Inside The Cardinals

Ex-Cardinal Is Baseball's Most Polarizing Blockbuster Candidate

Will the former Cardinal get moved?
Patrick McAvoy|
Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsMiami Marlins

There are under two months to go until the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline and one former member of the St. Louis Cardinals is going to be the most polarizing figure as we approach the July 31st deadline.

The Cardinals traded Sandy Alcántara to the Miami Marlins ahead of the 2018 season and he developed into a star. There was a time in which Alcántara was the most dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball. He won the 2022 National League Cy Young Award and had a 3.31 ERA across 138 starts from 2018 through the 2023 season.

Alcántara missed the 2024 season, though, and has been trying to get rid of the rust this year. It hasn't worked and he has pitched to a 8.47 ERA in 11 starts. Miami clearly is going to be a seller this summer and Alcántara has the biggest name of any of the Marlins' trade candidates. But, will a team bet on his potential or focus more on the short-term issues?

Miami opted to hang on to him this past offseason and USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale said the move has "backfired."

"The Miami Marlins’ plan to enhance ace Sandy Alcantara’s trade value by hanging onto him until the deadline has backfired – at least in the early-going," Nightengale said. "Alcantara, who’s returning from Tommy John surgery, is yielding a hideous 8.47 ERA, allowing the most earned runs of any pitcher in baseball."

Will the former Cardinal be on the move or stick around in Miami until the offseason?

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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