The Boston Red Sox made significant upgrades to their starting rotation this offseason, bringing in 2024 AL All-Star Garrett Crochet and two-time NL All-Star Walker Buehler. Now, they are being linked to another potential addition: 2022 NL Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller explored potential landing spots for top players involved in trade rumors ahead of the 2025 season. Among those expected to be on the move is Miami Marlins ace.
After brief stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Marlins in 2017 and 2018, Top star had a breakout season in 2019. Despite finishing with a 6-14 record, he posted a solid 3.88 ERA and earned his first All-Star selection. He followed that with a strong performance in 2020 and an even better showing in 2021.
Although his 9-15 record in 2021 was impacted by playing on a struggling team, he posted a 3.19 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts. His dominance was fully recognized in 2022, when he won the Cy Young Award after going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 207 strikeouts, and a league-best six complete games (including one shutout) across 228 2/3 innings. That year, he also led all National League pitchers in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 8.0.
However, Alcantara took a step back in 2023, finishing 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.21 WHIP before being shut down in September due to a forearm injury. He later underwent Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 season. Now, he is aiming for a comeback in 2025.
According to Miller, the Marlins have been firm in their stance that they are not trading Alcantara this offseason. However, many around the league anticipate a move before the summer trade deadline. He suggests Miami may have downplayed trade discussions to avoid lowball offers, instead hoping Alcantara can rebuild his value early in the season and command a higher return by July.
There’s a ‘Good Chance (Alcantara’s) on The Move This Summer’
Alcantara remains under team control with the Marlins through 2027 after signing a five-year, $56 million extension in 2021. However, the bulk of his salary is set to be paid over the final three years of the deal, with the 29-year-old earning $17.3 million in both 2025 and 2026 before a $21 million club option for 2027.
“If he pitches in the first half of 2025 like he did for most of 2022, hoo boy, the bidding war will be intense for what would then be 2.33 seasons of his services at an overall cost of $44 million,” Miller wrote. “Given the current free-agent market for starting pitchers, 2.33 years of Alcantara would cost nearly twice that. For the equivalent percentage of the Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell contracts signed this winter, you’d be looking at $81.5 million to $84.8 million. With that kind of discount, teams would be willing to trade serious prospect capital.”
The Red Sox have one of the most talented farm systems in baseball, headlined by top prospects Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, and Roman Anthony. If Boston is open to moving any of them, they could emerge as a top contender for Alcantara should he become available.
“If Alcantara struggles or if the Marlins remain in contention — though one of those scenarios is far more likely than the other — that could change things,” Miller added. “But there’s a strong chance he gets moved this summer to a team that has A) multiple top-100 prospects, B) a realistic shot at a World Series in the next three years, and C) financial flexibility.”
Other Teams Have Been Linked to Alcantara
Even if Alcantara finds himself in trade discussions this summer and the Red Sox remain in the mix, they may face stiff competition for his services. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are among the other teams that have been linked to the Miami ace this offseason.
The Dodgers already boast a star-studded rotation featuring two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, 2024 All-Star Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani (once he returns to pitching). However, given their aggressive approach to roster building, it wouldn’t be surprising if they continued adding talent in pursuit of becoming the first back-to-back World Series champion in over two decades.
Back in December, MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger predicted Alcantara would land in Los Angeles. While that move hasn’t happened yet, the Dodgers remain a potential landing spot.
Meanwhile, the Mets have built a formidable lineup with stars like Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso, but their rotation lacks a true ace. Alcantara, who has spent most of his career in the NL East, is familiar with Citi Field and has posted strong numbers there, limiting hitters to a .219/.271/.357 slash line over 211 plate appearances. Regardless of how the 2025 season unfolds, Alcantara is expected to be one of the most talked-about pitchers in trade discussions once again.