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)

3) Logan Gilbert, SEA

Logan Gilbert has emerged as a surprise potential trade candidate. At face value, one would think the young Mariner would be a building block in Seattle. However, a surplus of young pitching depth including talents like George Kirby, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller, all of whom hit free agency later than Gilbert, gives the team a valuable trade chip.

The Florida native has impressed during his first three years in MLB. Gilbert has posted a 3.76 career ERA and a stellar 32-18 record as a starter. Any team in baseball would be happy to land him.

Gilbert also has the lowest payroll hit of any player on this list, with a 2023 salary of just over $767,000. He also has four years of arbitration remaining, making him an idea fit for a club like Miami.

Landing a high-upside, 26-year-old, starter on such a team-friendly contract would undoubtedly come with a high price tag. However, the Marlins have the prospect depth to seriously consider trading younger assets for an established top-end rotation piece.

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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