After losing Corbin Burnes to free agency, the Baltimore Orioles could make another blockbuster trade for a former Cy Young winner. One year after nearly breaking the internet with a blockbuster trade acquiring Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers, the Orioles find themselves in need of a front-of-the-rotation starter. Baltimore has been linked to several upper-tier starters this offseason, including aces Dylan Cease and Luis Castillo, but have yet to make a big acquisition. So far, the Orioles have only added to the middle of their rotation, signing Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton to one-year deals. With the best farm system in baseball, one trade Baltimore should be pursuing is Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara.
A two-time All-Star, Alcántara has not pitched since September 2023, having undergone Tommy John surgery that October. But Marlins manager Clayton McCullough expects the 29-year-old ace to be ready to return to the mound by spring training. While trading for a pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery seems risky, Alcántara had established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball long before he injured his elbow.
He was a first-time All-Star in 2019, before posting a career-best 2.28 ERA and leading the majors in WAR to win the 2022 NL Cy Young Award. Between 2018 and 2022, Alcántara tossed 707 ⅔ innings for Miami with a 3.09 ERA and 1.135 WHIP. Over that span, the right-hander owned a 21.8% strikeout rate with back-to-back seasons pitching 200+ innings and striking out 200+ batters. Alcántara regressed from his Cy Young campaign in 2023, recording a 4.14 ERA with 151 strikeouts over 184 ⅔ innings before landing on the injured list.
Sandy Alcantara to the Orioles mock trade!
Are you doing this if you’re the Orioles?
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(@TalkinBoutItPod) November 28, 2024
Marlins Ace Sandy Alcántara Among Pitchers Linked to Orioles
Of the many teams linked to Alcántara this winter, Miami trading him to the Orioles makes the most sense. Unlike Cease, a free agent in November, Alcántara is under contract through 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027. The Marlins owe him $34.6 million through 2026, significantly less than the $48.3 million owed to Castillo. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported earlier this month that the Seattle Mariners are seeking major league talent in exchange for Castillo which Baltimore would be unwilling to part with.
Outside of Alcántara, the Orioles still have options via either trade or free agency. Jack Flaherty, who spent part of the 2023 campaign with Baltimore, is arguably the best remaining pitcher in free agency. Former Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta has also been linked to the Orioles after declining Boston’s qualifying offer in November. Signing three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer to a short-term deal could also be a solid addition to Baltimore’s young pitching staff if the 40-year-old can stay healthy. On the trade market, Michael King, who tossed a career-high 173 ⅔ innings with a 2.95 ERA in 2024, is reportedly available. Like Alcántara, Pablo López of the Minnesota Twins and Sonny Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals would both be long-term ace-caliber additions to Baltimore’s pitching staff.
With an estimated $157 million payroll for 2025 and an abundance of prospects, the Orioles could easily acquire almost anyone. While Alcántara may fit best with Baltimore, general manager Mike Elias should prioritize signing a controllable ace-caliber arm to anchor the rotation beyond 2025.
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