Sandy Alcantara trade rumors heat up, but Cubs fans won't like the latest news

The Chicago Cubs are leading a relatively weak NL Central, but they carried a +105 run differential heading into this week's matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Watching our starting pitchers has been a roller coaster ride all season.

We have seen the ups and downs, starting with Justin Steele's season-ending UCL injury. Ben Brown entered Tuesday with a 5.71 ERA in 69 1/3 innings, and Colin Rea has been inconsistent over his career, with a 3.84 ERA in 68 innings this season. Cade Horton (3.47 ERA) has been a surprise since his call-up after Shota Imanaga went on the injured list with a strained hamstring on May 4.

One pitching target tied to the Cubs is Miami Marlins' ace Sandy Alcantara. The 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner has struggled this season after returning from missing all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Over 68 innings, the 29-year-old has a 6.88 ERA with an ugly 55:34 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Batters are hitting .258 off him, the second-worst average over Alcantara's eight-year career. It's hard to believe that his stats were much worse than this three starts ago.

Over his last three starts, Alcantara has a 2.12 ERA with a 15:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 17 innings. This recent stretch came after playing the Rockies, Pirates, and Phillies, so it may not be a sign that the righty is back to his Cy Young form. However, it may also be why the Marlins are not open to trading Alcantara.

Cubs would get multiple years of Sandy Alcantara in a trade

He's under contract through the 2026 season with a $21 million club option for the 2027 season, so the Marlins don't need to trade away an asset that could reap valuable rewards. When Alcantara struggled, the Marlins' front office would not trade their pitcher away, hoping the former Cy Young would return to form.

With the recent success, the Marlins' front office may be even more motivated to bypass the trade deadline and wait to deal the righty this upcoming winter. If Alcantara can stay healthy and keep his recent form, the Marlins can draw much more valuable returns than what may be available a month from now at the trade deadline.

Cubs fans may need to turn their attention elsewhere in hopes of acquiring pitchers at the deadline. Zac Gallen and/or Merrill Kelly may be available depending on how the Diamondbacks play over the next month. Alcantara's teammate Edward Cabrera, Pirates' Andrew Heaney, or a reunion with Trevor Williams are also possibilities between now and the end of July.