Sandy Alcantara trade rumors are already swirling, and the MLB season just started. The Marlins ace looked solid in his first outing since Tommy John surgery, throwing 4 ⅔ innings with just two runs allowed on Opening Day.
“It’s not even April,” Marlins executive Peter Bendix told MLB.com when asked about potential trades. “I understand where the questions are coming from, but until we get to the point of even considering trades, it’s not really something I have much to comment on.”
Bendix seemed more interested in celebrating Alcantara’s return to health than discussing trade possibilities just three games into the season.
But fans have reason to be nervous.
Last year, Bendix shipped three-time batting champion Luis Arraez to San Diego on May 4, when the team was just 9-25. That was Bendix’s first season running Miami’s front office after being hired from Tampa Bay to rebuild the organization.
“It really came together fairly quickly,” Bendix explained after the Arraez trade, “and felt like this was too good of a deal to pass up, frankly.”
Alcantara, now 29, is expected to draw serious interest if the Marlins decide to sell. And it’s easy to see why.
Before his elbow surgery, he was one of baseball’s most dominant workhorses. Over three seasons, he posted an impressive 3.14 ERA (37% better than league average) with nearly four strikeouts for every walk across 93 starts.
What makes him especially valuable? Durability.
Alcantara averaged more than 200 innings per season and nearly 6 ⅔ innings per start before his injury – practically unheard of in today’s game where many starters barely make it through five innings.
His contract situation makes him even more attractive to potential suitors. Alcantara is owed just $34 million total through 2026, with a $21 million club option for 2027.
To put that in perspective, nine different starting pitchers signed deals this past offseason paying more than $21 million per year – including guys like Luis Severino and Nick Martinez who aren’t nearly as accomplished.
That team-friendly deal could help the Marlins land a massive prospect haul if they decide to move him.
The Marlins are off to a decent 2-1 start this season. They’ll wrap up their opening series against Pittsburgh before hosting Juan Soto and the Mets.
