Where things stand: Miami Marlins trade rumors

July is a busy month for baseball — the midway point of the regular season, the All Star Game, the MLB Draft, and to wrap it all up, the trade deadline.

While the Miami Marlins front office has until the end of the month to solidify their roster movement, speculations about who could join or leave the team are already flying.

At the All-Star Break, the Marlins are third in the National League East and 44-51. They have been on an upward trajectory during the last month, including an eight-game winning streak at the beginning of July.

For manager Clayton McCullough, that progress was still the focus heading into the mid-season break.

“We have a lot of work to do,” McCullough said on July 6 after the team’s 2-1 series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. “It’s been exciting, the run we’ve been on, and hopefully we can continue to play that brand of baseball that yields more wins than not, and that is where our focus will continue to be with the 26 we have, and trying to do our best to prepare them and go win that day’s game.”

Yet, if the playoffs were to begin today, the Fish would be nowhere close to contention, even for a wild card spot. They’re still seven games below .500 and 7.5 games off a playoff berth.

So now the Marlins must decide whether to buy or sell at the deadline.

One name that has continuously circulated in discussions about who the Marlins might deal is right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcántara.

The former Cy Young Award winner has posted a 7.22 ERA this season — one of the worst in the league — as he works his way back from the Tommy John surgery from October 2023.

While he’s still searching for consistency on the mound, Alcántara continues to climb the Marlins’ franchise leaderboards. He currently ranks second in strikeouts in club history and has shown glimpses of the dominance that once made him Miami’s ace.

“Look, the guy’s not dead,” McCullough said of Alcántara’s tumultuous season thus far. “He has an outing where he gives up some runs and the world is caving in. Is Sandy frustrated? Yes, but he’s gonna be fine.”

There are a few key factors at play in determining whether Alcántara will finish the season with the Marlins.

First, his contract: he’s owed $38.3 million over the next two seasons, a manageable number for many teams — but one that, paired with his rocky 2025 performance, could still raise concerns. On the other hand, his track record and flashes of promise this year have intrigued clubs in the playoff hunt seeking a frontline starter.

One thing the Marlins front office needs to consider, however, is that moving Alcántara could have ripple effects beyond the rotation.

Alcántara shares a close personal and professional bond with 22-year-old Marlins breakout pitcher Eury Pérez. Both are natives to the Dominican Republic. Both are represented by the same agent and their lockers are side-by-side in the Marlins’ clubhouse.

Given that Alcántara has taken on the role of mentor and older brother for Pérez, trading him would remove a crucial support system. Disrupting that relationship could set back Pérez’s development at a time when the Marlins are banking on him to be a foundational player in the future.

Still, Alcántara’s name remains on the radar of multiple contending teams. ESPN’s Jeff Passan predicts a potential landing spot in Chicago, where the Cubs — armed with a strong offense — could use Alcántara to stabilize their rotation and deepen a playoff push. Other postseason hopefuls like the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox (now firmly in wild card contention) may also join the conversation.

The Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox rank second, third, and twelfth in payroll, respectively — meaning Alcántara’s contract likely wouldn’t scare them off.

Despite the growing interest, the Marlins still hold all the cards. With Alcántara under team control through 2027 on a team-friendly deal, Miami has no urgency to sell low. They can afford to wait — and should they choose to hold onto their longtime ace, it wouldn’t just preserve their leverage. It might also protect the future of their next one.

Other Marlins players in conversation include right-handed starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, who is in the midst of a breakout season. He’s pitching with more confidence on the mound, boasting a solid 3.61 ERA, with a 1.26 WHIP and 86 strikeouts in 82 innings, through July.

“We just continue to see a more refined version of him as a pitcher,” McCullough said earlier this month of Cabrera’s performance.

While Cabrera has stabilized Miami’s rotation, he has also emerged as one of the most intriguing trade candidates. Teams like the Cubs and the New York Mets have reportedly shown interest in the emerging ace; however, Cabrera’s exit from last Friday’s game versus the Orioles due to right-elbow discomfort could complicate things. While his MRI revealed no structural damage, meaning he will probably avoid an IL stint, this doesn’t help his trade value.

Another pitcher with a circle of trade rumors is Janson Junk, who most recently held the Baltimore Orioles scoreless on five hits through seven innings in the Fish’s July 12 shutout.

Junk’s versatility as a starter or reliever ups his trade value, making him a valuable asset. This season Junk is 4-1 with a save. He has 2.68 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He has appeared in 10 games this season, with five of them starts and has 38 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings.

At 29 years old, Junk might not fit into Miami’s long-term rebuild with up-and-coming talent such as Pérez, making him a real possibility as a pre-August trade.

Finally, two offensive sluggers could also be on the trade negotiations table given their production so far this season. Right fielder Jesus Sanchez entered the mid-season break with a .259 batting average, the best in his major-league career, and All-Star left fielder Kyle Stowers leads the team with a .293 average.

The Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins all have been rumored to have expressed interest in Sanchez, while Stowers’ status as an All Star puts him into trade contention, as well.

Stowers would likely have a high asking price, even at 27. He has received everyday playing time this season and excelled. He’s the reigning National League Player of the Week.

With 19 home runs and 54 RBI over 346 plate appearances this season, Stowers is a real asset to the Marlins right now. So while his price tag could be quite high, it’s unlikely the Marlins will trade away their leading offensive man.

With that said, with this team and this front office, anything goes — for Stowers, for Alcántara, and the whole Marlins roster.

This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM.