Tigers’ perfect trade offer for Sandy Alcantara after Tarik Skubal injury

It was recently revealed that Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow. He could miss two to three months with the injury concern. It is an unfortunate blow for Skubal and the Tigers to say the least. Detroit is looking to compete for the postseason regardless, so the ball club needs to begin looking for ways to stay afloat despite Skubal’s injury absence.

The Tigers could look to trade for a pitcher or two. One starting pitcher who could make sense as a trade target is Miami Marlins star Sandy Alcantara.

Alcantara, 30, has a club option for 2027 and then he will enter free agency. The 16-19 Marlins are not expected to seriously compete for the postseason in 2026. Miami could make the right-handed hurler available before the trade deadline later this season.

Alcantara won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022. He would then struggle in 2023 before missing all of 2024 due to injury. He endured a forgettable 2025 campaign after returning from injury, but it seems as if Alcantara is having a bounce back 2026 season.

The Marlins ace currently holds a 3.04 ERA in his seven outings on the mound. He has struck out 31 hitters in a league leading 47.1 innings pitched.

The Tigers would benefit from adding another pitcher amid Skubal’s injury, especially a star such as Alcantara.

Tigers’ potential trade offer for Sandy Alcantara

Tigers receive: RHP Sandy Alcantara

Marlins receive: C/1B Thayron Liranzo (Tigers’ No. 6 overall prospect), LHP Andrew Sears (Tigers’ No. 9 overall prospect), RHP Kelvis Salcedo (Tigers’ No. 13 overall prospect)

Finding the perfect trade for a pitcher such as Alcantara is challenging. He features the potential of a Cy Young-caliber starter, but he has been inconsistent in recent years while also dealing with injury trouble.

This specific trade allows the Tigers to keep their top five prospects while still giving the Marlins no shortage of prospect value.

Liranzo, 22, features serious offensive potential. He is a switch-hitter who can play catcher or first base. Liranzo’s power is especially intriguing.

Sears, 23, throws a fastball, slider and a changeup. He is a pitcher who could realistically be a reliever who makes life difficult for left-handed hitters out of the bullpen or he could end up being a starter at the MLB level. Either way, he should be able to make an impact in MLB at some point down the road.

Salcedo, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher, throws a good fastball but he is still developing command of his pitches. His ceiling is intriguing, as he could become a successful MLB pitcher someday.

The deal makes sense for both sides. Marlins fans may want more, but the Tigers cannot afford to give up their best prospects for potentially only a year and a half of Alcantara, especially if Skubal leaves in free agency during the offseason. If he does sign elsewhere, Detroit could consider entering a rebuild which would make the top prospects even more valuable.

With that being said, the Marlins would still be receiving a respectable trade return in this deal. Receiving two Tigers’ top prospects for a pitcher who endured an extremely difficult 2025 season is not bad.

Only time will tell if this specific trade will come to fruition, but it would not be surprising to see the Tigers and Marlins at least discuss a potential deal this season.

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