The Chicago Cubs enter May with an 18-13 record, which gives them a two-game lead in the National League Central. It's been a positive start to the year for Craig Counsell's team, even with a tough season-ending injury to pitcher Justin Steele.
After the injury to Steele, the need for another pitcher was more evident than before. While it's only May and a bit early for trades to take place, there are some options on the market for Chicago.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report made some early trade predictions, and one of them was the Cubs landing Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will have to give up more than he's comfortable with to obtain Alcántara, but he would be getting a workhorse for up to three postseason runs.
Chicago entered this season with seven prospects in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. Third baseman Matt Shaw probably isn't going anywhere, but any of right-handed pitcher Cade Horton, outfielder Owen Caissie and catcher Moisés Ballesteros could make sense as part of a trade return for Miami.
Alcantara signed a five-year deal worth $56 million with the Marlins in 2021, but the ace is going to be one of the top players on the trade block when things start to heat up.
Alcantara won the Cy Young award in 2022 as he posted a 14-9 record with a 2.28 ERA. In 2023, he took a bit of a step back, and he then missed the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery.
This year, Alcantara has not pitched too well. He has a 2-3 record with an 8.31 ERA, which comes after a seven-run outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers where he failed to get past the third inning.
Still, a change of scenery could do wonders for Alcantara, and the Cubs could make a run at the Marlins ace in hopes of adding a star to their rotation.
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