As the Los Angeles Dodgers navigate a season filled with pitching injuries, one name has emerged as their primary focus ahead of the MLB trade deadline: Sandy Alcántara.
According to USA Today insider Bob Nightengale, the 2022 National League Cy Young winner has become the Dodgers’ top target. “They want another starter, and yes, Alcántara is the man they want,” Nightengale wrote, adding that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman will “do everything humanly possible” to help the Dodgers repeat as World Series champions.
Los Angeles Dodgers Trade Rumors: Sandy Alcántara as Top Trade Target Amid Rotation Uncertainty
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The need is clear. While the Dodgers still boast an elite roster and a rotation brimming with potential, their injury list tells a different story. Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki remain sidelined, with no clear timetable for return, and other arms have either been inconsistent or worn down.
Alcántara, currently with the Miami Marlins, would be a bold addition. The 28-year-old is under contract through 2027 on a team-friendly deal, and while he struggled early this season (posting an 8.47 ERA), his four June starts have produced a much-improved 2.74 ERA — signaling a possible return to form following Tommy John surgery in 2023.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel also cited the Dodgers as one of the best fits for Alcántara, noting that he’s “turning the corner” and could reestablish himself as a top-of-the-rotation force. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand echoed that sentiment, saying, “If health continues to be an issue, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Friedman get aggressive before the Deadline.”
The Dodgers not only have the financial muscle to absorb Alcántara’s deal but also the prospect capital — including names like Bobby Miller and James Outman — to entice a rebuilding Marlins front office.
Of course, the biggest variable remains health. If Sasaki, Snell, and others return on schedule, the urgency to make a blockbuster move may wane. But as Nightengale emphasized, the Dodgers are not waiting around. “They continue to be on the prowl,” he wrote.
With less than six weeks to go until the July 31 trade deadline, expect Friedman and the Dodgers to be at the center of the action — and don’t be surprised if Alcántara ends up in Dodger blue.