A season with massive expectations is set to begin for the New York Mets.
The Mets pulled off the biggest move of the offseason, bringing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to Queens. Coming off a championship series appearance in 2024, the Mets are clearly hoping that this season ends in a parade.
Unfortunately, the Mets’ starting rotation injuries have become an emerging subplot that threatens to derail their season if the team’s depth options can’t pick up the slack.
Of course, the Mets also have nearly unlimited money thanks to owner Steve Cohen’s willingness to pay the luxury tax, and a deep farm system to boot. Could they solve their rotation woes with a blockbuster trade?
On Monday, Matt Higgins of Sportsnaut predicted that the Mets would land Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara via trade at some point during the 2025 season, dramatically altering the outlook of their starting rotation and shifting the power dynamics of the National League.
“The New York Mets boast one of the best lineups in baseball after shelling out a record-breaking $765 million contract to Juan Soto and bringing back homegrown All-Star Pete Alonso,” wrote.
“However, one of their bigger question marks surrounds the rotation without a true No. 1 starter. That will change at the deadline when the Mets acquire former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara from the Marlins.”
Alcantara, 29, is returning from Tommy John surgery this season after a year-long absence. He’s the unanimous 2022 NL Cy Young winner, having pitched to a 2.28 ERA that season, and was still very good in 2023, racking up 3.9 rWAR in 28 starts.
Because Alcantara’s $56 million extension (which includes a club option for 2027) is so team friendly, it will cost the Mets an arm and a leg to trade for him, especially because the Marlins are in New York’s division.
If ever there was a team committed enough to winning this season to make such a move, though, the Mets have to be in consideration.
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