Cubs predicted to pull off blockbuster trade for $56 million Cy Young winner

There's a certain "now or never" kind of feel to the 2025 season for the Chicago Cubs.

After trading for exactly one year of guaranteed control over Kyle Tucker, the Cubs have gotten off to a good start, leading the National League Central with an 18-13 record. But starting pitching already projects to be a major need at the trade deadline.

The Cubs' starting rotation was already iffy compared to other NL contenders, and then number-two starter Justin Steele went down for the year with an elbow tear.

By July, even if the Cubs have found some internal solutions, there could be an opportunity to cash in on a former Cy Young Award winner who is off to a putrid start to the new season.

On Thursday, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly predicted that the Cubs would be the team to go "all-in" on acquiring Sandy Alcantara from the Miami Marlins, assuming the righty recovers from his 8.31 ERA through six starts this year.

"While the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and New York Mets are among the other contenders who could stand to add a front-line pitcher, the Cubs are the most motivated to be aggressive," Kelly wrote.

Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp

"President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will have to give up more than he's comfortable with to obtain Alcántara, but he would be getting a workhorse for up to three postseason runs."

Alcantara, 29, has been hit hard in his own return from Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire 2024 season. The number-one difference in his stats from his successful seasons to now is walk rate (14.2 percent this season), so cleaning that up should allow him a shot at returning to form.

There are lots of moving parts here, but one can easily see why Kelly is thinking the Cubs will be the team with enough urgency to get an Alcantara deal done.

More MLB: Cubs $11.5M veteran details key mechanical adjustments after one-upping Aaron Judge