The Chicago Cubs were dealt a serious blow on Sunday, as Justin Steele is set to undergo season-ending elbow injury. Initially placed on the injured list with the hope of a short absence, Steele will instead need Tommy John surgery. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs are expected to begin their search for a front-line starter immediately, with Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara emerging as a name to watch. With Steele out, Chicago will need to bolster its pitching depth if it hopes to keep its early-season momentum going.
Rumors Swirl Around Cubs and Sandy Alcantara
Alcantara has opened the 2025 season with a 4.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 12:8 K:BB over 15 1/3 innings. While the early numbers aren’t eye-popping, his ace pedigree and past success make him a name to watch for any team in need of top-tier rotation help, including the Cubs.
With Steele sidelined, Chicago will now rely on a rotation led by Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and Ben Brown. Colin Rea, who started Sunday’s game against the Dodgers, is expected to fill the fifth spot moving forward. Rea was initially signed to a one-year, $5 million deal to provide bullpen depth, but now finds himself stepping into a more critical role.
Alcantara’s Modest Salary and Unique Situation
Alcantara’s situation stands out for several reasons. He’s under contract through 2026 at a reasonable $17.3 million per year, with a $21 million club option for 2027. This offers the Cubs an extra year of control compared to what the Marlins had with Luis Arraez and Jesús Luzardo at the time of their respective trades.
Despite being Miami’s highest-paid player, the Marlins are reportedly operating about $20 million below the competitive balance tax threshold, per FanGraphs. Their only major-league free-agent signing this past offseason was right-hander Cal Quantrill, on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
While the Marlins have publicly stated they have no interest in trading Alcantara, it’s worth remembering this is the same front office that dealt Arraez in early May last year, even with an additional year of club control in hand.
The High Cost of an Ace
Even before Steele’s injury, Alcantara was considered one of the top potential trade targets in baseball. When the Marlins traded Luzardo, they received two of the Philadelphia Phillies’ top-30 prospects in return. A deal involving Alcantara would command an even steeper price.
The Cubs may not be willing to include top prospect Matt Shaw in any deal. However, other names could be on the table. Right-handers Cade Horton, Cristian Hernández, or Brody McCullough all fit the profile of prospects Miami might covet. Horton would likely need to be the centerpiece, as he projects as a future front-line starter and is currently pitching at Triple-A Iowa.
If ownership is serious about contending, backing up the Kyle Tucker trade by acquiring Alcantara will certainly do it.
Chicago was previously linked to Dylan Cease during the offseason but ultimately came up short, leaving them still in the market for a top-of-the-rotation arm.
Main Photo: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
