The MLB trade deadline is always a fascinating time, a period where teams either gear up for a serious playoff push or begin to look towards the future. And as the July 31st mark approaches, the whispers and speculation about who might be on the move start to get louder.
This year, the conversation seems to be dominated by starting pitchers. It's no surprise, really. Every team, even the ones sitting pretty at the top of the standings, could always use another reliable arm to eat innings and keep them in the game. The scarcity of healthy, effective starters means that when one becomes available, the phone lines light up.
Interestingly, one name that's popped up more than any other in executive polls, despite a rather rough start to the season, is Sandy Alcántara. Now, this might raise an eyebrow or two, especially if you've seen his 8.42 ERA. But here's the thing: Alcántara is a former Cy Young winner who's just coming back from Tommy John surgery. He missed all of last season, and it's clear he's still finding his footing. His early numbers are, frankly, a bit alarming – lots of hits, walks, and short outings. He's been knocked out before the third inning in a couple of his recent starts, and getting to the sixth inning has been a rare feat.
Yet, the executives polled seem to be looking past the current struggles. They're seeing the underlying stuff. His fastball velocity is still elite, sitting in the 91st percentile. And his ground-ball rate is encouraging, suggesting he can still induce weak contact. Some of the Statcast numbers, like chase percentage and strikeout percentage, are in the lower percentiles, and his hard-hit rate and average exit velocity are concerning. But the prevailing sentiment appears to be that as Alcántara gets further removed from his surgery, he'll likely regain his dominant form. It's a gamble, for sure, but one that teams desperate for pitching might be willing to take.
Beyond Alcántara, other names are being floated. Luis Robert Jr. has garnered some attention, and even veterans like Nolan Arenado and Framber Valdez have been mentioned, though perhaps with less conviction. It just goes to show how much teams value proven talent, especially when the stakes are highest.
As the deadline draws nearer, we'll undoubtedly see more names emerge and more rumors swirl. It's a high-stakes game of chess, and the moves made in the coming weeks could define a team's season.
