Cubs trade target: Sandy Alcantara

You all know the story of Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara.

He had several good seasons in Miami, including winning the Cy Young Award in 2022 at age 26. It looked like he was headed for a good-to-great career, until Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2024 season.

Returning in 2025, he had a typical TJS return season: A rough go in the first half, then as the year went by, he got better and better and seemed at least close to his Cy Young form. In the second half of 2025, Alcantara made 13 starts and posted a 3.33 ERA and 1.040 WHIP, compared to 7.22 and 1.484 for those numbers in 18 first-half starts. His K rate isn’t quite back to what it was pre-TJS, but if you squint you can see that maybe it will be. His walk rate remained fairly consistent.

His velocity in 2025 remained very close to what it was pre-TJS. Here’s Alcantara’s 2023 pitch selection chart:

And here’s what it was in 2025:

As you can see, Alcantara threw a lot more curveballs in 2025, but his peak velocity remained about the same.

Alcantara turned 30 this past September. He is under contract for $17.3 million for 2026 and then there’s a team option for $21 million for 2027, with a $2 million buyout. I’d say he would be an excellent trade acquisition at that price. It’s a reasonable amount for ‘26 and if he’s no good, just pay the buyout. If he returns to his previous form, $21 million would be another reasonable figure for ‘27.

Again, I will let you make a trade proposal for Alcantara. But I think the Cubs should do it.