3 Ace Pitchers the Miami Marlins should Target via Trade to Replace Sandy Alcantara

While the Miami Marlins have several key areas that must be addressed this offseason, their most pressing concern lies with the state of their starting pitching rotation. A strength of the club for many years, the franchise faces real questions about who will lead the five-man rotation in 2024.

3 Ace Pitchers the Miami Marlins should Target via Trade to Replace Sandy Alcantara

Jesus Luzardo and Eury Perez are locked at the top. And Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera should also factor into the mix. However, players like Trevor Rogers, Max Meyer, and others represent serious question marks.

Miami needs to add 2-3 starters to ensure the success of their rotation. While some of this heavy lifting can be done in free agency (see options here), the trade market represents another option.

In a perfect world, at least one of these additions would have the upside and skill to replace injured ace Sandy Alcantara. Since top-tier talents like Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Corbin Burnes, etc are outside the small-market Marlins range, the club will have to get creative to fill this key void.

Thankfully, there are several realistic trade candidates floating around MLB's Hot Stove rumors. Here are three realistic SP trade targets for the franchise to consider.

Honorable Mentions: Alex Cobb (SF), Jordan Lyles (BAL), Jose Quintana (NYM)

2) Mitch Keller, PIT

2023 felt like a tale of two seasons for Mitch Keller. During the first half of the year, the Pirates ace pitched incredibly well, giving positive attention from across baseball and earning his first All-Star honors.

While Keller unfortunately sputtered more over the season half, he finished the campaign with a 4.21 ERA, a career-high 210 strikeouts, and a very impressive 13-9 record on an underwhelming Pirates team.

The Pirates ace has already been a part of recent trade talks. And, thankfully for the Marlins, his $2.5 million 2024 salary and his two remaining years of arbitration would fit right within their budget.

If he is indeed available, Keller would be a phenomenal fit in South Florida. He is young (27 years old). He is on a very team-friendly contract. He has been extremely solid and consistent over the past two seasons. And he has an All-Star upside.

Keller would immediately give the starting rotation the stability it lost when the news of Sandy's UCL injury broke. While the club would still be wise to pursue a second, lower-level starter this offseason, Keller is the closest thing to a quick and comprehensive fix that the Marlins could hope for.

On talent alone, he is the clear #1 trade target. However, his high price tag opens the door for...

1) Paul Blackburn, OAK

Long rumored as a potential trade candidate, the former All-Star would be a perfect target for the small-market Marlins. Blackburn, like Keller, is a former All-Star. Under the age of 30. And on a very team-friendly deal ($1.9 salary in 2024 and two years of arbitration remaining).

Also like Keller, he has been a super consistent source of quality innings in each of the past two seasons. In 2023 alone, Blackburn posted a 4.43 ERA and 104 strikeouts. All with a putrid on-field Oakland A's roster.

As the A's undergo a full rebuild, it makes little sense for them to retain a solid former All-Star. As such, it feels like a virtual lock that Blackburn is traded sooner rather than later.

And, unlike both Keller and Gilbert, one would expect his asking price to be reasonable. While both of the aforementioned players would likely carry an asking price of two valuable minor leaguers, Blackburn could cost a fraction of that cost.

All this begs the key question: Why would a postseason club like the Marlins target a lesser player like Blackburn over better talents like Keller and Gilbert?

Personally, I would strongly advocate that the club build off their surprise postseason run by trading for a lower-cost option like Blackburn, while also signing a similarly skilled free agent such as Jordan Montgomery, Marcus Stroman, Eduardo Rodriguez, Kenta Maeda, or Seth Lugo.

However, if the team is truly focused on penny-pinching (in terms of money spent), both Keller and Gilbert alliviate the pressure on the rotation while paying in the form of prospects rather than dollars.

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