With the trade deadline closing in, more and more teams are making their intentions known, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are at the thick of it. LA apparently has a strong interest in Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. The $56 million pitcher is slowly regaining his all-star form after coming back from his Tommy John surgery, and teams are eying him yet again.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, “The Dodgers, who have plenty of prospects, are one of the teams lurking.” They are waiting for the right time to strike. And while Alcantara’s initial numbers were sad—an 8.47 ERA in his first 11 starts—he has turned a corner lately, giving up just two runs or less in each of his last three outings.
So for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are lacking in arms, he could be the perfect fit. But like every good story, there is a villain or, rather, a twist here. Just as Dodger’s interest started to make headlines, there seems to be another team that is maybe wanting to clinch him off LA. Atleast that is what former GM and MLB insider Jim Bowden thinks.
February 16, 2025, Tba, AZ – Arizona, USA – United States: Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell talks with President Jed Hoyer during spring training at Sloan Park on Feb. 16, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. Tba USA – United States – ZUMAm67_ 20250216_zaf_m67_014 Copyright: xArmandoxL.xSanchezx Tba USA – United States – ZUMA0806 0806976380st Copyright: xIMAGO/ArmandoxL.xSanchezx
In a column for The Athletic, Bowden proposed a trade that sends Alcantara to the Chicago Cubs. “Adding an ace like Alcantara to their starting rotation would solidify the Cubs’ chances to not only win the NL Central but also vastly improve their postseason odds and chances of advancing to the World Series.” For him, adding this arm can solidify the Cubs as contenders. He even proposed a mock deal!
And this mock deal, according to him, would have the Marlins receive top prospects like Cade Horton, outfielders Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara, and teenage shortstop Ronny Cruz. Now that is a loaded return! And it just highlights just how high the Cubs might be willing to go if they think Alcantara is close to his Cy Young form yet again. For sure, it is a bold vision, but not far from possibility.
Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the farm system to make the deal with Alcantara happen. But the Cubs may have that urgency and the guts to get the deal done. And just when things couldn’t be more tricky for the Dodgers, with them losing arms, losing games, and more, they were hit with another curveball, this time from a division rival!
Los Angeles Dodgers eye bold response as NL West rivals turn up the heat
The San Francisco Giants sent shockwaves through the baseball world by pulling off a trade no one saw coming. Giants bagged Rafael Devers, yes… the legit franchise cornerstone of the Boston Red Sox is going to rock orange now. And the Giants put a loud and clear message out—they are not backing down in the NL West. And now the ball is in LA’s court. In case LA wants to maintain control of this division and keep October Dreams alive, they can’t afford to sit back. And this is where Nolan Arenado’s name enters.
According to Newsweek’s Andrew Wright, the Los Angeles Dodgers could swing big and get the Cardinals infielder in a response move that says, Anything you can do, we can do better.” For Wright, Arenado is hitting just .243 with eight home runs, so a move to LA would give him the much-needed burst of energy to get back on track. Now, there is no doubt certain hurdles like money, fit, and of course, Arenado’s no-trade clause. But here is the catch: he has previously mentioned that he would waive the clause for a shot with the Dodgers. So who knows? The stars might have just aligned, and this might be the golden period.
But one thing is for sure: the Dodgers need to act fast on whatever trade decisions they need to take. Because others are not going to wait along!
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