Yankees Could Target Cy Young Winner Alcantara to Bolster Injured Rotation
The Yankees’ pitching rotation is in trouble. With Gerrit Cole undergoing Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil expected to miss significant time early in the season, New York needs reinforcements.
Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner with the Marlins, could be the answer.
Newsweek suggests the Yankees might land Alcantara by trading Marcus Stroman along with prospects Will Warren and Everson Pereira to Miami.
Landing Alcantara would be a massive win for the Yankees, assuming he returns to form after missing the entire 2024 season following his own Tommy John surgery.
What makes Alcantara special is his durability and dominance. During his Cy Young campaign, he posted a 2.28 ERA with six complete games while striking out 8.1 batters per nine innings. Even in his “down” 2023 season, he ate innings and maintained a respectable 4.14 ERA.
The long-term control makes Alcantara particularly appealing. He’s under contract through 2026 with a club option for 2027. That’s where the Yankees could really benefit – imagining a future rotation built around Alcantara, Cole and Gil for multiple seasons.
This isn’t a rental situation like with Dylan Cease, who’s pitching on an expiring deal. But that extended control also means the Yankees would need to pay a premium in any trade package.
From Miami’s perspective, they’d need serious motivation to move their ace. Despite their rotation questions behind Alcantara, his innings-eating ability and leadership are exactly what a rebuilding team needs. They’d likely demand an even bigger return than what Newsweek proposed.
For now, the Yankees will rely on new addition Max Fried to lead their banged-up rotation. But don’t be surprised if Brian Cashman makes a major move to strengthen the staff before the trade deadline.
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