Toronto’s front office made some aggressive offseason moves to bolster the offense. They signed slugging outfielder Anthony Santander and recently secured franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a contract extension. However, despite those offensive upgrades, the team’s most glaring weakness remains the starting rotation. With a team ERA of 4.44, the Blue Jays rank 26th out of 30 teams in that category—making their rotation one of the worst in all of baseball.
The Blue Jays may hope for internal reinforcements, such as veteran Max Scherzer returning healthy for the second half of the season. But a more aggressive strategy would be to target an established ace on the trade market—none more intriguing than Miami Marlins right-hander
According to recent MLB reports, 12 league executives identified him as the most significant trade target this season, despite his rocky start to 2025. After returning from Tommy John surgery, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner has struggled mightily, recording an 8.42 ERA across seven starts and just 31 innings pitched. It’s a dramatic drop in performance, especially for someone who once dominated the league.
Still, Sandy Alcantara’s long-term potential makes him one of the most valuable assets on the market. In his 2022 Cy Young season, he posted a 2.28 ERA, racked up 207 strikeouts, and led the majors with six complete games—a rare feat in modern baseball. While his performance dipped to a 4.14 ERA in 2023 before missing Miami’s postseason campaign, executives around the league believe he can return to elite form.
“It’s not often a Cy Young-caliber pitcher is available mid-season,” an anonymous National League executive told MLB.com. “If he bounces back, he could dramatically change the playoff picture and help win a championship.”
In addition to his upside, Alcantara’s contract adds further appeal. He is signed through 2027, with a club option for that year worth $21 million—reasonable for a top-tier starter. That kind of cost certainty and long-term value makes him a potential difference-maker not just for 2025, but for several seasons to come.
Other teams have already followed this playbook. The Philadelphia Phillies acquired fellow Marlins pitcher Jesús Luzardo in the offseason, and the move is paying immediate dividends—Luzardo has a 1.94 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. The question remains: could Alcantara experience a similar resurgence with a playoff-contending team like Toronto?
Will the Blue Jays Pay the Price?
Though Alcantara’s salary is affordable, the asking price in terms of prospects will be steep. The Phillies had to surrender two of their top 30 minor league talents just to acquire two years of Luzardo. Alcantara, with his past accolades and longer team control, would command an even higher return. The Marlins are in no hurry to part with him unless they receive a compelling offer.
That said, the Marlins have shown they will act decisively if the right package comes along. Last May, they pulled the trigger on a trade that sent star infielder Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres in exchange for a prospect-heavy haul. If they sense that Alcantara’s value could fall further due to injury risk or continued poor performance, they may strike early.
Toronto is far from the only team with pitching needs. AL East rivals like the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles also have rotations with subpar ERAs, while the New York Yankees could pursue pitching depth as they await the return of injured ace Gerrit Cole. Any bidding war would quickly drive up the cost for Alcantara.
While the Blue Jays have a deep pool of pitching prospects, most are still years away from contributing at the major league level. If the organization wants to contend seriously in 2025, sacrificing a couple of those arms for an experienced, high-upside ace may be the kind of bold move they’ll need to make.
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