Former Cy Young Trade Bait
As the Major League Baseball season kicked off, the Miami Marlins sent Sandy Alcantara, their ace and former Cy Young winner, to the mound on Opening Day. This marked Alcantara's return to regular-season action for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.
While Alcantara's 4.2-inning outing might not have been precisely what Marlins fans envisioned, he did rack up seven strikeouts and played a key role in Miami's thrilling 5-4 walk-off victory. His performance, although limited, certainly added some excitement for the Marlins' faithful, but it also reignited questions about his future with the team.
The Marlins are deep into a rebuilding phase, underscored by their offseason moves trading away notable players like Jesús Luzardo and Jake Burger. As one of the team's most valuable remaining assets, Alcantara is at the center of trade speculation, particularly as the Marlins look to stock up for the future.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis and insights for this slideshow article.