The St. Louis Cardinals have made a resounding statement to the baseball world — they are not just rebuilding, they are reloading with purpose. In one of the most headline-grabbing moves ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline, the Cardinals have reunited with former top prospect and 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcántara, acquiring him from the Miami Marlins in a stunning blockbuster trade that could transform the franchise’s future.
The emotional deal is viewed by many as the parting masterpiece of longtime president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, who is set to step away from his role after this season. Mozeliak, the same executive who once traded Alcántara to Miami as part of the 2017 deal for Marcell Ozuna, has now brought him back home — this time as a potential rotation cornerstone.
What the Cardinals Gave Up
To bring back Alcántara, the Cardinals sent top pitching prospects Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews to the Marlins — a steep but calculated price. Hence, ranked among the Cardinals’ best arms in the system, and Mathews, a rising left-hander with impressive strikeout numbers, represent a significant investment from St. Louis. But the front office clearly believes Alcántara is worth every ounce of risk.
A Gamble with Huge Upside
After missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery, Sandy Alcántara has struggled to regain his All-Star form for most of 2025. He currently holds a 6.69 ERA through 15 starts and has only struck out 59 batters in 74 innings. However, the recent signs are promising — very promising.
In the month of June alone, Alcántara appears to be rounding into form. He’s delivered a 2.74 ERA across 23 innings, striking out 19 and holding opposing hitters to a .207 batting average. If this resurgence continues, the Cardinals may have just stolen back the version of Alcántara who dominated the National League in 2022 with a 2.28 ERA and a league-high 228.2 innings.
A Rotation Ready to Compete
With Sonny Gray, Matthew Liberatore, and now Sandy Alcántara, the Cardinals suddenly have one of the more intriguing rotations in the National League. And they aren’t just hoping to stay relevant — they’re clearly aiming for more.
“This is a move rooted in belief — belief that Sandy can lead us again, that our window to compete is wide open, and that we’re building something truly special,” Mozeliak said during the trade announcement. “Bringing him back isn’t just about baseball. It’s about finishing what we started.”
A Symbolic Homecoming — and a Championship Window Opening
For Alcántara, this is a full-circle moment. Originally signed by St. Louis as an international free agent, he returns now not as a prospect, but as a proven ace with something to prove. The fans remember his early flashes of brilliance, and now they’ll get to watch him bring that talent back to Busch Stadium — this time with postseason dreams in full swing.
If Alcántara’s health holds and his June form sustains, the Cardinals may have just pulled off the kind of midseason deal that shifts the balance of power. More than just an emotional reunion, this trade could be the spark that finally reignites championship baseball in St. Louis.
The road ahead will be tough, but one thing is now clear: the Cardinals are done waiting. With Alcántara back in red, the march toward October has officially begun.
