Miami Marlins given perfect chance for rare zag with latest Sandy Alcantara rumors

In a development as shocking as this morning's sunrise, there are trade rumors swirling again around Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara.

This time they come courtesy of often maligned but certainly well-established Bob Nightengale, who put out there on the interwebs that there is strong belief across MLB front offices that the Marlins will trade Alcantara this summer. Granted, these kind of rumors have been a part of the Marlins fan experience before the dust even settled on his 2022 Cy Young season. Yet them coming out this early, when at least on the surface so much is going right for Miami?

That might be a new level of disheartening. Hearing that the face of the franchise won't make it to August, fresh off a complete game shutout and when the team is actually in first place? Not what you want, even for the most prospect enamored of Marlins fans.

Which brings us this perfect opportunity for the Miami Marlins front office to zag and do something unexpected. Something completely out of step with the long history of Miami trading their best players once the price gets too high and new President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix's "always having conversations" philosophy. And stepping outside the Marlins bubble for a moment, something that most MLB teams wouldn't even bother taking the time to do.

Come right out and issue a denial. Publicly shoot down the rumors.

Even attaching a massive caveat of not doing so as long as the Marlins remain firmly in the playoff race would be fine, I suppose. But why not take this chance to come out and say the Marlins have every intention of making the postseason this year, and can't imagine doing so without Alcantara leading the way? That, at a minimum, would be the kind of bold statement that would cost the Marlins nothing and gain massive credit with their fanbase. The kind of thing that would cause a great many fans to buy that extra ticket to the ballpark in solidarity.

Of course, if the Marlins really wanted to take it a step further, they could also just come out and announce an extension.

Either that, or at least suggest it is in the works. Some kind of statement about Sandy being here as long as he wants to be here. An extension would naturally speak loudest, and there isn't a single transaction the Marlins could reasonably make to boost attendance than putting Alcantara in position to be a Marlin for life. That Shohei Ohtani for Aiva Arquette trade just isn't happening, I'm afraid. Extending a beloved player that genuinely seems to like being here though? That's just a matter of financial will, and again, would have a one of one impact on Marlins ticket sales.

At any rate, the Marlins have a few options on how they can handle this. If no other outlet picks up the story, ignoring the Nightengale story entirely could even be among them I suppose. However, what the Marlins can't do under any circumstance is allow such talk to gain traction. To fester. To allow this entire season in which they are trying to build up critical good will to proceed under the specter of just waiting for the shoe to drop. Provided things continue to trend in the right direction for the franchise, that is.

Because right now, Sandy Alcantara is the Miami Marlins. No one has rested that title from him, be it an individual player or some kind of grand, organizational accomplishment. They need him, in multiple ways, if they are to be successful.

And since everyone knows that to be true...the Marlins would be wise to just come out and say so.