Miami Marlins: Responding to a laughable Sandy Alcantara mock trade with the SF Giants

The rebuilding Miami Marlins seem destined for an eventual breakup with franchise star and former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. The ace's potential availability has led to massive trade speculation in a pitching-starved market.

Bleacher Report recently suggested a mock trade that would send Alcantara to the San Fransisco Giants. Unfortunately for the Fish, the trade has pitcher Kyle Harrison and former prospect Luis Matos as the package headed back to Miami.

From a Marlins' perspective, his is a laughably poor return. Harrison, a 23-year-old lefty, has a middle-of-the-rotation upside. He has posted a 4.47 ERA and 1.302 WHIP with 153 strikeouts across 159 innings pitched.

He has room to continue to develop. And he features a solid strikeout upside. However, his middling track record makes him a better #4 or #5 starter rather than a top-of-the-rotation option. He is a solid asset with a relatively low ceiling.

Matos, on the other hand, is a 22-year-old outfielder with a well-rounded skillset. He ranked #7 in a poor San Fransisco farm system in 2023.

Matos has good (but not great) power and solid speed. He can play solid defense in center field, winning Defensive Player of the Year honors at the Arizona Fall League (a position of need for Miami). And he has a 50-grade hit tool. However, the Giants outfielder likely has a ceiling of around 12-20 home runs and 10-15 steals with solid defense. Unfortunately, his floor is as a defense-first substitute, bench player, and pinch runner.

For context, I would have been disappointed if Harrison and Matos had been the package in Miami's recent Jesus Luzardo trade. It would be foolish for the Marlins even to consider such a return in exchange for a superstar-caliber player like Alcantara.

If the Giants wanted to offer a package centered around top prospect Bryce Eldridge (MLB Pipeline's #35 overall), plus Harrison and more, the two clubs would have something to discuss potentially. Otherwise, Peter Bendix and his team would be wise to avoid this trade at all costs.