The New York Yankees’ season took a dramatic turn a month ago. As their superstar pitcher, Gerrit Cole, was benched with a troubling elbow injury. Just in spring, he sustained a right elbow injury, and now, given the severity of the injury, his absence has been extended. Now, with their rotation stretched thin and the pressure mounting, the Yankees have apparently been browsing the trade market. And looks like someone finally caught their eye as a Yankees insider revealed.

Yes, the guesses are right: it’s the same Sandy Alcantara from Miami Marlins, who have been making headlines in this respect for quite some time now. This season, the Dominican star is a clear trade target. But the Marlins will likely demand a significant package in return.

According to the Yankees insider via Pinstripes Nation, the Yankees have already assigned a senior advisor to the general manager and a senior vice president connected to Tampa and Dominican operations to communicate with the Marlins’ management about a trade. But this decision came not only after losing Cole but also because another Yankees starting pitcher, Clarke Schmidt, was sidelined due to soreness.

That leaves the Yankees with a few options for who can contribute significantly for the team as a pitcher. The Yankees, currently leading the AL, are unwilling to take any chances. So they are going after Alcantra, who is expected to deliver results. However, there’s certainly a risk involved. 

Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report, at the centre of the trade rumors surrounding between the two teams, said, “Sandy Alcantara has an 8.31 ERA in his first six starts in 2025 after missing the entirety of last season recovering from the Tommy John surgery.” Although it might be a little bit risky, the Yankees may not  pass on a pitcher who, even though he went 2-3, managed to 19 strikeouts with a 26 innings with a 1.65 WHIP.

Given the lack of depth in rotation, the Bronx Bombers will likely pursue Alcantara, no matter what. However, it also raises an important question.

Will the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara be a good bet for the Yankees?

To be exact, the Yankees have very little left in their rotation due to injuries to players like Luis Gil, Gerrit Cole, and Schmidt. However, it’s also true that Alcantara isn’t the same pitcher he was two years back. Alcantara, who missed most of the 2024 season, has struggled greatly this season. Plus, he has not been in his best form.

Despite having 19 strikeouts under his belt, his ERA is very high. In his most recent outing, he allowed seven runs in just the 2.2 innings. This a worrying sign not only for the Marlins but also for the Yankees. After all, they’re the ones planning to bring Alcantara as the saviour of their rotation. 

However, Alcantara’s immense potential should not be forgotten. He posted a 2.28 ERA while pitching across 220 innings. His command velocity, and stamina made him one of the most feared pitchers in baseball. Bob Nightengale, shedding light on this matter, said, “As much as the Padres gave up for Juan Soto, it may cost a team more than that. I think you’ll have the Yankees doing everything possible.”

While there’s no official confirmation yet, we will have to wait and see what happens. Do you think that Sandy Alcantara can overcome his early-season struggles and make an impact for any team he joins?”