Baseball trades are often full of twists, rumors, and more than a few surprises. But every so often, the whispers about a star’s future get louder. In the thick of the season, with teams jostling for playoff spots, one high-profile pitcher is starting to command serious attention. A dominant ace could soon be wearing a new jersey, potentially shifting the balance of power across Major League Baseball.

As the race to land elite talent heats up, the Chicago Cubs are suddenly under the spotlight. And the big question isn’t about performance but about opportunity. With injuries reshuffling rotations and front offices scrambling for reinforcements, a perfect storm might be brewing for a blockbuster trade that could reshape two franchises for years to come.

When a $56 million pitcher is linked to a major move, it’s not all about the money. It’s about what that pitcher brings to the table. Sandy Alcantara, the Miami Marlins’ ace, is exactly the kind of player who can shift a team’s trajectory with one dominant outing. As the Marlins’ season unfolds, trade chatter surrounding Alcantara is picking up steam. According to ESPN insiders Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers, the Cubs, reeling from Justin Steele’s latest injury, are seen as potential frontrunners.

Steele has been dealing with surgery and is temporarily out of the rotation. While the rotation features bodies like Jordan Wicks and Cade Horton recovering from injuries, Rogers made it clear: “I do not think they are going to sit on their hands come July or maybe even before that. Sandy Alcantara makes the most sense“.

Alcantara’s resume makes him an elite target. The NL Cy Young winner logged 228.2 innings that year and posted a 2.28 ERA. However, in a slightly down 2023 season, he still threw 184.2 innings and remained an innings-eater with top-tier stuff. He was absent in 2024 because of his injury. After his return in 2025, he has pitched 3 games with a 2-0 win-loss record. His ERA in 2025 till now is 4.70. With a manageable $56 million contract running through 2027, teams looking for reliability and postseason poise are circling.

In addition, the Cubs are also watching their competitors stack up. The Padres have surged to No. 1 in ESPN’s latest power rankings. Chicago’s offense has been powerful—averaging 6.5 to 7 runs per game currently—but Olney highlighted, “that probably can not sustain… it is going to come back down to five and a half. They are going to have to pitch a little better“. Without elite arms at the top, the team’s chances of weathering a midseason slump shrink dramatically.

There is enhanced pressure on the Cubs to spend—and quickly. Fan expectations are high, and management knows this could be the best window to strike. They have had interactions with Miami in the past. Still, competition is expected to be fierce, and while stars like Sonny Gray and Eric Fedde are floating around, Alcantara remains the true game-changer. The question is: Will the Cubs go all in before someone else beats them to it?

Other reinforcements

The Cubs may consider internal options for now, but the margin for error is razor-thin. According to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney, the team will “remain focused, for now, on internal solutions.” That includes monitoring Cade Horton, who’s dominated Triple-A with a 1.23 ERA in two starts, as well as counting on the return of Javier Assad and a possible Jordan Wicks call-up. The strategy makes sense—for now. But Jameson Taillon’s inconsistency and Ben Brown’s injury struggles make it clear that a wait-and-see approach may not last much longer.

Which is why external chatter is already heating up. Three trade scenarios have surfaced—each with different levels of urgency and cost. First up, the Padres’ Michael King, fresh off a complete-game shutout, could provide frontline quality. But the price? James Triantos and Jaxon Wiggins. High, however, potentially worth it.

Another more attainable name is Nick Martinez of the Reds, who could be flipped for Alcántara, Fernando Cruz, and Jack Neely—a move for stability, not stardom. And then there’s the wild card: Bobby Miller. The Dodgers haven’t needed him yet, but the Cubs could use his upside badly. One-for-one: Owen Caissie. Risky? Sure. But if internal arms falter, risk might be their only route back to October.

The team can talk about patience all they want. But competitors do not win by waiting around. If internal fixes fizzle, Jed Hoyer needs to pivot quickly. Whether it is King, Martinez, or Miller, something has to give. July’s too far away. Will Chicago strike early? Will the team amble on standing still?