The Chicago Cubs are looking to add another pitcher to their starting rotation soon and this trade proposal would land them this Miami Marlins Ace.
The Chicago Cubs having be focused on trying to find the Ace they need to pair with their top lefties in their rotation Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele and I have a trade proposal that could land them just the Ace they have been looking for.
Options available on the trade market?
The current options available on the trade block that teams have made available are the Minnesota Twins Pablo López, the San Diego Padres Dylan Cease, Seattle Mariners Luis Castillo, the St. Louis Cardinals Sonny Gray, and the Miami Marlins Sandy Alcántara just to name a few. The Chicago Cubs have been linked to some of these names and other they have not, but one of those names listed the Cubs really should consider trading for is right-hander and former Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcántara.
Sandy Alcántara
Two time All-Star and the 2022 Cy Young award winner, Sandy Alcántara missed all of last year after having Tommy John surgery back in 2023. During the 2023 season Alcántara went 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts, with 151 strikeouts, 1.213 WHIP, in 184.2 innings of work a big drop off from his Cy Young season in which he took down 228.2 innings leading all of Major League Baseball. Not the banner type of year Alcántara would’ve liked to have had following his award-winning season the year prior.
In a recent interview given to the Miami Herald General Manager of the Miami Marlin Peter Bendix was asked if Sandy Alcántara was available in trade discussions and he replied by saying:
“You said it: We never rule out anything. We listen to everything. Sandy is a really important piece for our organization. I’m really excited to see him pitch on Opening Day.”
Being that Alcántara is coming off Tommy John, Bendix and the Marlins may look to hold onto him as off now so he can reestablish his value so they can look to trade him at the trade deadline next July. However, given the Marlins just traded Luzardo who was also injured for the majority of last season, Bendix could potentially move Alcántara as well this winter. The Miami Marlins expected payroll for 2025 according to Spotrac figures to be at around $60 million making it the lowest if not one of the lowest payrolls in all of Major League Baseball.
Why should the Chicago Cubs trade for Sandy Alcántara?
Even though Alcántara had a down year in 2023 he did have some bright spots that showed he still was the reigning Cy Young award winner. Looking at his Baseball Savant page for 2023 Sandy Alcántara was in the 97th percentile for chase percentage with 34.8%, the 95th percentile for his fastball velocity with it sitting at 97.8mph, having a fastball run value of 13 ranking in the 91st percentile, and being effective at getting a lot of ground balls with having a 51.9% ground ball rate.
Adding Sandy Alcántara to the rotation would be a game changer for the Cubs who pairing Sandy Alcántara with lefties Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele leading the rotation and having quality arms in Jameson Taillon and Mattew Boyd rounding out the rotation the Cubs could figure to have one of the best rotations in baseball. The Miami Marlins signed Sandy Alcántara to a five-year $56 million extension back in 2022 which is a very club friendly deal that the Chicago Cubs should pounce on. Only set to make $17.3 million for this year, Alcántara would be a cheap, but high-quality arm to snag.
What would it take to bring over Sandy Alcántara?
The Miami Marlins are in need of outfield help and with the Cubs having a deep pool of prospects in particular couple of MLB.com top 100 outfield prospects that are expendable they can certainly get a deal done.
The Chicago Cubs receive: right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcántara
The Miami Marlins receive: outfielder Owen Caissie (Cubs No. 2 prospect, MLB No. 34 prospect) first base/third basemen Cole Mathis (Cubs No. 11 prospect), and right-handed pitcher Michael Arias (Cubs No. 18 prospect), and right-handed pitcher
Sending the Miami Marlins Owen Caissie who is a top 100 prospect, as well as both Michael Arias and Cole Mathis as fliers gets the deal done in my estimation. Caissie who as I said ranked 34th on MLB top 100 prospects list and has the ability to be a star once called up to the big leagues. In 127 games at Triple-A Caissie had 131 hits, 29 doubles, 3 triples, 19 HRs, 75 RBI for a slash line .278/.375/.473 for an OPS of .848.
With Ian Happ manning leftfield, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, and newly acquire outfielder Kyle Tucker manning right with Seiya Suzuki getting time out there when Tucker is the designated hitter, there’s no real path onto the roster for Caissie unless someone gets injured. So, shipping Caissie to the Miami Marlins where he can get consistent playing time, and every day at-bats would benefit him instead of sending him back to the minor leagues to do that.
Both Michael Arias and Cole Mathis would by fliers that the Marlins could take chances on. Being he’s a sidewinder; Arias’s fastball will have a lot of run on it and given he can get it up to around 98-mph in spurts it could be an effective weapon for him if he can gain control. If acquired Michael Arias would figure to be up in the Major Leagues this season for the Marlins and be a part of their bullpen which is where he projects to be.
For Cole Mathis he would be a solid piece for the Miami Marlins to take a chance on. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of this year’s MLB Amateur Draft by the Chicago Cubs out of College of Charleston. Being drafted out of college Mathis is more polished than others and should rise through the minor league ranks rather quickly. During his time at Charleston Mathis had 67 hits, with 14 HRs, 57 RBI and a slash line of .335/.472/.650 for an OPS of 1.122 in 52 games.
The Chicago Cubs should really consider doing a deal with the Miami Marlins
Adding Sandy Alcántara as I said would give the Cubs one of the best one, two, three punches in all of Major League Baseball. With him being on a club friendly deal and the Cubs having the necessary prospect capital available to get a deal like this done, a deal for Sandy Alcántara could happen.
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