With mounting struggles in their starting rotation and playoff ambitions still within reach, the St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly going “all in” to acquire Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, according to insiders close to the situation.
The Cardinals, who originally signed and developed Alcantara before dealing him to Miami in 2017, are now determined to bring him back—this time as the centerpiece of a midseason push. With the team’s starting ERA slipping and no clear ace emerging, front office executives are said to be exploring “every possible avenue” to get a deal done, even if it means surrendering a steep package of top prospects.
Despite a rocky return from Tommy John surgery—Alcantara has posted a 6.56 ERA over his first five starts this season—his 2022 Cy Young campaign, in which he logged a 2.28 ERA over 228.2 innings, remains fresh in the minds of contenders across the league. With two additional years of team control and a club option after that, his $56 million deal is viewed as highly valuable long-term.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the price tag will be enormous. “It may cost more than what the Padres gave up for Juan Soto,” Nightengale told Dodgers Nation. “Someone’s going to have to give up a ton.”
The Cardinals appear willing to do just that. Sources suggest that names like Tink Hence, Victor Scott II, and even Thomas Saggese could be in play, as the organization looks to fix its most pressing need and keep pace in a tightly packed National League race.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, and other teams like the Yankees also lurking in the Alcantara sweepstakes, the Cardinals are trying to strike before competition heats up further. If successful, it would mark a bold turning point in their season—and potentially secure the frontline starter they’ve sorely lacked.
