Cubs top target has 'already packed his things' in anticipation of MLB trade deadline

Coming into this season, the idea of the Chicago Cubs landing Sandy Alcantara at the deadline would have had Wrigleyville fans giddy. However, after a rough 2025, the news that the Miami Marlins pitcher has "already packed his bags" in preparation for a trade doesn't carry the same vibes.

Nevertheless, a new report indicates that Alcantara is not only expecting to be traded, but has been told he will be. The same report suggests that one of the San Diego Padres, the Cubs, or the Toronto Blue Jays will land him.

Chicago Cubs trade deadline: evaluating a potential Sandy Alcantara gamble

MLB insider Hector Gomez took to Twitter in the wee hours of the morning on Friday to report, "a person very close to Sandy Alcántara told me he'll be traded. 'He's aware he'll be traded and has already packed all his things to leave Miami.'"

The caveat here, of course, is that while Gomez's report comes off as being "in the know," it's third-hand. Anyone who has ever played a game of "telephone" in their youth knows how messages can be garbled as they travel down the line.

However, the Cubs are obviously looking for starting pitching, and Alcantara is one of those pitchers who has so much talent, it's hard to understand why he's struggled so much this season. He's also the kind of talent it's not hard to imagine the Cubs believe they can tweak something here or there and turn him back into the Cy Young caliber pitcher he was not all that long ago.

Coming off Tommy John surgery, the problem might be something that won't correct itself until next year. Or this is just who Alcantara is now.

If there's reason for excitement, it's that what might be his last start before being traded was very good. Alcantara spun seven innings, allowing just one unearned run and four hits while striking out four Padres. The problem is that the last time he had that kind of outing (a June 10, 6-inning shutout), he followed it up with six starts where he posted a combined 7.15 earned run average.

The Chicago Cubs certainly know all about Sandy Alcantara's struggles, so they aren't going in blind if he's packed his bags for the Windy City. Still, one would hope the asking price will be low enough that the team could also invest in a backup plan, just in case.