The Marlins have put themselves in a spot where the next two weeks could shape everything, and that’s exactly why Sandy Alcantara shouldn’t be on the move.
Miami has been one of the hottest teams in baseball since the start of June, and the club is suddenly right there in the Wild Card conversation. Unless the NL East team collapses over the next two weeks, it should stay in the mix the rest of the season. Even the division picture isn’t out of reach in the way it once seemed, with the Atlanta Braves holding only a four-game edge over Miami.
That’s why the idea of trading Alcantara feels so off. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller said Thursday, "Similar to the White Sox, we're not entirely convinced the Marlins will actually be buying, but it's looking pretty certain that they won't be selling," and then made the case even more directly: "Wouldn't make a lick of sense to send Sandy Alcantara packing when he was such a pivotal factor in their MLB-best 26-11 record since the beginning of June. They really ought to be in the market for a few relievers, though,"
Alcantara hasn’t looked like his old Cy Young self, but he has stayed healthy all year and has made 20 starts. His 3.99 ERA is solid, and the bigger number for October-type baseball is the one on the radar gun: his average fastball velocity this season is 97.4 mph.
If Miami gets into the postseason, the rotation conversation gets very real very fast. The Marlins would need a Game 1 starter, whether that’s in a Wild Card Series or the NLDS. Alcantara and All-Star right-hander Max Meyer would be the two best choices.
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