Throughout this season, Sandy Alcantara’s potential trade hasn’t been about whether he would be traded, but how soon. Since he struggled notably in the first half, the odds have been getting slimmer for a while now. However, with just a few days away from the deadline, he has put together quite a performance. Against the San Diego Padres, Alcantara threw seven innings, allowed four hits, an unearned run, and four strikeouts.

The 29-year-old was one of the best pitchers in the league, notching the NL Cy Young title in 2022. He held a 2.28 ERA, recorded 207 strikeouts, and tossed six complete games. In the following 2023 season, he had a decent year before missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery.

This season, he has struggled mightily, holding a 6.66 ERA. However, the way he put on a stellar show on Wednesday shows he still has the stuff he once had. As we inch closer to July 31, almost every club is listed as the ‘best fit’ for Alcantara.

That being said, a Marlins broadcaster shared an emotional on-air message for Alcantara that brought Alcantara’s name again to the center of deadline trade talks. “To Sandy Alcantara, who has poured his heart and soul into this franchise, if this is it, it may not be; this ride may continue for a long time, but that young man right there brought this franchise to Cy Young, took them back to the playoffs. Seriously, thank you for everything.” He said.

Be it the Dodgers, the Red Sox, or the San Diego Padres, all of them, including others, have been in dire need of a frontline starter.

Despite his start against the Padres and one of his June starts where he logged an incredible 2.74 ERA across four outings, Alcantara has held shaky numbers. The consistency and command have lacked visibly throughout the year. And with that, is he still on teams’ radar, and most importantly, are the Marlins ready to send him off?

What are the odds Sandy Alcantara actually gets dealt?

After months of concerning performance, the Marlins ace has once again emerged at the top of the headlines for good reasons. “Everyone feels happy about the job that I did today. Because they know I needed it so much,” Alcantara admitted after the game.

Manager Clayton McCullough also chimed in and said, “We all know it’s been talked about a lot with the struggles this year. Sandy, what he’s continued to do is the resilience he’s shown… his competitiveness. And I think we enjoy and celebrate today because that was a terrific outing.”

The Marlins handed a 3-2 loss to the Padres on Wednesday. It happens to be the same team that has shown immense interest in Alcantara. Despite his inconsistent performance in the first half, the clubs have still monitored him to see what he displayed on Wednesday. His next start for the Marlins, if any, would be against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In recent times, the Marlins have played decently, holding a 48-53 record. Interestingly, they have the youngest roster league-wide. Realistically, the Marlins might want to hold on to him at this deadline.

And preferably, they’d trade Alcantara during the off-season instead of now when he’s producing exceptionally. After all, he seems to be back in his true form. However, only his next outing will tell if his performance displays consistency.

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