Yankees reach out to Marlins regarding potential Alcantara deal

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The Yankees have reached out to the Marlins, asking about the availability of their ace Sandy Alcantara for a possible trade deal.

The New York Yankees have checked in with the Miami Marlins about the potential availability of right-hander Sandy Alcantara, a source within the franchise told PinstripesNation. They have entrusted a senior advisor to the GM and a senior VP handling Tampa and Dominican operations with the task of communicating with the Marlins.

However, this was already under consideration when the Yankees were forced to drop starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt from the lineup against the Rays after a scan.

As the 2025 MLB season begins to heat up, the Yankees—despite leading the AL East—are aware that their rotation remains a question mark, especially with injuries and inconsistency beyond their two top arms. With October in sight and the American League seemingly up for grabs, New York is eyeing upgrades, and Alcantara has emerged as a high-risk, high-reward target.

Multiple analysts have already pointed out the Yankees as the front-runner to trade for Alcantara. According to Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly, who linked the two clubs in trade speculation on Thursday. The contact signals a potentially major move on the horizon as the Yankees weigh options to bolster their injury-plagued rotation ahead of the trade deadline.

Kelly writes, “Sandy Alcantara has an 8.31 ERA in his first six starts in 2025 after missing the entirety of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery.” While that stat line raises red flags, Alcántara remains under contract through 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027, making him an attractive long-term piece for contenders if he regains form.”

“He obviously needs to get back on track to be the top name available this summer, especially since he’s under contract through 2026 with an affordable $21 million option for 2027,” Kelly noted. “But while the Marlins don’t have to trade Alcántara, if he’s pitching well, the guess here is that president of baseball operations Peter Bendix will move the former NL Cy Young Award winner for a slew of prospects.”

Yankees are desperate to boost rotation

The Bronx Bombers have defied early-season adversity. Injuries decimated their rotation this spring—Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt all began the year on the injured list. So far, only Schmidt has returned to action, but his problems recurred on Saturday. While Max Fried has emerged as the ace, boasting a dominant 1.01 ERA, and Carlos Rodon has delivered solid yet unreliable performances, the rest of the rotation lacks stability.

The Yankees currently hold the 11th-best ERA in baseball, a respectable mark, but potentially not enough to weather the postseason storm—especially against high-octane National League teams like the Dodgers or Braves. That reality has made the front office proactive about scouting the trade market.

Alcantara: Elite ceiling, risky floor

Sandy Alcantara is not the pitcher he was two years ago—at least not yet.

The 29-year-old missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In 2025, he has struggled mightily in his return. Through six starts, Alcantara owns 2-3 record with an 8.31 ERA, with 17 walks in 26 innings and 19 strikeouts. His latest outing led to 7 runs in 2.2 innings. The early returns are alarming, and teams will be cautious.

But Alcantara’s recent past tells another story.

He won the NL Cy Young in 2022, posting a 2.28 ERA and throwing over 220 innings. His blend of velocity, command, and stamina made him one of the most feared starters in baseball. Moreover, his contract is extremely team-friendly: he’s signed through 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027—affordable for a frontline ace if he regains form.

That upside, paired with cost certainty, will still make Alcantara one of the most coveted arms leading up to the 2025 trade deadline.

High price tag, thin farm system

The major challenge for the Yankees? The price tag.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, speaking on the Dodgers Nation Podcast, suggested that the Marlins would only move Alcantara in late July, once he shows improved performance. And if he does, Nightengale believes the return will be massive.

“As much as the Padres gave up for Juan Soto, it may cost a team more than that,” Nightengale said. “I think you’ll have the Yankees doing everything possible.”

The Soto deal, made in 2023, was historic. In a blockbuster trade for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, the Yankees sent the Padres a significant haul, including pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and top-100 prospect Drew Thorpe to the Padres. Veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka was also part of the deal, highlighting the Yankees’ aggressive push for star power.

The Yankees’ farm system is currently ranked among the bottom third in baseball, with few elite prospects outside Spencer Jones, Chase Hampton, George Lombard Jr, and Roderick Arias. To outbid more farm-rich contenders like the Chicago Cubs, Padres, or Mets, the Yankees would likely have to surrender their top-tier young talent—possibly including Jasson Dominguez.

Why the Yankees might still push hard

Despite the risks, the Yankees are not in rebuild mode—they’re in win-now mode. With a strong core of stars including Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Ben Rice, and a pitching tandem in Fried and Rodon that can compete with any in the league, adding Alcantara—even at less than 100%—could tilt the scales.

New York understands the window for a World Series run is open now. And even though Alcantara’s current numbers are concerning, there’s a belief in the industry that he can bounce back by midseason.

The Yankees have always been aggressive buyers when they smell a championship. Whether they have the pieces to make it happen is the big question. A potential trade would likely have to include Spencer Jones, Will Warren, and multiple other top-10 prospects—if not more.

Cubs and others loom as threats

The Yankees are far from the only team monitoring Alcantara. The Chicago Cubs, off to a strong start in the NL Central, are reportedly the most aggressive suitor, per Bleacher Report. With one of the top farm systems in the league and a desperate need for elite starting pitching, Chicago is well-positioned to make a blockbuster deal.

Other contenders like the Padres and Mets are also expected to be in the mix, though internal front office stability and organizational direction may complicate their bids.

Worth the gamble?

The Yankees’ interest in Sandy Alcantara is real, but so is the risk.

They must weigh a potential ace-caliber upgrade against the reality of his current struggles and the cost to acquire him. If Alcantara shows improvement in June and July, expect the bidding war to begin. New York’s challenge will be offering enough to beat out better-stocked teams without gutting the future.

As Nightengale put it, “someone is gonna have to give up a ton.” The Yankees might just be bold enough to do it—because anything short of a World Series this year will be viewed as a missed opportunity.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

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