The New York Mets look good offensively with Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor in the middle of their lineup, not to mention Pete Alonso. However, their pitching staff is another story.
While the Mets were busy outbidding the crosstown rival New York Yankees to acquire Soto, they failed to adequately address their starting rotation to the point where former Yankees reliever Clay Holmes has now been tabbed as their opening day starter.
As great as Soto is, you really can’t win in this league without pitching, so New York may have to make some sort of major move in order to bolster its World Series chances.
Could an NL East rival actually help the Mets out in this regard?
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports thinks so, naming New York as a potential trade destination for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who is returning from Tommy John surgery this season.
“The question is not if the Marlins will trade Alcantara, but when,” Axisa wrote. “The 2022 NL Cy Young winner missed last season with Tommy John surgery, but he’s completed his rehab, and he’s throwing gas this spring. Still only 29, Alcantara is owed $17 million this year and next, and his contract includes a $21 million club option for 2027. He’s healthy, he’s excellent, and he’s affordable for another two seasons beyond this one.”
But would the Marlins really trade Alcantara within the division? Probably, considering it’s not something Miami has shied away from doing in the past. The Fish traded Jesus Luzardo to the Philadelphia Phillies over the winter, and while Luzardo is not quite on the same level as Alcantara, the Marlins are clearly just worried about shedding payroll, like usual.
The Mets have a decent farm system and would probably have to include top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat in any potential trade package for Alcantara, but given the fact that New York seems dead set on making a championship push, owner Steve Cohen would likely have no issue with doing that.
When healthy, Alcantara is one of the best pitchers in baseball, which he displayed in 2022 when he pitched to the tune of a 2.28 ERA while throwing six complete games en route to a unanimous NL Cy Young award.
Considering all of the pitching issues the Mets have, they should be bending over backward to land Alcantara if he becomes available, and if the Marlins would be willing to send him to an NL East foe.
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