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Even though some rumors suggested that Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara was packing his bags ahead of last Thursday's MLB trade deadline, neither the Chicago Cubs nor any other suitor came particularly close to acquiring him on July 31. Considering how everyone knew that Jed Hoyer needed more starting pitchers, that's both a bit frustrating and surprising.
If it's any solace, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that, as Hoyer said after the deadline passed, the Marlins were asking for a hefty price tag in exchange for Alcantara and his teammate Edward Cabrera. The Cubs, Yankees, and Red Sox all inquired on one or both and came away deciding the ask was too steep.
Marlins’ lofty demands halted talks with Cubs, Yankees and Red Sox
"Yankees declined to give up either Spencer Jones or George Lombard Jr. for Sandy Alcantara, Heyman wrote on X. "Marlins control Alcantara and Edward Cabrera for multiple years after 2025, so they needed something big. Cubs and Red Sox tried hardest there, but no one came especially close."
Yankees declined to give up either Spencer Jones or George Lombard Jr. for Sandy Alcantara. Marlins control Alcantara and Edward Cabrera for multiple years after 2025 so they needed something big. Cubs and Red Sox tried hardest there but no one came especially close.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 1, 2025
Cubs fans who might be angry at Hoyer for not getting a starter beyond the Washington Nationals' Mike Soroka can be a bit heartened that Chicago was one of the teams credited as "trying their hardest." Just what means of course is very much open to interpretation.
After the deadline, Hoyer made it clear that he felt many teams that had starting pitchers on offer were asking far too much, and he wasn't willing to dig deep into the team's farm system to acquire a rental pitcher. Granted, with Alcantara's years of control, it appears the number of farmhands and the quality of the prospects were a bigger issue.
Alcantara's struggles this season were also almost certainly a roadblock to a trade. In 21 starts, the Marlins pitcher has a 6.36 earned run average. While he did have two straight excellent starts heading into the deadline, it apparently wasn't enough to convince the Chicago Cubs he was worth whatever Miami demanded.