The Boston Red Sox might not be done bolstering the top of their starting rotation.
Last month, the Red Sox traded for Garrett Crochet and signed Walker Buehler in a pair of needed moves. However, Boston also might be targeting a pitcher who arguably is even better than Crochet and Buehler.
"I do believe the Red Sox want to make at least one more significant trade," MLB Network's Jon Morosi said Thursday. "It could be for (St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan) Arenado, it could be for an arm like (Miami Marlins pitcher) Sandy Alcántara."
The Miami Herald's Craig Mish then threw cold water on the idea of a trade involving Alcántara.
"Sandy is not being traded before Opening Day," Mish wrote on the X platform. "He has been given several assurances of this. Even in the midst of recent developments. It is not happening."
Those are two very different reports, but Red Sox fans understandably are excited about the idea of Alcántara leading a revamped rotation -- despite the injury risks.
In 2022, Alcántara won the National League Cy Young Award after going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.980 WHIP, and league-leading 8.0 Baseball-Reference WAR. He regressed in 2023 -- 4.14 ERA, 1.213 WHIP -- before undergoing Tommy John Surgery late in the season. Alcántara missed all of last season but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign.
Now 29 years old, Alcántara has three seasons remaining on his current contract, including a $21 million club option for the 2027 campaign. Despite the injury concerns, Alcántara likely would fetch a significant return in a trade package even if the Marlins are forced to sell low.
