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Cubs Prospect Could Be Crucial in Deal for Marlins All-Star Hurler

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Goodwyn | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 3:10 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs have emerged as one of the strongest teams in baseball, heading into Tuesday's matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 46-32 record, the fourth-best in the league.

Many of their winning contributions have come from their offense, with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Kyle Tucker making up an outfield whose bats are collectively as potent as any other such unit in MLB. Pitching, however, has been one of the team's sore spots, with three starters (Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Matthew Boyd) out injured.

The Cubs, looking to bolster their roster ahead of a postseason push, will likely look to address starting rotation-related needs ahead of the trade deadline. Matt Spiegel, co-host of the "Spiegel & Holmes" show on 670 The Score, believes the Cubs could be on the doorstep of finding a solution to their problem by acquiring Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara, a Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star.

"I think the Cubs want Sandy Alcantara, and I think the Marlins are just about ready to do it," Spiegel said. "He is in a better headspace than he was when he was fresh back. The changeup is a work in progress, but he's figuring it out with what he has over these last four of five starts.

"[MLB insider] Jon Heyman had said this morning that the Marlins are not ready to trade him, but I'm telling you, I think they might be... And we are right at that spot in the year where they might be."

Spiegel added that, for such a deal to be made, the Cubs may need to part ways with a prized asset they have held onto in previous trade discussions: Owen Caissie, the second-best prospect in the franchise's minor-league system, according to MLB Pipeline.

"The guy that the Marlins wanted for Jesus Luzardo from the Cubs is Owen Caissie. The Cubs would not do it, and Luzardo ends up with the Phillies," Siegel. "I would deal Owen Caissie for Sandy Alcantara."

Caissie, a 22-year-old outfield prospect, is in the midst of his second season with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs. Across 238 at-bats this season, Caissie is slashing .265/.368/.868 with 11 home runs, 18 doubles, and 32 RBIs.

Alcantara, meanwhile, is having a resurgent stretch of starts after a slow beginning to the 2025 season. His ERA is down to 6.69 after being just under 8.50 at the end of May, and he possesses a 4-8 record with 59 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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