Cubs and Marlins discuss a massive June 2025 trade for pitchers Sandy Alcántara & Edward Cabrera. Will Chicago sacrifice top prospects for a title run?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the trade deadline chatter was simmering, a bombshell dropped on Monday. Reports have linked the Chicago Cubs to a massive, landscape-shifting trade proposal with the Miami Marlins for a pair of high-octane arms: former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara and the hard-throwing Edward Cabrera. The potential deal would instantly reshape the Cubs' pitching staff, but the price would be steep, testing the limits of Jed Hoyer's 'build from within' philosophy.
The reported deal would send five Cubs prospects—including No. 3 Kevin Alcantara and No. 4 Jefferson Rojas—to Miami.
Let's break down the rumored blockbuster. The Cubs would receive Sandy Alcántara and Edward Cabrera, two pitchers who could fundamentally change the team's outlook. The need is glaringly obvious. Outside of the brilliant Shota Imanaga and a steady Matthew Boyd, the starting rotation has struggled to find consistency, with no other starter posting a positive bWAR. Acquiring a workhorse ace like Alcántara and a high-upside arm like Cabrera would be an aggressive, win-now move. But the cost is staggering. The proposal would reportedly send a five-prospect package to Miami: outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara (No. 3), shortstop Jefferson Rojas (No. 4), and pitchers Jaxon Wiggins (No. 8), Ryan Gallagher (No. 17), and Yahil Melendez (No. 24). That's a huge chunk of the future, gutting the top of the farm system for immediate help.
The timing of this rumor is fascinating, as the very farm system being discussed as trade fodder put on a show Monday night. Down in Triple-A, the Iowa Cubs staged a massive five-run eighth inning to beat the St. Paul Saints 9-1 and split their series. The rally, sparked by a bases-loaded error off the bat of BJ Murray Jr. and punctuated by a bases-clearing double from Matt Mervis, is a perfect example of the depth the organization has built. These players aren't just names on a prospect list; they're performing and proving their value. This creates the ultimate dilemma for the front office: are these players the future core at Wrigley Field, or are they the currency needed to acquire proven MLB talent for a deep playoff run right now? The performance of players like Mervis only increases their trade value, making a deal like the one for Alcántara both more possible and more painful.
Whether this specific proposal gains traction or not, the message is clear: the Cubs are in the market for significant pitching upgrades, and they have the prospect capital to make a major splash. As the trade deadline inches closer, the front office faces a defining choice. Do they cash in their chips for a shot at glory in 2025, or do they hold onto the future they've so carefully constructed? The next few weeks will reveal just how 'all-in' this team truly is.
