Trade prediction sees All-Star starter join Padres pitching staff

The San Diego Padres are still struggling to find an arm to bolster a depleted starting rotation. With Joe Musgrove set to miss the entire 2025 season, Michael King still without a deal, Dylan Cease's future as a Padre up in the air, and Roki Sasaki joining the monsters to the north, a strong starting arm should be number one priority for AJ Preller. As the free agent market dwindles, trading for a new arm may be the only way San Diego can improve their current situation.

A recent Bleacher Report predicition has the Padres doing just that, going after Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara is coming off an October 2023 Tommy John surgery, but is expected to be good to go by Opening Day. If Preller and the Padres were able to land the 29-year-old, it would be a major boost to the starting rotation.

Alcantara's team friendly contract attractive to Padres

Trading for Alcantara may be a challenge for the Padres; Miami has already told the pitcher they are looking to hold on to him this winter, but an aggressive deal from Preller could change their minds. Miami won a measly 62 games last season, and with an average farm system ranked 14th by Bleacher Report, the Marlins could be in the market for prospects in hopes of a rebuild. A December 2024 trade saw the Marlins trade away another of their starters in Jesus Luzardo to the Phillies for a pair of prospects, which could be a sign that the team is willing to part with top pitchers for the right prospects.

Alcantara was one of the league,s best and most consistent pitchers before his surgery, an absolute workhorse who won the 2022 Cy Young award. Between 2019 and 2022, Alcantara led the league in innings pitched, put up a wild 8 WAR in 2022, and is a two time All-Star. A 3.07 ERA over that time is still impressive, but moveing him away from a struggling Marlins team and to a team with a defense like the Padres, and Alcantara could reach new heights.

The stats alone are enough to convince any team that trading for Alcantara is worth it, but add in the very team-friendly contract, and the Padres should not wait much longer. After signing a 5-year, $56 million contract extension with the Marlins in 2021, Alcantara is owed $17.3 million in 2025 and 2026, with a $21 million club option in 2027. At a time where starters like Jacob DeGrom and Gerrit Cole are being paid more than $30 million a year, Alcantara's $17.3 million per year for an inning eater like him is more than a steal.