The New York Yankees have been navigating a turbulent offseason, with pitcher Marcus Stroman at the center of trade rumors and injury concerns. However, the team is now poised to make a significant splash by targeting Miami Marlins’ ace Sandy Alcantara, a former NL Cy Young Award winner, as they look to bolster their rotation. This move could signal the start of a dramatic roster overhaul, with Stroman’s situation serving as the first domino to fall.
Marcus Stroman’s Offseason Struggles
The offseason was anything but smooth for Marcus Stroman and the Yankees. The team actively shopped the right-hander, who made it clear he had no interest in transitioning to a bullpen role. Stroman shut down reporters’ questions about a potential relief role during the early days of spring training, emphasizing his desire to remain a starter. Unfortunately, a knee injury has kept him off the mound for much of the season, though he filled a starting role when healthy due to other injuries in the Yankees’ rotation.
According to RotoWire, Stroman is on the mend and scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. The report notes, “Stroman has struggled to overcome soreness in his left knee, but tests have shown no structural damage, and he threw a side session Saturday without issue. Should the right-hander get through Tuesday’s bullpen session without a setback, he could be in line for a return from the 15-day injured list in the first half of June.” However, his immediate return to the rotation is uncertain, as Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough have been performing well, while JT Brubaker (ribs) and Luis Gil (lat) are also nearing returns.
Despite Stroman’s impending comeback, the Yankees are looking to upgrade their pitching staff, and Alcantara has emerged as a prime target.
Sandy Alcantara: A Risky but Tantalizing Trade Target
CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson recently predicted that the Yankees could pursue Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins’ star pitcher who won the NL Cy Young in 2022. Alcantara, coming off Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season, has struggled in 2025. Anderson noted, “Alcantara appeared to be the league’s most obvious top trade candidate coming into the season as he returned from Tommy John surgery. His velocity is back and he’s generating plenty of ground balls, but his command hasn’t been there and his pitches are finding the barrel too often.”
Teams interested in Alcantara, including the Yankees, will need to weigh the risks of trading elite prospects for a pitcher who has yet to regain his pre-injury form. Alcantara’s durability was a hallmark of his career prior to 2024, with at least 184.2 innings pitched in every full season since 2019. His 2022 campaign was particularly dominant, as he posted a 2.28 ERA with 207 strikeouts over 228.2 innings, cementing his status as one of baseball’s elite starters.
However, his 2025 performance has been a far cry from that Cy Young form, raising questions about whether he can return to his peak. The Yankees, and any other suitors, will need to decide if Alcantara’s struggles are a temporary setback or a sign of longer-term concerns post-surgery.
Why the Yankees Are Going All-In
Acquiring Alcantara would be a bold move for the Yankees, who are determined to strengthen their rotation as they push for a deep postseason run. While Stroman’s return could provide stability, the team appears ready to swing big for a pitcher with Alcantara’s upside. The Marlins, likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, will attract interest from multiple teams, making Alcantara a hot commodity despite his recent struggles.
The Yankees’ pursuit of Alcantara suggests they are not content to rely solely on Stroman’s recovery or the emergence of younger arms like Warren or Yarbrough. Instead, they are aiming to add a proven ace who could reclaim his status as one of the game’s best. If Alcantara can rediscover his 2022 form, he could form a formidable duo with Gerrit Cole at the top of New York’s rotation, giving them a significant edge in the postseason.
What’s Next for Stroman and the Yankees?
Stroman’s future with the Yankees remains uncertain. While he could return to the rotation in June, the team’s depth—bolstered by the performances of Warren, Yarbrough, Brubaker, and Gil—may push him to a different role or even make him expendable in a trade. The Yankees’ attempts to move him during the offseason indicate they are open to reshaping their roster, and acquiring Alcantara could accelerate those plans.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Yankees are positioning themselves to make a blockbuster move that could redefine their season. Alcantara’s acquisition would send a clear message: New York is all-in for 2025, and Stroman’s trade rumors were just the beginning.