Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor want to see the Mets try and trade for Sandy Alcantara (Image: Getty)
The New York Mets have already grabbed the spotlight this offseason with the monumental signing of Juan Soto to a staggering 15-year, $765 million deal. Now, murmurs within the team suggest that another grand slam move might be on the horizon – bringing Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara into the fold.
Several Mets players have openly expressed their desire for the squad to chase down Alcantara should he hit the MLB trading block, asserting that his arm could revolutionize the Mets’ starting lineup. The 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner boasts a high-velocity fastball and a reputation for being a workhorse on the mound. Even after enduring Tommy John surgery, the pitching phenom has bounced back impressively – recently hurling five innings against the Mets where he conceded just two runs and notched four strikeouts.
His grit and dominant pitching arsenal haven’t gone unnoticed in the Mets locker room. Speaking about the possible trade, Juan Soto exclaimed: “It would be one of the best trades that we could have. I know we have great pitching here, but adding a Cy Young winner like that would be huge.”
Shortstop Francisco Lindor likened the potential addition of Alcantara to the blockbuster Soto deal, remarking: “It would almost be like adding Soto. You add Soto, it’s going to help the team. You add Alcantara and it’s going to help the team.”
Added outfielder Starling Marte, who previously teamed up with Alcantara in Miami: “He has the stuff and the mental makeup to be able to play in New York. He’s got the mental strength and physical gifts to be able to have success here, and I think we have shown that we help pitchers even more.”
Currently, the Mets’ roster boasts a deep rotation, yet it’s missing a clear-cut ace. With pitcher Kodai Senga returning from an injury-filled 2024-25 campaign and others like David Peterson and Griffin Canning adding depth, the acquisition of a top-tier talent like Alcantara could propel the Mets’ pitching power to a higher tier.
But pulling off a trade for Alcantara won’t be straightforward. The Marlins – who currently find themselves in the midst of a lengthy rebuild – might be open to a deal, but they’d likely demand a hefty return. Swapping players within the division adds yet another layer of complexity.
Alcantara, widely recognized as one of baseball’s most robust and reliable hurlers, boasts a career 3.32 ERA with 853 strikeouts over 900-plus innings. Despite some injury concerns, his track record underscores his potential impact as a dominant ace on the mound.
With the season rolling forward, Mets executives are at a crossroads pondering whether to pursue Alcantara. Securing a pitcher of his stature is tempting, but the logistics of such a transaction demand a strategic approach. As anticipation builds, all eyes will stay fixed on this developing narrative.