Yankees face steep Alcantara cost as Marlins eye Warren, top rookie

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The Miami Marlins ask the New York Yankees to surrender Will Warren and a top prospect in Alcantara talks.

The New York Yankees’ search for rotation stability has led them to Sandy Alcantara, but the Miami Marlins aren’t offering discounts on their ace. According to sources with knowledge of preliminary discussions, Miami has established a substantial asking price for its sidelined star pitcher, centered around promising arm Will Warren and one of the Yankees’ crown jewel prospects.

Multiple industry insiders confirm the Marlins have outlined a framework seeking Warren plus one of three highly-regarded Yankees prospects: Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones, or George Lombard Jr. While formal offers haven’t been exchanged, these parameters establish the foundation for what would represent a significant investment in the Yankees’ pitching future.

The potential blockbuster places New York at a crucial juncture between addressing future rotation needs and preserving its revitalized farm system.

Alcantara’s appeal: Performance and contract value

Despite currently rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery, Alcantara remains one of baseball’s most coveted pitchers. The 29-year-old right-hander captured the 2022 National League Cy Young Award and isn’t projected to return until mid-to-late 2025, yet Miami sees the current market as opportune for maximizing return.

What makes Alcantara particularly attractive is his team-friendly contract, which runs through 2027 at just $56 million over five years, with a club option for 2028. This combination of elite performance history, future durability projections, and cost certainty creates exceptional value even while factoring in rehabilitation time.

For a Miami organization sliding toward another rebuild under new management, the timing aligns with their strategic pivot toward accumulating young talent.

One source familiar with Miami’s internal deliberations indicated the organization is specifically targeting “ready-now arms and future stars” in any Alcantara transaction.

Yankees’ rotation concerns drive market exploration

Despite leading the American League East, the Yankees continue navigating significant rotation instability. Ace Gerrit Cole remains sidelined while recovering from elbow inflammation, and both Luis Gil and Marcus Stroman are currently on the injured list, further depleting their starting pitching depth.

Recent promising outings from prospects like Will Warren have provided temporary solutions, but the front office continues exploring options that could solidify their starting staff through 2026 and beyond.

Alcantara represents the ideal acquisition target when healthy: dominant front-line performance, playoff experience, controllable salary, and prime-age upside.

The acquisition cost, however, presents a significant obstacle.

Miami’s target package: Warren plus blue-chip talent

Will Warren, 24, has emerged as the central piece in these preliminary discussions. Currently pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Warren features an impressive arsenal, including a mid-90s sinker, sharp slider, and advanced command. His rapid development has positioned him as the most polished starting prospect in the Yankees’ system.

Miami’s demands extend beyond Warren alone. The Marlins reportedly seek one of three standout offensive prospects to complete the package:

• Jasson Dominguez: Nicknamed “The Martian,” the 21-year-old outfielder recently returned from his own Tommy John surgery, showing impressive form. With five-tool potential and growing popularity among Yankees fans, Dominguez represents both baseball and marketing value.
• Spencer Jones: The towering 6-foot-6 outfielder has displayed significant power development while improving his plate discipline. His physical comparisons to Aaron Judge make him particularly valuable to a Yankees organization that understands the impact of larger-than-life sluggers.
• George Lombard Jr.: A 2023 first-round selection who has rapidly ascended to Double-A, Lombard has impressed evaluators with his defensive excellence at shortstop and advanced approach at the plate. Multiple scouts project him as a future everyday major league shortstop.

Sources indicate Miami would consider any of these prospects paired with Warren as satisfactory centerpieces in an Alcantara deal that the Yankees want to seal before the All-Star break.

Risk assessment: Yankees’ internal calculations

The Yankees face a multifaceted decision. Surrendering one elite prospect represents a significant investment; adding Warren, who could contribute in 2025, elevates the stakes considerably.

Previous similar gambles – including trades for Sonny Gray (2017) and Frankie Montas (2022) – failed to deliver anticipated returns, creating institutional caution about high-profile pitching acquisitions.

Timing considerations further complicate matters. Acquiring Alcantara now means investing in his recovery trajectory while immediately sacrificing organizational depth that has only recently returned to premium status after years of depletion.

Public perception also factors into the equation. Trading fan favorites like Dominguez or a potential Judge successor in Jones could generate significant backlash unless Alcantara returns to dominant form post-surgery.

Miami’s strategy: Testing market appetite

The Marlins haven’t definitively indicated whether they intend to move Alcantara before the July 30 trade deadline or during the offseason. By establishing these preliminary parameters, they’re effectively gauging market interest and broadcasting their valuation expectations.

As one National League executive told reporters: “If the Yankees want Alcantara, they’ll need to pay like they’re getting the Cy Young winner — not a rehab project.”

Potential blockbuster brewing?

With approximately two months remaining until the trade deadline, the Yankees have time to evaluate Alcantara’s rehabilitation progress, continue assessing internal pitching options, and determine their risk tolerance.

Miami is banking on competitive pressures – whether for 2025 planning or postseason reinforcement – to potentially motivate the Yankees to meet their substantial demands.

Whether Brian Cashman ultimately decides Warren plus a premium prospect represents appropriate value for Alcantara remains unresolved.

But should the dominant right-hander eventually don pinstripes, the acquisition cost will undoubtedly reflect his elite status rather than his temporary absence from the mound.

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