Sandy Alcantara could once again complicate Marlins’ trade deadline plans

Everyone was figuring the top starting pitcher to move at the deadline would be the great Sandy Alcantara.

But he hasn’t been so great lately, and with Alcantara toting an unsightly 8.42 ERA after two straight beatings by the stacked Dodgers, an Alcantara trade looks iffy now.

Although the Marlins didn’t make him available in winter, with Miami in a deep rebuild and the über-talented Alcantara on a reasonable long-term contract — $17M this year and next plus a $21M option for 2027 with $2M buyout — it made sense the 2022 Cy Young winner, workhorse and terrific clubhouse guy would go.

Sandy Alcantara is 2-4 with a 8.42 ERA entering Thursday. Getty Images

But while most folks believe Alcantara will eventually regain form in his return from Tommy John surgery – “he’s not that far removed from his Cy Young season,” one rival exec pointed out – the Marlins can’t afford to sell low yet again.