Inside The Cardinals

Ex-Cardinals Ace Tabbed 'Big Name' On Trade Block

One of the Cardinals' former top pitchers is expected to land on the trade block this season.
Zach Pressnell|
May 28, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
May 28, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals were the team that gave starting pitcher Sandy Alcántara his start in the big leagues. The righty pitched one year with the Cardinals before he landed with the Miami Marlins in 2018. Now, eight years later, Alcántara will likely find a fresh start with a new team this season.

Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller recently tabbed the former Cardinals ace as one of the top names on the trade block this summer.

"Heading into the season, Sandy Alcantara getting traded was a near certainty. On his back-loaded contract, his salary was nearly triple what it was two seasons ago when he suffered his UCL injury," Miller wrote. "And, well, the Marlins simply do not spend that type of coin. Including the current season, they've ranked bottom five in Opening Day payroll in 10 of the past 13 years.

"While it'd be one thing for them to temporarily pony up more dough than usual if a ring felt plausible, only the Rockies and White Sox had a worse preseason win total than Miami's line of 63.5. So, as soon as Alcantara demonstrated he was back to at least something close to what he used to be, the hypothetical trade packages were going to become almost inescapable. The only problem is that has yet to happen."

Alcántara is one of the more interesting names on the trade block this season because he came into the year with the expectation that he would be dealt for a massive prospect package. Following a horrendous start to the season, the Marlins could look to hold onto him in hopes that his value goes back up.

Either way, it's been a weird season for the former Cardinals star. His stuff has been electric, but walks are up, and he isn't getting a lot of whiffs. Still, he'll be coveted at the trade deadline this season.

More MLB: Cardinals Former Top Prospect Tabbed Trade Candidate

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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