to Acquire Marlins' Sandy Alcantara by Pedro Martinez originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Dodgers began the season with a star-studded rotation, but injuries have quickly turned the strength into a liability. All-Star Tyler Glasnow, Cy Young winner Blake Snell, and youngster Roki Sasaki are all on the injured list. Despite Shohei Ohtani's long-awaited return, Los Angeles is projected to look for starting pitching help at the trade deadline. Advertisement One name to watch? Miami Marlins' ace Sandy Alcantara. On a recent Bleacher Report livestream, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez predicted the Dodgers would make a push for the former NL Cy Young winner. Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches in the first inning against the Washington NationalsJim Rassol-Imagn Images 'I know Sandy hasn't pitched well in LA, but believe me, he needs some help, someone he can trust,' Martinez said. 'I think Mark Prior [Dodgers pitching coach] would be someone that would really relate to Alcantara and someone that can really help him.' Alcantara, returning from Tommy John surgery, has struggled in 2025. In 14 starts, he has a 6.88 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 32 walks over 68 innings. However, he has shown signs of improvement, allowing only four earned runs in 17 innings over his last three starts. Advertisement Working with Prior, as Martinez claims, could do wonders for Alcantara. Having helped restore the careers of Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, and Tyler Anderson, Prior knows how to get the best out of his pitchers, and Alcantara may have the best stuff out of all of them. Under contract through 2026, with a $21 million club option for 2027—Alcantara would give the team three years to regain his Cy Young-winning form. If Martinez is right, Los Angeles may be preparing to make one of the boldest moves of the deadline and one that would add another top-tier arm to an already stacked rotation, countering the San Francisco Giants acquisition of Rafael Devers in the process. Related: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Could Break Babe Ruth Record This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Insider Proposes Massive Blockbuster Trade Sending Sandy Alcantara to the Cubs
MLB Insider Proposes Massive Blockbuster Trade Sending Sandy Alcantara to the Cubs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Marlins are refusing to pawn Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara at the trade deadline. Should this stop teams from asking about him? According to one MLB insider and former general manager, the answer is no. Advertisement In a recent article from The Athletic, Jim Bowden proposed sending Alcantara to the Chicago Cubs for an irrefutable package. The Cubs have an obvious need for a starter and have been linked to Alcantara numerous times in the past several months. Replacing Justin Steele, who is out for the season, with an ace could propel the Cubs to a World Series victory. Unfortunately, Alcantara got off to a vapid pace and now maintains an ERA of 6.88. Truth be told, he has been better through three starts in June, but there are still questions around his overall reliability. With this in mind, who should the Cubs deal for a scuffling ace? According to Bowden, a package of Cade Horton, Owen Caissie, Kelvin Alcántara, and Ronny Cruz should suffice. 'Sandy Alcantara has pitched much better of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts,' he wrote. 'He has a 6.88 ERA on the season, but if he shows he's making even more progress toward rediscovering his Cy Young Award-winning form, what an acquisition he would be. In that scenario, adding an ace like Alcantara to their starting rotation would solidify the Cubs' chances to not only win the NL Central but also vastly improve their postseason odds and chances of advancing to the World Series. Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at loanDepot Navarro-Imagn Images 'In return, the Marlins would receive Horton, 23, to replace Sandy Alcantara in their rotation, and two corner outfielders, Caissie and Kevin Alcántara, who should be major-league-ready by next year; that would allow Miami to trade either outfielder Jesús Sánchez or outfielder Kyle Stowers at this year's deadline for more talent.' Advertisement The top three in this scenario are among the Cubs' top four prospects and MLB's top 100. Cruz is the Cubs' no. 13 prospect. Because of their staggering depth, Chicago likely wouldn't miss these prospects (aside from Horton), at least half of whom have no clear shot at a roster spot. For Miami, this would be an amazing return. For the Cubs, this would only work out if the Marlins' ace returns to Cy Young form. The clear risk remains: Sandy Alcantara has been erratic. One can understand the Cubs taking drastic measures to ensure Kyle Tucker's tenure results in a championship, but it should also be a time of caution to avoid wasting their World Series opportunity. Taking a risk on Alcantara may or may not be worth it, but at the expense of Cade Horton, who is holding the rotation together in the absence of Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad, and Steele, it is not. If Alcantara should struggle, losing Horton would only be salt in the wound. Perhaps if Horton is replaced with Moisés Ballesteros, who is also blocked from the roster, this scenario would be a solid trade. However, we still need to question if Alcantara, in his current state, is worth such a package. Related: Jed Hoyer Reveals Tough News on Cubs Trade Deadline Plans This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Seven trades I'd like to see before MLB trade deadline, starting with a Sandy Alcantara swap
The Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants pulled off an all-time stunner with the Rafael Devers deal, so even though we'll need to wait weeks for more clarity on the market, trade season is officially here. I say, let's keep the deals coming! The July 31 trade deadline is six weeks away, so let's look at some trade possibilities I'd like to see happen. To be clear, none of these specific trade proposals have been discussed between the listed teams, at least to my knowledge. These are simply trade ideas that I think would make sense for both sides to consider. Advertisement It's also important to state that I've included several teams, such as the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels, that, as of today, say they have no interest in being 'sellers.' However, that could all change by the deadline depending on how each of them fares in the coming weeks. Part of the fun of this time of year is all the trade rumors, speculation and ideas — from people in front offices, media members and fans — so let's embrace it. In the comments section, please get creative and share trade scenarios and concepts that you'd like to see come to fruition. Here are seven trade ideas to ponder. Would you do these deals? Sandy Alcantara has pitched much better of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts. He has a 6.88 ERA on the season, but if he shows he's making even more progress toward rediscovering his Cy Young Award-winning form, what an acquisition he would be. In that scenario, adding an ace like Alcantara to their starting rotation would solidify the Cubs' chances to not only win the NL Central, but also vastly improve their postseason odds and chances of advancing to the World Series. In return, the Marlins would receive Horton, 23, to replace Sandy Alcantara in their rotation, and two corner outfielders, Caissie and Kevin Alcántara, who should be major-league-ready by next year; that would allow Miami to trade either outfielder Jesús Sánchez or outfielder Kyle Stowers at this year's deadline for more talent. Caissie, 22, has an .879 OPS this season at Triple A, while his Iowa Cubs teammate Alcántara, 22, is batting .239/.322/.400 with seven homers and nine steals. Cruz, an 18-year-old who is currently in Rookie ball, would be the final piece to make the deal work for Miami. Advertisement Sandy Alcantara is signed through 2026 with a $21 million team option for 2027, so this trade would bolster Chicago now and in the coming years. Sure, this package would be a stiff price for the Cubs to pay, but given their position player depth in the majors, it's a risk worth taking. The Phillies' two biggest needs are closer and center field, and this scenario would hit both in one swap, even though it would come at a significant price. Bautista is one of the premier closers in baseball and is under team control through 2027. Mullins is an elite defensive center fielder who hits homers and steals bases, but he will be a free agent at season's end. Bautista has logged a 3.04 ERA, 14 saves, and 31 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings in his first season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Mullins is batting .233/.319/.450 with 11 homers and eight stolen bases. The Orioles would address their key need, young controllable starting pitching, in acquiring Abel, a 23-year-old who has a chance to become an ace if he continues to develop and his command and control improve. After a rough 2024 season, he has impressed this year, posting a 2.21 ERA with 17 strikeouts and only four walks in four starts with the Phillies, while logging a 2.21 ERA over 10 starts at Triple A. It would be tough for the Phillies to lose Abel, their first-round pick in 2020, but with a strong rotation and top prospect Andrew Painter, a future ace, on track to debut this summer, they might be willing to do this deal if they think Bautista and Mullins are the final pieces needed to win the World Series. The Tigers need to lengthen their lineup by adding another power bat and Suárez, who began his career with Detroit, would be the perfect fit. Suárez is having a great season, already smacking 21 homers and 13 doubles. And the Diamondbacks have one of the best prospects in baseball, Jordan Lawlar, who could immediately replace Suárez at the hot corner. Lawlar is tearing up Triple A as he waits his turn, batting .324/.405/.583 with nine homers, 18 doubles, four triples and 16 steals. A package of Hamm, 22, and Anderson, 23, would be a fair return. They entered the season ranked seventh and 13th, respectively, in the Tigers' system, according to The Athletic's Keith Law. Hamm has a 4.73 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings this season at Double A, while Anderson has a .958 OPS in 234 plate appearances this year at the same level. The only problem with this scenario is the Diamondbacks (36-35), despite their significant pitching injuries, are still planning to be buyers, not sellers at the deadline, according to president of baseball operations Mike Hazen. Therefore, Arizona would likely have to nosedive over the next six weeks for this one to be a viable option. "We do these jobs to take shots and win." Mike Hazen sets the record straight and confirms that the #Dbacks are planning to buy at the trade deadline.@Dbacks🔗 — MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 15, 2025 The White Sox have been dangling Robert in talks with teams for a while, but after he got off to an awful start this season, interest quickly diminished. That doesn't mean contending teams don't understand Robert's value, when he's right, as he's proven he can be a 30-home run, 20-stolen base, Gold Glove-winning player. Several teams would like to trade for him, but I like the fit with the Padres, where he could play left field alongside Jackson Merrill in center and Fernando Tatis Jr. in right. I think Robert would flourish with a change of scenery and could thrive if he joined a clubhouse with players like Manny Machado, Tatis and Jake Cronenworth. There's certainly nowhere to go but up: Robert is batting a paltry .194/.279/.311, though he does have 21 steals. Advertisement Perhaps a package of Mayfield, 21; Tears, 22; and Hightower, 20, could close the deal. All three are currently in Low A and rank among the top 10 prospects in the Padres' system, according to MLB Pipeline. Again, the Diamondbacks say they aren't entertaining the thought of selling at this juncture, but that could change if they don't play well in the coming weeks. And if that happens, they match up well with the Mariners in a trade involving Naylor, who would fill a glaring need in the middle of the Mariners' lineup and at first base. An impending free agent, Naylor is coming off a 31-homer, 108-RBI season with the Guardians and has posted a 130 OPS+ this year with Arizona. In return, the Diamondbacks might be able to acquire Ford, who is blocked behind Cal Raleigh, the best overall catcher in baseball, at the major-league level. Ford, 22, is slashing .315/.427/.425 this season at Triple A. He has an on-base percentage above .400 over nearly 1,900 plate appearances in the minors. This is probably too steep a price for a rental, but it's going to be a sellers market once again, so this might be what teams have to pay for a left-handed, middle-of-the-order clutch power bat like Naylor's. The Angels (34-37) believe they are in the race, but even if they truly are, trading Soler and shedding his $16 million annual salary (through 2026) probably makes sense, as it would allow them to allocate those funds toward pitching in free agency instead. Soler would provide much-needed power for the Royals, in a corner outfield or DH spot, and help lengthen their lineup. A couple of lower-end prospects such as De Jesus, 20, and Costeiu, 24, should be enough to land Soler, considering the payroll savings the Angels would net as part of this transaction. De Jesus is the Angels' 27th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, while Costeiu is 25th. Soler has had a down season (80 OPS+) but he and rookie outfielder Jac Caglianone, once he kicks on and starts homering, could provide a huge power boost to the Royals, who rank last in the majors in home runs (46) and 27th in slugging (.366). Caglianone and Soler are 25-30 home run threats. The Tigers need another high-leverage reliever with closer experience. Enter Bednar, who would be a great fit to go with Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest at the back of their bullpen. Bednar, who is under team control through 2026, has a 3.36 ERA and 10 saves this season. In this scenario, the Pirates would get Rodriguez, who is only 17 and at least four years from the majors. However, he has serious upside and was one of the top international prospects in this year's class. (Rodriguez signed with Detroit for a $3.197 million bonus, the club's biggest ever to an international amateur.) Advertisement So, although Rodriguez is a lesser-known name now, it's possible he someday turns into a Yordan Alvarez or a Junior Caminero or a Fernando Tatis Jr., who were all once prospects traded in situations like this. I'm not implying Rodriguez is that type of talent, but he does have scary potential, like those players did when they were traded. I think this is the type of prospect risk the Pirates have always needed to embrace more — even though, of course, it might not work out, like those three cases did for the acquiring teams. It's a high-risk, high-reward type of trade. What do the Pirates have to lose? (Top photo of Sandy Alcantara: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Trea Turner hits leadoff homer to help Phillies to a 5-2 win over the Marlins
MIAMI (AP) — Trea Turner hit a leadoff homer and added two singles as the Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to five games with a 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series. Max Kepler also went deep and Alec Bohm had two hits and two RBIs for the Phillies. Rookie Mick Abel (2-0) threw five innings of one-run ball in his fourth major league start. The 23-year-old right-hander scattered three hits and struck out three. Orion Kerkering closed with a perfect ninth for his first career save. Kepler snapped a 1-all tie with a solo blast in the fourth. He drove a slider from Miami starter Sandy Alcántara into the seats in right field for his ninth of the season. Turner's RBI single in the seventh made it 3-1 before Miami narrowed the deficit on a sacrifice fly Agustín Ramírez in the eighth. Philadelphia padded its lead in the ninth on Bohm's two-run single. Alcántara (3-8) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner struck out five, moving past Josh Johnson for second on the Marlins' career strikeout list with 834. Turner hit the second pitch of the game over the wall in center. It was Turner's 18th career leadoff homer and second this season. Miami tied it on Connor Norby's RBI single in the second. Marlins' centerfielder Dane Myers exited in the third after he was drilled in the left elbow by a 95-mph fastball from Abel during his plate appearance in the second. Key moment Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott dove and caught a line drive by Xavier Edwards with the bases loaded and two outs to end the second. Key stat The Phillies have scored 56 runs in the first inning, second in the major leagues behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, who began Monday with 58. Up next LHP Jesús Luzardo (6-2, 4.23 ERA) will start for the Phillies on Tuesday. The Marlins will go with RHP Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.61). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers Reportedly ‘Lurking' on $56 Million Cy Young Ace
Dodgers Reportedly 'Lurking' on $56 Million Cy Young Ace originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Despite being in first place for most of the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear to have inefficiencies. Their starting pitching, decimated by injuries, ranks in the bottom half of baseball when it comes to innings and ERA. Advertisement Although there have been positive reports about Cy Young award winner Blake Snell and All-Star Tyler Glasnow's recoveries, there is no set timetable for their return. Even Shohei Ohtani is not expected to pitch until after the All-Star break. With their rotation compromised and the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres hot on their tail, Los Angeles is primed to be an aggressive shopper at the MLB trade deadline. One of the top arms expected to be available is Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. Despite a rough start, 8.47 ERA in his first 11 starts, the former Cy Young award winner is rounding into form at the right time. His fastball velocity is reaching above 97 mph again, and the command of his off-pitching is returning. Over his last two starts, Alcantara is touting a 1.50 ERA and 10 strikeouts across 12 innings of work. The re-establishment of Alcantara atop the trade market is an interesting development, and the reigning World Series champions are one of the team's 'lurking,' according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) delivers a pitch to the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning PNC Park. Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images Nightengale believes the Dodgers and their fourth-ranked farm system, according to are one of the best teams positioned to make a run at Alcantara. With six top-100 prospects and the pressing need for reliable starters, Los Angeles could very well be the most aggressive team in the Alcantara sweepstakes. Advertisement Alcantara is currently in the third year of a five-year, $56 million contract signed through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027. According to the Dodgers would be responsible for an approximate total of $46.5 million over the next three seasons should they choose to exercise his option. Alcantara may never consistently regain his Cy Young form, and his last two starts could be outliers. But the Dodgers need another reliable starting pitcher who can toe the rubber every fifth day, and on his best day, Alcantara fits the bill better than anyone. Related: Dodgers Set to Receive Major Rotation Boost After Injury News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
