The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of pitching help before the MLB trade deadline, and the general expectation is that they will add at least one starter before then.
However, the Cubs unfortunately just received some tough news on one of their top potential targets: Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara.
With the Marlins having recently lost 12 straight, momentum appeared to be building toward Miami potentially moving Alcantara, who is under club control for one more season after 2026.
Naturally, Chicago was viewed as a possible landing spot, as the Cubs have enough young talent — both in the majors and in its minor-league system — to entice the Marlins with a significant trade package.
But it does not appear that Miami is interested in moving Alcantara before Aug. 3.
In a piece from The Athletic detailing the Marlins’ strategy between now and next Monday’s deadline, it was revealed that Miami plans to hold on to the former Cy Young award winner.
“The Marlins are not looking to acquire players on expiring contracts for this season and plan to keep core players such as Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Max Meyer, and Joe Mack, as Miami pre- and postgame analyst Craig Mish first reported,” The Athletic wrote.
Alcantara has gone 11-6 with a 3.82 ERA this season and has pitched to the tune of a 2.99 ERA over his last 11 starts. He has pitched into the seventh inning or later in four of his last five outings and seven of his last 11 overall, and he leads the majors in both innings pitched and batters faced.
Obviously, the Cubs would love to add Alcantara to their rotation, and the 30-year-old has a $21 million club option for 2027. That is infinitely affordable.
But the cost would likely be extravagant for Chicago, as the Marlins are still very much in the thick of the National League Wild Card race and clearly value Alcantara strongly.
The Cubs may want to try their hand at other pitching options before the deadline, because it doesn’t look like Alcantara is a realistic possibility.
Chicago is 61-46 on the season and will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
