The Yankees need another starter, and Sandy Alcantara might be the answer.
Despite their offseason roster overhaul that included signing Max Fried, the Yankees’ rotation has been decimated by injuries. Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil hit the IL before Opening Day, Marcus Stroman followed shortly after, and now they’re scrambling for frontline pitching.
Clarke Schmidt returned to the mound Monday, but it wasn’t pretty. He surrendered five earned runs on seven hits in a loss to the Guardians, highlighting the team’s need for reinforcement.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield proposed a trade deadline deal that would bring Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara to the Bronx.
“The Yankees did just get Clarke Schmidt back, but they could certainly use a rotation upgrade,” Schoenfield wrote.
The Yankees are among three teams Schoenfield sees as likely landing spots for Alcantara. The 2022 Cy Young winner is trying to rediscover his form after posting a concerning 7.27 ERA through his first four starts this season.
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What would it take to land Alcantara? That’s where it gets interesting. The Marlins might not be eager to part with their ace, who’s under contract through 2026 on a team-friendly five-year, $56 million deal. But if they do listen to offers, Schoenfield believes two Yankees pitching prospects could headline a potential deal.
“It’s hard to envision them trading top prospect George Lombard Jr., plus Spencer Jones’ stock has fallen, so let’s list a couple of pitchers here,” Schoenfield wrote. “Warren has had some big league time and would give the Marlins an MLB-ready starter. Hess was the Yankees’ first-round pick last year and perhaps has more upside but is further away from the majors.”
Will Warren has already gotten a taste of the majors and could step into Miami’s rotation immediately. Ben Hess, the Yankees’ 2023 first-round pick, offers more long-term potential but needs more development time.
As the Yankees’ pitching woes continue, adding a high-volume starter like Alcantara seems increasingly necessary. The question isn’t if they’ll make a move for another starter — it’s when and who they’ll target.
