MAJOR-NEWS: Yankees Set to Steal Superstar Pitching Ace in Jaw-Dropping Blockbuster Trade with Struggling NL Team!

The New York Yankees are facing a tough start to the season with key injuries to their pitching staff. Gerrit Cole will be out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Luis Gil is sidelined with a lat strain, expected to miss a significant amount of time.

Now, Clarke Schmidt is also anticipated to start the season on the injured list, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. With three crucial starters injured, the Yankees may look to acquire a pitcher later in the season. Even when Gil and Schmidt return, the team will still need to fill the void left by Cole.

SNY’s John Harper speculated that the Yankees could pursue a major trade with the Miami Marlins for ace Sandy Alcántara. Initially, the Yankees had hoped to avoid a midseason trade by adding Max Fried alongside Cole and Gil, but with Cole and Gil both out, they may now turn to Alcántara as a solution. This assumes Alcántara returns to his dominant form after Tommy John surgery, and his strong spring training shows signs of that.

Although the Marlins’ ace is signed through 2027 with a team option for that year, the cost to acquire him will be steep. However, the Yankees, eager to compete while Aaron Judge is in his prime, could be willing to pay the price. The Marlins, currently in a rebuilding phase, might be looking to move Alcántara to a contending team, especially after trading away stars like Luis Arráez and Tanner Scott last season.

Alcántara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner with a 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts, pitched an impressive 228 2/3 innings and posted six complete games that season. After a down year in 2023 and missing all of 2024, Alcántara is aiming to rebuild his trade value.

This spring, he’s made five starts across 12 1/3 innings without allowing a run and collecting 10 strikeouts. The right-hander signed a five-year, $56 million extension with the Marlins in 2021, and he has a $21 million club option for 2027. With a career ERA of 3.32, Alcántara is known for his durability and could be a key piece for the Yankees’ postseason run.