The New York Yankees have a 15-10 record after their first 25 games of the season, placing them in first place in the American League East.
Although outfielder Aaron Judge is already proving himself as a strong contender for another American League MVP and the Yankees’ offense is still one of the league’s top performers, their pitching has been a different story.
The Yankees’ team ERA stands at 4.07, placing them 17th in Major League Baseball. Their starting pitching ERA is 4.69, which ranks 26th in the league, ahead of only the Athletics, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Baltimore Orioles.
The Yankees have lost their ace, Gerrit Cole, for the season, and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will be out for an extended period. While Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have performed well, the rest of the rotation has struggled significantly.
The Yankees are highly likely to pursue starting pitching before the trade deadline, with Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara being one of the top names available. Although Alcantara has had a rough start to 2025 with a 6.56 ERA in five starts, following Tommy John surgery, he’s only a few years removed from his dominant 2022 Cy Young season, where he posted a 2.28 ERA over 228.2 innings.
Alcantara is widely expected to be traded before the deadline, thanks to his favorable contract, which includes two more years of team control and a club option for a third year, making him an attractive target for teams.
In a recent appearance on Dodgers Nation’s Dougout Live YouTube show, USA Today’s MLB insider Bob Nightengale provided an update on the trade market for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. Nightengale confirmed that the Marlins plan to make Alcantara available before the July 31 trade deadline. However, he emphasized that acquiring the 2022 Cy Young winner will come at a steep price, potentially exceeding the package the San Diego Padres sent to the Washington Nationals for Juan Soto in 2022 .
The New York Yankees are among the teams expected to pursue Alcantara. Nightengale stated that the Yankees will “do everything possible” to acquire the right-hander, who is under contract through 2027 with a team-friendly deal worth $56 million over five years .
Despite a challenging start to the 2025 season, with a 6.56 ERA in five starts, Alcantara remains a highly sought-after asset due to his previous dominance and affordable contract. The Marlins are anticipated to hold onto him until the final days before the trade deadline to maximize trade value .
Bob Nightengale stated, “I think they’ll trade him, probably late July. The beauty about him is you got him for two more years after this at cheap money,” during his interview with Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain. He added, “So someone is gonna have to give up a ton. As much as the Padres gave up for Juan Soto, it may cost a team more than that. … It’s gonna be a steep, steep price.”
Despite the high price, Nightengale anticipates that the Yankees will be one of the leading teams in pursuing a trade for Sandy Alcantara.
Bob Nightengale mentioned, “I think you’ll have the Yankees doing everything possible,” in his conversation with McKain. He also added, “The Marlins will probably have about 10 teams calling on him willing to give up half their farm system.”
Bob Nightengale also noted that while the Chicago Cubs would likely be interested in Sandy Alcantara, he doesn’t believe they have the prospects needed to secure a trade for him. He made a similar point about the San Diego Padres.
The Yankees, on the other hand, have an abundance of prospect capital that could allow them to acquire Alcantara. This move could be just what they need to make a push for the World Series in a highly competitive American League this season.
