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Insider Shares Sandy Alcantara Trade Update Amid Continued Speculation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Dec 3, 2025 12:56 PM ET

The Miami Marlins are not expected to trade veteran pitcher and 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara this offseason, according to Marlins insider Christina De Nicola.

In her “Marlins Beat” newsletter, De Nicola said the Marlins “aren’t actively” trying to trade Alcantara or fellow starter Edward Cabrera. Alcantara, who turned 30 in September, struggled at times during the 2025 season and finished with a 5.36 ERA in his first year back from Tommy John surgery.

Alcantara enters the final guaranteed season of the five-year, $56 million extension he signed in November 2021. The contract includes a $21 million option for 2027.

De Nicola believes the Marlins would be more likely to trade Cabrera, who recorded a 3.53 ERA and 2.8 bWAR in 26 starts. Although Cabrera has battled injuries in the past, he lowered his walks-per-nine rate from 4.7% to 3.1% in a career-high 137 2/3 innings.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara won the 2022 NL Cy Young AwardIsaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

"Plus, Alcantara is the face of the franchise, a quiet leader in the clubhouse, and proof of a successful extension under the current ownership group,” De Nicola wrote.

What to Know About a Possible Sandy Alcantara Trade

Alcantara struggled mightily throughout the first half, entering the All-Star break with a 7.22 ERA in 91 innings. However, he regained his form in the season's back half, going 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA and a 71-20 K-BB ratio in 83 2/3 second-half innings. Miami finished 79-83, a 17-game improvement from 2024.

Not counting the shortened 2020 season, last year was only the second time since 2018 that the Marlins did not lose at least 90 games. Alcantara and the 2023 Marlins went 84-78 but fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card round.

However, the two-time All-Star nonetheless remains a frequent topic of trade speculation, partly because of his contract situation. The Marlins also have a long history of parting ways with top players before they hit free agency, with the J.T. Realmuto trade in February 2019 immediately coming to mind. Miami sent Realmuto to the Phillies two seasons before he became a free agent and signed a five-year, $115.5 million contract that kept him in Philadelphia.

Sandy Alcántara's 2Ks in the 5th. pic.twitter.com/wSq5pGpTaX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 31, 2025

New York Mets teammates Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor publicly lobbied for the team to acquire Alcantara this past April.

“It would be one of the best trades that we could have,” Soto told the New York Post. “I know we have great pitching here, but adding a Cy Young winner like that would be huge. ... Whenever he goes to a winning team, you are going to see what Sandy Alcantara is capable of.”

Lindor added, “It would almost be like adding Soto. You add Soto, it’s going to help the team. You add Alcantara, and it’s going to help the team.”

As of Wednesday, Dec. 3, there have been no credible reports regarding an Alcantara trade ahead of next week's Winter Meetings. The Marlins open the 2026 season at home against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, March 26.

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

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