Latest news with #SandyAlcántara
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Yankees Pushed To Swing Blockbuster Trade After Seth Lugo Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New York Yankees were one of the teams closely connected to a trade for Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo ahead of the trade deadline. But the Royals recently inked Lugo to a contract extension, so it's rather unlikely he's moved at any point in the near future. Now, the Yankees will be forced to look elsewhere to fill the massive hole in their starting rotation. FanSided's Joseph Kallan suggested the Yankees could pivot from Lugo to a deal with the Miami Marlins for pitcher Sandy Alcántara in the days leading up to the trade deadline. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins walks to the dugout during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at loanDepot park on July 23, 2025 in Miami, Florida.... MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins walks to the dugout during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at loanDepot park on July 23, 2025 in Miami, Florida. More"The 2022 NL Cy Young winner is a long shot, but a worthy gamble. Sandy Alcántara has had a rough go in his return from Tommy John surgery, with a bloated 6.66 ERA and a negative WAR," Kallan wrote. "Still, there are glimmers of a return to form. His most recent outing featured seven shutout innings, and over his last two starts, opposing hitters are swinging at 73% of his two-strike pitches — second highest in MLB during that span. "At 29 years old, Alcántara still has long-term value. If his velocity and command continue to trend upward, New York could be the perfect landing spot for a bounce-back stretch. He's a risk — but one worth considering." A trade for Alcántara would be bold and expensive for the Bronx Bombers, but it's seemingly the kind of deal they need to pull off. The Yankees would be betting on the star to return to his pre-surgery form when he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Since he's under team control for a few years, the Yankees would have a bit of time to help him get there. This idea has the potential to give the Yankees one of the better pitching staffs in baseball over the next few years if they can get everybody healthy. If the Yankees are serious about building for this year and beyond, a deal for the 2022 National League Cy Young winner makes a lot of sense. More MLB: Blockbuster Mock Trade Sends MacKenzie Gore To Cubs For Monumental Return
Newsweek
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Cubs Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak As $56 Million Ace Struggles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chicago Cubs have needed to add a starting pitcher for months now, but they haven't done so. With Justin Steele going down with a season-ending injury, the Cubs' need for a pitcher grew larger. As Chicago closes in on the trade deadline, it's clear the front office should target a pitcher in a huge trade. The name that's been mentioned alongside the Cubs for a few weeks now is that of the Miami Marlins ace, Sandy Alcántara. Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly recently joined the movement of media members who have suggested the Cubs will land a trade for Alcántara in the coming weeks. It seems like these rumors are reaching a new peak. CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 09: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 09, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 09: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 09, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio."We won't dispute Sandy Alcántara's season has been even worse than Gallen's, as evidenced by his 7.22 ERA," Kelly wrote. "But the further Alcántara moves away from October 2023 Tommy John surgery, the better he should get. "He's also still only 29 years old, and he is signed to a team-friendly contract that will pay him $17.3 million in 2026, and he has a $21 million club option for 2027. "Alcántara would represent a big swing as the Cubs try to maximize their only guaranteed year with Tucker. But even if he doesn't pitch like an ace this year, he could remain with the Cubs for two more seasons and potentially rediscover the form that made him the NL Cy Young Award winner in 2022." A trade sending Alcántara to the Cubs makes too much sense to ignore. Chicago has gone after expiring talent for the last few months, so it's likely it will look for a controllable pitcher at the deadline. This would help avoid a complete roster collapse in the offseason if all the expiring players opt to leave town. The Cubs also have quite a talented farm system filled with position player talent. These position players are the kind of prospects that'll likely pique the interest of the Marlins. If the Cubs are willing to cut ties with two or three top names, they could land the Marlins' ace. More MLB: Twins $100 Million All-Star Listed As Mets 'Dream Trade Target'
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Red Sox 4-Player Blockbuster Trade Idea Would Bring $56 Million Ace to Boston
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Red Sox starting pitchers have combined for a 4.30 ERA this year. That ranks in the bottom 10 of the league. While the rotation has been weak, Garrett Crochet has played great. He has a 2.26 ERA in 18 starts this year. However, the Red Sox have failed to surround him with any kind of help. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has remained adamant that his team is not giving up on the season and will try to make a postseason run. The Red Sox could look to make a trade to get Crochet some help at the trade deadline. JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins looks on prior to a spring training game against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Jupiter,... JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins looks on prior to a spring training game against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Jupiter, Florida. MoreThe starting pitcher market could be weak if teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks hold on to their star pitchers. However, former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcántara could be an option for the Red Sox. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter proposed this trade that would bring Alcántara from the Miami Marlins to the Red Sox: Red Sox receive: RHP Sandy Alcántara Marlins receive: SS/2B Franklin Arias (Red Sox's No. 3 prospect), OF Jhostynxon Garcia (Red Sox's No. 5 prospect) and RHP David Sandlin Alcántara has struggled ever since his Cy Young Award season. He missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. This season, he has a 6.98 ERA. However, there is some reason to believe that he can still be a great pitcher. Before his last start against the Diamondbacks, he had a 2.47 ERA in June. He also had three quality starts in June. The two-time All-Star signed a five-year, $56 million deal in 2022 and is under club control through 2027. It would be a risky addition, but one that could pay off. If the Red Sox can get him back to pitching like an All-Star, he could help get them into October. More MLB: Former Reds, Cubs Gold Glove Catcher Suddenly Retires After 12 Seasons
New York Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Can Sandy Alcántara get right? Ahead of trade deadline, the baseball world waits and hopes
The chatter is impossible for Sandy Alcántara to avoid, as much as he'd like to block it all out. He reads it on social media, sees what the national media says. All the talk that he's not good anymore. That the Tommy John surgery broke him. That he's lost all his trade value. That he'll never be the same. Advertisement 'It's tough. You've got to be strong,' Alcántara said before a Miami Marlins game earlier this week. 'Watching people's comments, hearing people talk very bad about you. It's something that you have to not pay attention to. But I'm strong, man. I believe in myself. 'I know, one day, everything will change.' It's been a brutal 2025 for Alcántara, the 2022 Cy Young winner who returned this season after missing last season rehabbing his elbow. And while he's confident his 8.47 ERA will improve, his first start after making those comments was a lot more of the same. Four innings pitched on Wednesday in San Diego, six earned runs, four walks, seven hits and zero strikeouts for the first time in a start since April 2019. Another bad outing in a season full of them. Alcántara's miserable season does not occur in a vacuum. An entire franchise is staking its trade season on the pitcher's return to form. The Marlins are in the midst of an aggressive rebuild, and a healthy and effective Alcántara — who will remain under affordable club control through 2027 — could net a massive, franchise-altering haul. But the 29-year-old has 29 walks and 40 strikeouts over 51 innings. Left-handed hitters have reached base against him at a prodigious clip. And his altered pitch mix hasn't shown positive results. The ace who authored six complete games amid a dominant season in 2022 hasn't thrown a pitch in the seventh inning all year. Potential trade partners are forced to wonder if he is not the same pitcher as before the surgery. Until he performs, those questions will linger. And so both the Marlins and Alcántara are both dealing with a problem they're extremely motivated to fix. 'There are brighter days ahead for Sandy,' said Marlins pitching coach Daniel Moskos. 'That I wholeheartedly believe.' Advertisement 'The last thing to come back from Tommy John surgery is the execution side of things. You have a brand new arm while it's healthy, and can perform. It's strong and it can do all the things that you need it to do. The proprioception of where it's at in time and space can be kind of that last thing to come back.' Alcántara was a unanimous Cy Young winner in 2022. He threw 228 2/3 innings, posted a 2.28 ERA and was worth 8.0 WAR. He had a 4.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Pick a stat from that season, and it showed a different element of his dominance over the sport. The Marlins are frustrated because, well, they don't think he's fundamentally changed. His velocity and pitch shapes are essentially what they have been. In their mind, this is a matter of that last five percent coming back – a small shift that will manifest itself in significant results. In their mind, it's a mixture of bad luck and less-than-ideal execution. His expected ERA is 5.03, well below his actual numbers. But still way worse than what he's proven he can do. 'I think there's frustration, for sure,' said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. '…You can certainly bet on the human and the person, that he's going to get out of this. You know, continue to try to reinforce that with him. 'We'd all love for it to happen sooner than later, but it's going to happen when it happens.' Alcántara is generating chase — a swing on a pitch outside the strike zone — just 24 percent of the time, way down from his career average of 32.4 percent. His pitches on the edge of the zone are at 41.1 percent, down from 46.3 in his Cy Young season. He's getting barreled up 10.1 percent, compared with 6.3 percent for his career. The average exit velocity against his pitches is 91.2 mph, up from 88.1 for his career. Batters are pulling the ball against him 48.6 percent this season, compared with 38.1 percent over his time in the big leagues — which may cause him greater problems now than when he last pitched a full season, before the elimination of the shift. Advertisement Against left-handed hitters, Alcántara has walked 22, compared with just 17 strikeouts. It's a major regression for a pitcher who once pitched to both sides of the plate with similar effectiveness. All these numbers say a different version of the same thing: Alcántara is not anywhere close to what he's been his whole career. He's missing more middle-middle, and throwing more non-competitive pitches than ever. He's not efficient or effective. If he wasn't Sandy Alcántara, he'd probably be in the minor leagues. 'I feel like I've just been stuck in the same inning,' Alcántara said, noting that he feels his stuff is all there. 'Trying to get past the sixth, and I can't. This is the game, and I've just got to keep battling. Keep trying to get through this.' 'I think I'm just trying to be too perfect. Pitching in the middle. When you leave it in the middle, you pay for it.' At the start of spring training, the Marlins talked with Alcantara about altering his pitch mix. McCullough said it's important for veteran pitchers to expand their repertoires to remain unpredictable. Alcántara's changes have resulted in more four-seam fastballs and far more curveballs. That's balanced by a little less of his two-seamer, changeup and slider. That four-seamer is now utilized 26.2 percent of the time, up from 21.6 percent in 2023. His curveball, which he threw only 11 times total in his Cy Young season, is now being used 13.7 percent of the time. The Marlins hope that the curveball can become a weapon against left-handers, which is why he's throwing it more. But it hasn't generated positive results. Nor has his fastball, which has a .315 batting average against, and is resulting in whiffs on just 14.9 percent of swings, compared with 26.8 percent in 2023. 'Maybe I'm throwing too many fastballs,' Alcántara said. 'In the past two or three, I've been more aggressive in throwing my two-seamer and changeup. This year, I'm using my four-seamer a lot.' Advertisement When Peter Bendix took over as the Marlins' president of baseball operations before last season, he basically tore it all down. The team was coming off a playoff berth in 2023. But as has often been the case throughout Marlins history, success has been followed by a rebuild. Bendix cleaned house in the front office. The coaching staff is now comprised of almost entirely new faces. He made eight deals at the trade deadline last season, including a breathtaking six deals on deadline day alone. He's reshaping the organization to his liking. Trading Alcantara is the logical next step. Despite his struggles, each of the other 29 other teams would take him in a heartbeat — a consensus among league sources. But it's all about value, and selling high. The Marlins don't have to trade Alcántara at the deadline. But it stands to reason that doing so would be their strong preference. They're not competing for the postseason this year. His value to their organization is rooted in the prospect haul he could net. That's what makes the next two months so critical for Alcántara and his current employers. A couple of good starts will change that narrative. But then again, only one of his 11 starts thus far has been a quality outing. He believes, and the Marlins believe, that this is all a post-surgery mirage that will all be fixed. But just how quickly that happens could make all the difference. 'I'm here to play baseball. I don't have to pay attention to what they say,' Alcántara said. 'I play for the Marlins. If they want to trade me, they'll trade me. I'm just going to keep competing, day by day. And we'll see what happens.'
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Rangers Tabbed as Potential Landing Spot for Marlins Ace Sandy Alcántara
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Texas Rangers have started strong, but the American League West is very tight in the early stages of the season. With that, the Rangers are looking for ways to bolster the roster in anticipation of a grinding finish for the division. One way to do that is by going after the best starting pitcher on the trade market, Sandy Alcántara. David Schoenfield of ESPN (subscription required) believes the Rangers would have to part with one of these two prospects to acquire the Marlins' ace. MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida."Right-hander Rosario had a breakout season in 2024, hitting 100 mph, but then went down for this year in spring training, undergoing elbow surgery," wrote Schoenfield. "Osuna is a lefty-hitting outfielder in Double-A who could also be part of a package deal." With the Marlins in need of a strong outfielder who can put the ball in play, Osuna is certainly someone they could be looking for in a trade. However, the Marlins are going to embrace a bidding war for Alcántara. If that happens, the Rangers may have no other choice but to also part with Rosario or another top 10 prospect. Even with Tyler Mahle's success and Jack Leiter returning in the near future, Schoenfield sees the two sides as being a good fit. "It's a fragile group of starters and Kumar Rocker might be a better fit in the bullpen, so Alcantara could fit here -- and general manager Chris Young was aggressive at the 2023 deadline," wrote Schoenfield." More MLB: Red Sox Could Reportedly Deal No. 3 Prospect to Acquire Sandy Alcántara
