As the Major League Baseball trade market rumbles with speculation, the Baltimore Orioles eye a season-defining move: acquiring Sandy Alcantara from the Miami Marlins. But the scenario is more nuanced than a standard Deadline blockbuster, industry sources like Jeff Passan and league front offices expect that Alcantara’s availability will hit a fever pitch this coming winter, not before July 31. The Marlins, still valuing their former ace as an elite starter despite recent struggles, seem inclined to wait for a more robust bidding war when their righty could fetch maximum value.
Sandy Alcantara is the Perfect Fit for Baltimore

Alcantara’s 2022 campaign stands as one of the finest pitching seasons in recent memory. A unanimous NL Cy Young winner, he anchored Miami with a 2.28 ERA, six complete games, and 207 strikeouts, a true workhorse in an era short on durable aces. But 2023 saw regression to the mean, and Tommy John surgery sidelined him entirely for 2024.
Now, in 2025, Alcantara’s pitching line is unrecognizable: a 6.66 ERA, rising walk rates, tinkering with pitch mix, and a confidence level that seems to waver with every outing. His underlying metrics still flash plus velocity and occasional flashes of dominance, but it’s clear he’s not yet reclaimed his pre-injury form. The Marlins recognize this, so do potential suitors like the Orioles, Yankees, and others. Front offices believe that acquiring Alcantara now is a tempting upside play, but the Marlins’ asking price, for now, reflects his past rather than his present.
Add in the fact that he’s still under contract for $17.3M in both 2025 and 2026, with a $21M club option for 2027, and Alcantara’s value is both a gamble and a potentially franchise-altering prize.
The Orioles’ competitive window is open. With Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Grayson Rodriguez, and more already starring in Baltimore, the need for a true rotation anchor persists. Corbin Burnes’ departure (assuming free agency) leaves a void only a high-upside ace can fill. Alcantara represents the ultimate change-of-scenery “buy low, win big” play—a strategy that could pay dividends in 2026 and beyond, if he recaptures even 80% of his Cy Young form.
But for now, the O’s brass is more likely to reload the farm and revisit major pitching moves in the offseason when the market adjusts, Alcantara’s health is reassessed, and top teams like Baltimore, New York, and Atlanta can all make their best offers.
Per Jeff Passan and several rival executives, the Marlins’ inclination is to hold Alcantara until the offseason, unless a team gets aggressive and pays for his “upside” before he proves he can turn things around. For the Orioles, this is advantageous. By winter, the team will know precisely where they stand competitively, assess player development, and see if Alcantara shows signs of rebounding late in 2025. It’s the classic high-risk, potentially high-reward play, and no front office in baseball has a deeper prospect pool to dip into for deals of this caliber.
The Perfect Orioles Trade Proposal for Sandy Alcantara
Should the market mature in the winter, here’s the blockbuster deal Baltimore could package to satisfy the Marlins’ demands for young, controllable, and impact-laden talent:
The Orioles receive:
- Sandy Alcantara, RHP
The Marlins receive:
- Samuel Basallo, C/1B
- Enrique Bradfield, OF
- Chayce McDermott, RHP
- Dylan Beavers, OF
The Marlins demand talent and upside. Basallo is a foundational prospect with a plus power bat, potentially a future All-Star at two positions. Bradfield brings elite speed and defense (74 steals in 2024) to Miami’s outfield, addressing an immediate system need. McDermott’s arm gives the Marlins a cost-controlled, near-MLB-ready rotation option. Beavers is a young bat with breakout upside, rounding out a group that addresses both positional and pitching needs while offering proximity to the majors.
For Baltimore, the price is steep, but the Orioles retain cornerstone fielders like Coby Mayo and limit their prospect outflow to areas of depth. They gain a lottery ticket ace: an incentive to accelerate their World Series trajectory, with club control and upside at a reasonable cost.
The buzz is clear, Alcantara’s next destination will likely be determined in an offseason bidding war, especially if he regains form late in 2025. Baltimore is perfectly positioned to strike with the prospect capital to win any negotiation. If they land Alcantara, it signals true intent: moving from contender to favorite. For the Marlins, the deal provides a balanced, controllable core around which to rebuild.
Whether the proposal unfolds now or in December, it may one day be seen as the defining trade of this era for both franchises, reshaping not just rosters, but championship aspirations on both coasts.