Sandy Alcantara could put Cubs back on his trail this winter

The most polarizing trade target at the MLB trade deadline for the Chicago Cubs was Miami Marlins' starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. A former National League Cy Young Award winner, Alcantara made his return this season from Tommy John surgery that wiped out his entire 2024 campaign, and during the first half of the season, he was arguably the worst starting pitcher in baseball. Still, given the success and swing-and-miss stuff he has flashed in the past, Alcantara was a popular name bandied about at the deadline.

As was the case with all controllable starting pitchers on the market, Alcantara stayed put at the deadline. The belief was that the Marlins may look to trade Alcantara this offseason, and the 30-year-old could be returning to form.

Over his last 6 starts, Alcantara has an ERA of 2.48, going at least 6 innings in each of those outings. A clearer sign that Alcantara is returning to the Cy Young version of himself is the fact that in those 6 starts, he has struck out over 26% of the hitters he faced.

Cubs may have another shot at Sandy Alcantara in offseason

If the Marlins do make Alcantara available this winter, his second-half resurgence will have him arguably the best starting pitcher available. With Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease being the top options on the free-agent market, a team may be more inclined to look in the direction of the Marlins and Alcantara.

The Cubs could be one of those teams. Cade Horton has certainly ascended toward the top of the Cubs' rotation and will enter the 2026 season as the potential ace of the staff. That said, the Cubs' rotation will be without Justin Steele at the start of the season. The regression from Matthew Boyd during the second half of the season, and factored in with the availability concern that surrounds Jameson Taillon, and adding to the rotation feels like the top item on the to-do list for the Cubs this offseason.

Trading for a pitcher like Alcantara feels like what the Cubs would prefer in the offseason. Of course, it's what the Cubs wanted to do at the deadline, but the asking price was believed to include Owen Caissie, Matt Shaw, and Cade Horton. An asking price that, in theory, should be slightly lowered this offseason.

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