Heading into the 2025 season, a former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher was widely viewed as the player most likely to be traded at some point during the summer.
However, it has been a rough few months for Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, spurring discussion over whether his team should hang on to the 29-year-old – who is signed through the 2026 season at $17.3 million, with a $21M club option for 2027 – and hope that he rebuilds his trade value.
In 12 starts, Alcantara is 2-7 with a 7.89 ERA and 1.58 WHIP, and his most recent outing is his only quality start of the season, as he gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in 6.0 innings, getting a no-decision in the 3-2 loss to Colorado on June 3. While some MLB analysts continue to keep Alcantara on their “who could be traded” watchlists, the recent suggested proposals offer the Marlins far less than what they may have received for Alcantara during spring training.
But Alcantara is not the only former Redbird who could potentially be changing teams in a mid-season move.
Disappointing Braves Season May Spur Trade of Marcell Ozuna
As the Cardinals have been one of MLB’s pleasant surprises this season, the Atlanta Braves find themselves grouped among the bigger disappointments. Initially expected to be part of a three-team battle for NL East supremacy along with the Mets and Phillies, Atlanta opened the season with seven straight losses and still have not been able to right the ship.
With a 4-3 loss to San Francisco on Sunday, the Braves have dropped 14 of their last 17 games and fallen to 27-37 overall, 14 games behind the Mets for the division title and 9.5 games out of the final wild card spot. As the July 31 trade deadline creeps closer and the Braves slide further out of the playoff race, the conversation turns to which players might be available for – and coveted by – contending teams.
Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna could be at the top of the list.
A pending free agent, the 34-year-old has posted a slash line of .257/.397/.430, with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs. Although the Big Bear appears unlikely to crack the 100-RBI mark for a third straight season, he is still hitting the ball hard and reaching base at a good clip, leading a pair of respected MLB analysts to opine on a recent episode of ESPN's “Baseball Tonight” over possible trade destinations for Ozuna.
"It would be interesting to see Marcell Ozuna, like, in the middle of, and I'm just pulling a team out of the air, the Detroit Tigers," said Jeff Passan. "Drop an established hitter like that into that group, or Cleveland."
"Cleveland would be such a good fit for him," Buster Olney responded.
Adolis Garcia's Future Unclear Amid "Divorce" Rumors in Texas
Recent rumors of a pending “divorce” in Texas have spurred speculation over the potential availability of outfielder and 2023 postseason hero Adolis Garcia.
The 32-year-old, in his sixth season with the Rangers, was held out of the three-game series with the Cardinals May 30-June 1. Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, told the Dallas Morning News that the decision was made so that Garcia would have time to work on some “mechanical changes” that the Rangers felt were necessary to get Garcia back on track.
“We do believe, athletically, that this guy is still in his prime, that he can be close to the same player that he was in 2023 and with a couple little changes, that he can really bounce back,” Young said. “We’re working through those right now.”
However, follow-up discussion about Garcia’s “buy-in” toward making those changes has fueled forecasts of the 2023 ALCS MVP possibly playing for a different team after July. Through 61 games this season, Garcia is slashing .215/.259/.364, with seven home runs, 28 RBIs and 62 strikeouts.
“For Adolis, as much as he is an important piece to us, there’s also a performance aspect of this that he needs to perform,” Young said. “Over the last 45 days, he has not performed at a level that’s going to help us win like we need. We do need better from him.”
Arizona Pitchers Potentially on the Move
Like the Braves, the Arizona Diamondbacks could be unexpected sellers at this year’s deadline.
After advancing to the World Series as a wild card team in 2023, Arizona just missed the playoffs last season via a tiebreaker situation. With the free agent signing of pitcher Corbin Burnes, the Diamondbacks were expected to be in the postseason chase in 2025, but injuries and ineffectiveness have them at 31-34 overall, 7.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and 6.0 games out from the wild card hunt.
If Arizona is not able to build any momentum before the All-Star break, it is likely that the team would make pending free agent starter Zac Gallen available. While he has struggled this season, going 4-8 with a 5.15 ERA, the 29-year-old, who boasts three consecutive seasons of double-digit wins and sub-.400 ERAs, could be in high demand.
Another Arizona pitcher from way back in Cardinals past who might raise trade interest is right-hander Shelby Miller.
Currently on a one-year contract for just $1 million, Miller has been a bright spot for the Diamondbacks, posting a 3-1 record and a 1.75 ERA, with eight holds and six saves. A first-round (No. 19 overall) pick by the Cardinals in 2009, Miller has 27 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25.2 innings.