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Mets Predicted to Trade For $56 Million Pitcher After Starter's Season-Ending Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 5:36 PM ET

The Mets, who took the final two games of a four-game set against the Atlanta Braves to seemingly halt a bad stretch of games, got truly awful luck on Thursday.

Starting pitcher Griffin Canning, who at one point was given strong odds to win this year's Cy Young, suffered a ruptured Achilles in his start Thursday, forcing him to leave in the third inning.

The return to play for non-pitchers after an Achilles injury is 62%, with data showing worsened power in hitters, and Canning was confirmed to be out for the year.

Naturally, the Mets will have to find someone to replace the quality innings Canning gave them, and they may pull the trigger on a long-rumored trade.

The Mets were predicted by FOX Sports' Deesha Thosar to be one of the top landing spots for Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara, who won the NL Cy Young in 2022.

Alcantara signed a five-year, $56 million contract with the Marlins in 2021, then the longest extension in club history, and after returning this year from Tommy John surgery, rumors have been swirling.

This season, Alcantara's 6.69 ERA has warded off any aggressive buyers, but the right-hander has pitched to a 2.74 ERA in the month of June, giving him a high value now.

Alcantara has been connected to the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs and now the Mets, especially in the wake of Canning's brutal and unfortunate injury.

The Mets could be a solid contender for Alcantara in a Rafael Devers-style trade which takes place four weeks before the July 30 Trade Deadline but comes as the Marlins will likely look to capitalize on the maximum value they can get for Sandy.

In the meanwhile, one would tend to doubt the Mets are thinking about anything other than Canning's immediate recovery.

Other recent examples of pitchers tearing their Achilles are the Braves' Mike Soroka, who never quite returned to form after twice rupturing his Achilles in 2020 and 2021, and the Orioles' Zack Britton, who put together three solid campaigns in 2018-20 after his torn Achilles.

The injury coming to Canning's left foot may be the silver lining, because it's not the foot that pushes off during his delivery.

Regardless, Canning's injury is brutal for a team just starting to get back their mojo.

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

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