3 Best MLB Trade Fits for Miami Marlins Ace Sandy Alcántara

Sandy Alcántara is back.

After missing the 2024 MLB season due to Tommy John surgery and struggling for the better part of 2025, the Miami Marlins' ace has been exceptional out of the gate this season. Boasting an 0.74 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, a 528 ERA+ and 1.1 wins above replacement through his first three starts and 24.1 innings pitched, Alcántara is performing once again like the pitcher who won the 2022 National Cy Young Award.

With that in mind, while Miami is coming off a competitive 2025 campaign (79-83) and has a chance to be in the NL wild-card mix this season, the reality is teams are going to make compelling trade offers for Alcántara, who has a team option for 2027. Here are the three best trade fits for the right-hander.

Sandy Alcántara owns a career 3.58 ERA. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Michael King is an ace, and Randy Vasquez is coming into his own. At the same time, San Diego could use another impactful starter, and Alcántara would cement their status as an NL contender.

Prior to his electric start to this season, Alcántara found himself down the stretch of 2025, recording a 3.13 ERA across his last 12 starts after sporting a 7.22 ERA at the MLB All-Star break. Alcántara — who finds success by consistently throwing four pitches (changeup, four-seamer, sinker and slider), while mixing in a cutter and sweeper — keeps runners off the basepath and pitches deep into games. In fact, he has led the NL in complete games three times (2019, 2022 and 2023), including throwing six complete games in 2022.

This season, San Diego's rotation is 22nd in MLB in opponent batting average (.252) and 20th in WHIP (1.40). Granted, the Padres have played just 12 games. Relying on Joe Musgrove's return from Tommy John surgery