Yankees' Potential Trade Target Already Increasing His Price Tag

During the offseason, the New York Yankees were clearly seeking pitching, and they did discuss trades for Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore. Ultimately, the Yankees settled for Ryan Weathers in a surprising deal with the Miami Marlins, and while Weathers has good stuff, he seemed more like a fallback plan than anything else. And that includes pitchers from the Marlins.

All last year, we heard Sandy Alcantara linked to New York, but thanks to a rough first half of 2025 in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, Miami elected to hold on to the former Cy Young award winner in order to build his value. It proved to be a great decision by the Marlins, as Alcantara dazzled over his last 13 starts of last year and has already gotten off to a great start in 2026. In his inaugural start of the campaign, Alcantara went seven innings and allowed just one run — zero earned — on four hits while recording five strikeouts.

What's more, he needed just 73 pitches to do it. Alcantara has been re-establishing himself as an ace since the second half of last year, and at this point, it seems pretty clear that he has shaken off the rust. But will the Yankees make another pursuit of the 30-year-old this summer?

Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images. It stands to reason that Alcantara could end up being the best pitcher on the market if the Marlins make him available.