Marlins’ latest move could help Cubs land that badly-needed ace at the trade deadline

We headed into the offseason hoping the Chicago Cubs would add an ace. Max Fried, in particular, was connected to the team repeatedly, raising hopes that were promptly dashed when the New York Yankees flexed their financial muscle, signing the left-hander to a staggering eight-year, $218 million deal.

The Cubs' big rotation pick-up came instead in the form of oft-injured left-hander Matthew Boyd, who inked a two-year, $29 million pact with Chicago on the heels of a strong finish to the season with Cleveland. After completing his journey back from Tommy John and returning to the mound, the southpaw was brilliant for the Guardians, posting a 2.76 ERA in eight regular-season starts and allowed just one run in 11 2/3 postseason frames.

If he's healthy - you have to consider that a big 'if' given his checkered past health-wise - Boyd is a nice middle of the rotation arm, comparable to someone like Jameson Taillon. He hasn't pitched like a true ace at any point in his 10-year MLB career, so it seems foolish to think that's going to change now.

OK, we're almost there. Hang in there. Given that was the team's big rotation move this winter, it stands to reason we could see the Cubs make a trade for a premier starting pitcher at the trade deadline - especially considering they kept the majority of their prospect capital intact this winter. That makes the latest report out of Miami all the more interesting: the Marlins are starting ace Sandy Alcantara on an innings limit to open the season.

The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner is returning from Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire 2024 campaign - and has looked sharp in spring action, pushing his fastball to triple-digits in Grapefruit League matchups. He's on a wildly team-friendly deal that runs through 2026 with a $21 million team option for 2027 - so the asking price, assuming he's pitching well at the deadline - is going to be astronomical.

The return is going to be something comparable to what the Washington Nationals got when they traded Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres (multiple top-100 prospects + big-league ready supplementary pieces) - but it's one the Cubs could stomach given their top-heavy system. It would hurt, to be sure, but that's the price to acquire top-shelf talent.

Before we get there, though, Alcantara will need to show he's healthy and can sustain the eye-popping stuff we've seen from him in spring training. If he's pitching like he did two years ago, he could take the Cubs from fringe contender to a World Series hopeful in what could be Kyle Tucker's lone season in Wrigleyville.