After months of back-and-forth, the Marlins and right-hander Sandy Alcantara have agreed upon a long-term deal. The team announced Tuesday they’ve signed the CAA Sports client to a five-year contract extension that also contains a club option covering the 2027 season. Alcantara will reportedly be guaranteed $56MM, including a $2MM buyout on the 2027 option valued at $21MM. He receives a $1.5MM signing bonus as part of the deal.
Alcantara, 26, has been in extension talks at least dating back to July, when reports of negotiations first surfaced. While the Marlins’ first overtures were said to be low enough that Alcantara’s camp considered them a nonstarter, a $55MM+ guarantee would be a record extension for a pitcher with between three and four years of Major League service time, topping the previous highwater mark set by Carlos Martinez in Feb. 2017 (five years, $51MM).
Acquired from the Cardinals alongside Zac Gallen in the 2017 trade that sent Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis, Alcantara has steadily improved over the course of his four seasons in Miami. He’s always been a hard-throwing sinker specialist, but his strikeout and walk rates early in his career were pedestrian, to say the least. Alcantara racked up 197 innings with the Fish in 2019, but he looked more like a potential innings-eater than a star at that point. Fast forward to 2021, however, and Alcantara looks more like a building block than that stable No. 4 starter he was in ’19.
This past season, Alcantara finished fourth in MLB with 205 2/3 innings thrown, averaged 98.1 mph on his heater and posted career-best marks in strikeout rate (24.0%), walk rate (6.0%) and ground-ball rate (55.3%). All three are vastly better than the league average, so it’s little surprise that Alcantara’s 3.19 ERA was largely supported by fielding-independent marks. This year’s 13.3% swinging-strike rate was easily a career-high, and Alcantara’s gaudy 36.7% opponents’ chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone ranked third among qualified starters. Alcantara also thrives when it comes to inducing weak contact and ranks above the league average in Statcast’s “expected” ERA, batting average, slugging percentage and wOBA.
Alcantara had been set for his first trip through the arbitration process this winter and was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $4.5MM. He’d have been arb-eligible twice more, securing a pair of additional raises in the process. The proposed deal would buy out two arbitration seasons and, depending on how bullishly one cares to project Alcantara’s would-be raises in years two and three of arbitration, places a value of around $14-15MM per season on those two free-agent campaigns. That, of course, still represents a bargain for Alcantara if he can replicate his 2021 breakout, but that type of tradeoff is commonplace for players signing extensions well before they’d otherwise reach the open market.
The $11MM annual value — a figure which, as with many extensions, is skewed by the arbitration seasons included in the deal — is significant for a typically low-payroll Marlins club. However, Miami doesn’t have a single guaranteed contract on the books after the 2023 season, and second-year GM Kim Ng has been vocal in her desire to spend more money this offseason. Much of that is expected to come via free agency, but locking up one of their current stars to keep him in the fold beyond his previously allotted team control certainly speaks to that increased financial wherewithal as well.
Miami has reportedly considered trading from its impressive collection of young starting pitchers as the organization eyes long-term options both in the outfield and behind the plate. That said, Alcantara would always have been one of the toughest Marlins starters to obtain — if not the toughest — and a five-year extension would further diminish the already slim chances of him being dealt. The Fish could still dangle any combination of Pablo Lopez, Elieser Hernandez and Jesus Luzardo, while near-MLB prospects like Max Meyer and Edward Cabrera (among many others) would surely carry very strong trade value. Injured youngsters like Sixto Sanchez (shoulder capsule surgery) and Jake Eder (Tommy John surgery) are appealing in their own right — health concerns notwithstanding.
With such a bounty of young arms, the Marlins obviously could have weathered the hit of trading Alcantara, but today’s extension instead likely portends a long-term rotation headed by Alcantara and 2021 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Trevor Rogers. Who’ll fill the spots behind that dynamic pairing is dependent on how the offseason trade market unfolds, but the Fish are well-positioned to continue making strides thanks largely to that near-unparalleled collection of pitching talent.
Craig Mish of SportsGrid first reported the Marlins and Alcantara were both nearing agreement and had agreed upon on a five-year extension worth more than $56MM. Mish and Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reported the presence of a sixth-year club option valued at $21MM, as well as the $1.5MM signing bonus.
Photo courtesy of Imagn/USA Today Sports.
Only 11-12 mil a year is a bargain for an ace.
It’s getting to where it’s a bargain for a back end of the rotation pitcher.
Key thing is whether the Marlins will flip or keep him. Keeping him the length of the deal would be a game changer for the Fish.
I think they will keep him around, mostly. I think Miami, under Jeter, will operate in the TB mode. I think Jeter is intent on winning.
Jeter intends to win? This a joke right? They haven’t spent any money since he took over. Don’t see how you came to that conclusion
You don’t spend on the roof until you have the frame built.
It’s not about spending money man. The article just talked about the bounty of young arms they have. Gotta build up from the ground when the org was in the shape it was.
Metsin7
Jeter intends to win? This a joke right?
====================================
No, it started with the Marte trade. If all they wanted to do was to deposit checks, they’d not have traded for an $11.5M contract, and then exercised the option. Nor would they have signed Duvall.
Miami has a plan. Equating spending money with winning is wrong. Marlins are doing the right things to prepare for the near future when they start winning.
Right? How is Alcantara getting the same that the Cardianls just signed Steven Matz for? One got ripped off or the other got overpaid? Which is which? Well let’s look at Acuna contract, let’s look at Albes Contract, let’s look at marte contract, they all about this? Idk what’s the deal? These players are being massively underpaid by the metric of 1 WAR = 8 MILLION
Hippy – Matz was a free agent. Alcantara is in his first year of arbitration, so the system is set up for him to be underpaid for three more years.
1 WAR doesn’t simply = $8M. It’s not a linear scale.
I agree the young players are massively underpaid. I hope the new CBA improves this. A new minimum salary of at least $1M would be a good start.
I was hoping to see him back in st louis eventually… Ozuna trade just bummer all around. I would think a pitcher like him would command 20 million a year easily.
What’s up with Berrios, Alcantara, Acuna, Albies all taking deals way to little for what they are worth?
Berrios and Alcantara’s deals would be records for pitchers at that service time. How is that too little?
Only one who is actually under paid is Albies
Acuna is underpaid, just not as monumentally as Albies. The pitching deals seem reasonable, maybe a bit low.
These pitchers are young and aren’t at the point where they’re making big money yet. And they can always get injured to no brainer to get the security.
The deal seems a little low for someone who’s 26 and been in the league for 5 years.
He has 2 full seasons
Parts of five years. He has only 3 years of service time is still controllable by the Marlins for 3 more years before hitting free agency.
Still seems kind of cheap, but now the guy is set for life rather than going year by year hoping for more. I don’t blame him for taking the sure thing.
It just seems like the Latin guys get lowballed
Life changing money. No one is forcing him to sign this deal. Intangibles are never fully known.
@ bucsfan0004;
Don’t Latin guys have agents?
Reading is fundamental, bucsfan.
“a $55MM+ guarantee would be a record extension for a pitcher with between three and four years of Major League service time, topping the previous highwater mark set by Carlos Martinez.”
@Jonny
Yes i understand, but hopefully you would admit, that is kind of cherry-picking… Service time greater than 3 years, less than 4, has to be a pitcher. Broaden out your selective endpoints and you’ll see $55MM is relatively low. Great deal of youre a fan of the Marlins i suppose.
What’s worse? Cherry picking stats or making accusations with no facts provided to back it up at all?
Kim Ng is one impressive leader. This signing is brilliant, eliminating 2 FA years for potentially one of the best, if not the best, young starters in the game. Wow. This team’s young starter potential is mind-boggling.
The “is one impressive leader” seems a tad bit over-the-top virtue signaling in complimenting a female pro sports exec (which is cool in itself she earned it), but good for them Alcantara was receptive to locking in the security. Perhaps they can do more similar extensions for a club that has amassed a lot of high draft picks and made decent past trades for talent.
Great deal for the Fish!
Trolls “Jeter will trade him in year to the Yankees”
1 of many on the this off-seasons to do lists.
Marlins need to keep spending/acquiring talent:
C-?
1b- Aguilar/Cooper/Lewin
DH-(if there’s one)Aguilar copper Lewin
2b- jazz / ?
Ss-Rojas / Jazz
3b- Anderson / ?
LF- Sanchez/ De La Cruz
CF- ? / De La Cruz
Rf- ?/Anderson /De La Cruz
Sp1- Sandy
Sp2-Pablo
Sp3-Rogers
Sp4-Eliezer
Sp5-Luzardo
Sp (ready or almost ready) Sixto, Eduardo, Neidert, Braxton, Meyers,
Closer-?
What about Sixto Sanchez? Isn’t he their #2?
@billyBaggins
Talent wise Sixto can be their best SP. I just hope he finds a good a to stay healthy over a full season.
Not sure if he’ll be ready for ST due to his shoulder surgery.
Eliesier and Luzardo need to prove more or something… I wouldn’t just hand them the keys. I’m way more interested in trying to get Cabrera , Sixto, or Meyer in the rotation.
Then Bender or Holloway could close. Both have the stuff from the pen, even Floro (not my first choice though). Garret should be a reliever or gone. Bass can not be allowed to pitch in innings 8 or 9 and then with Bleier , Garret, Bender,Holloway and Floro you have a decent pen. Thompson is there as a long man/utility pitcher. Eliesier as well.
I don’t want to give up on BA just yet personally unless they decide to make major 3b splash. I want a defensive game calling mastermind catcher to handle the amount of insanely talented but young arms. Jazz needs to clean up the defense and offense. JSanchez showed promise, I like BDLC. Alfaro and Brinson need to go away forever. It they don’t trade/sign another OF then try our Burdick.
I’m not saying playoffs or anything but the blueprints are there for a team that can actually do something and teams would hate to play.
Not sure Luzardo gets a slot.
ooh…Carlos Martinez. Ouch.
Sandy Alcantara is a true Ace and they are loaded with Pitching. Trevor Rogers is excellent. What’s the deal with Sixto Sanchez? He was out with injury all of 2021 but in 2020 WOW!
They should convert Sixto to a closer for a year or two.
I wouldn’t do it, but I’m tired of guys going back and forth.
Put them in their best spot. Keep them there. Like Holloway shows lockdown stuff from the pen but they keep letting him start. They did the same thing with Bender. If they make Sixto a closer I rather that be the final option and he stays there and nails the job down for years.
This is an absolute steal for the Marlins, considering what Berrios just got.
It’s buying 2 years of free agency vs 6 years or free agency
It’s apples and bowling balls
My point… is that Alcantara could’ve waited another year or two to get to the point where Berrios was and get similar money when he was closer to free agency… Rather than taking the money he got offered now.
This kid is good and if he stays that way, this is a bargain.
@ VonPurpleHayes;
Good morning.
This is the young man that has been acting as their Ace and a team leader. He has the same qualities as Max – accepts responsibility, goes after hitters aggressively, shows up prepared every outing. Needs to clean up his control a bit, nothing serious. As with all young players he has to be more consistent. If he stays healthy he’ll be one of the premier pitchers in MLB.
He is pretty consistent. Of all his starts last season I would say 4 were bad. He had a month of 10er,5er,5er like back to back to back. Otherwise he was a gamer. His consistency goes up every year so I hope this next season he’s ready to take the next step.
His attitude and leadership are impressive. Fish had no one to be that guy and he said I’ll do it. I like it. I really hope he continues to do well. Should be fun in 22.
Bad move. They should’ve traded him to the RS when they had a chance:)
Oh well. I’d like to have had him, but I applaud him and the Fish. This is good for BB. And good for Joey. The dude literally carried my fantasy team on his back last year.
The Red Sox had nothing to give the Marlins in return
If only they had signed Rob Refsynder earlier!
Well this probably means they won’t move him this year but this increases his trade value for when they eventually move him
Alcantara is going anywhere at this price.
Not going **
If he keeps pitching like he is then the surplus value on this is contract would be through the roof. The haul for him would be huge with those cost controlled years.
This sounds like a huge bargain for the Marlins. Locking up Alcantara should also allow them to trade Lopez for some offensive upgrades. The Marlins seem to be heading in the right direction
Great signing all around.
Even if he regressed, $11 million per year isn’t bad for a mid rotation piece. If he pitches anything like he did last year he’s a major bargain.
And he gets li changing money.
The Marlins will be the next NL East champion after this current Braves streak ends eventually.
If our rotation has at least 25-30 starts each from Alcantara, Rodgers, Sixto and Cabrera next year, and either Luzardo, Lopez or Meyer solidifying the 5th rotation spot, I think the Marlins have a shot at the Wild Card if not the division.
Just have to figure out how to score runs. They have to find a way to bring in 2-3 quality bats. I personally want them to sign Avi Garcia, Anthony Rizzo (shift Aguilar to DH) and maybe trade for a guy like Zunino or Stallings to catch. No need for players like Isan Diaz, Brinson and Alfaro on the roster if they’re trying to win
The blueprints are there. They just have to execute. I don’t like all the moving parts and things that have to go 3ifjt for them to actually get somewhere so I’ll believe it when I see it.
If they can actually fix Luzardo and Cabrera then Sixto and Lopez can stay reasonably healthy then no one in baseball would want to face what could be the the best rotation in baseball (Everyone relax. Could. Could be. Stuff wise you can’t argue they have 5-6 guys flashing ace stuff. They just can’t stay on the field).
I don’t want Meyer going anywhere. I love everything about him. His attitude and health are big pluses. Everyone else had been hurt but him and he’s the one being dangled in trades. I hate it. If he’s moved it better be for such and impactful bat. But I expect them to mess it up.
Sixto’s been plagued by injuries since the minors. It’s why the Phillies were willing to give him up, but if he stays healthy this is a killer rotation.
Ludafish – I agree on Meyer, unless he’s being traded for an elite near MLB prospect like Heliot Ramos or a Catching prospect such as Diego Cartaya. Granted, a player like Cartaya May cost more than Meyer.
Von, a big issue with Sixto and the Phillies was his attitude and conditioning. He has been hitting the gym and rehab hard in Miami. He posts on IG a lot. Entering 2020 he never looked better physically. So if he can keep that hard work mindset it should play out. He’s still paying for his arrogance of not training right in Philly. Still it sucks it’s the shoulder. I don’t mind the trade it was a risk worth taking that can still pay off.
But that’s why I rather be dangling him and Pablo over Meyer. Who has a low mileage arm and no injury history along with growing up a hockey player to hockey parents. Dude is hardcore. I think letting him go would be a huge mistake.
Garrett Cooper is still a good platoon player. Avisail Garcia would be a great get for them.
Like so many Marlins players, guy has to stay on the field. Every time Cooper puts a couple healthy weeks together he’s quite good. Usually an OPS+ of 130. Goes on nice tears where he hits everything you throw at him and takes his singles, bashes them in the gap and over the wall. Then his legs give out. I’m happy they have not given up on him but like many players he can not be relied upon when building the team for 22.
That would be a steal of a deal for the marlins. But if I’m him, I’d be hesitant to sign it. I mean $55 mil is no joke, but he’s likely gonna make $33-40 mil total in arbitration over the next 3 years. Is two more years worth the pay cut in this ladder years? Idk. Financial security does have a lot of value attached to it. Look at Acuna and soroka. Acuna is very underpaid, but he could have ended up like soroka
July 21, 2025
Blue Jays Acquire Alcantara from Marlins
With a year, and a bit, left on the hugely team-friendly deal he signed back in 2021, and every contending team “kicking the tires” for the stretch drive and playoffs a few days before the trade deadline, Toronto Blue Jays won the bidding for Sandy Alcantara.
In exchange, the Marlins get ….
He will cost too much in his new contract if he continues to be elite so I’m ok with this… teams should pay for future performance not past performance… btw, I bet you the Marlins will have another WS title by then. 😉
Do you remember how much Darren Dreifort got ? 5 yrs 55 million. Just saying but look how that panned out.
Dreifort’s contract from 2001 would be the equivalent of $85-86m today
Dreifort was also injury prone before the contract
I think Jeter and Ng finally got this franchise going in the right direction. I know they took a lot of heat in the beginning trading off assets but those are looking like the right moves now that we’ve had a few years to evaluate them.
Does anyone want Stanton, Yelich or Ozuna and their contracts now? Nopeeeeee!!!
Yelich is just shocking – the way he played last year. Hopefully he bounced back. Stanton’s just an overpaid DH at this point lol
Yeah I was surprised as anyone about Yelich. He was such a beast those first couple years in Milwaukee. But it’s not the first time a player has fallen off after getting a big payday and won’t be the last. I’m still expecting a rebound but I still wouldn’t want the contract after these last two years.
Five years means they’re buying out two years of free agency at $55 million for the five years. The three arb years projects to about $24 million. So he’s getting roughly $15 million per year for the two free agency years
He’ll hit free agency at age 30 instead of 28 and that will lower his value on the market
But, it’s guaranteed $55 million, and with high injury risk these days you’re locking in money
Obviously if he doesn’t get injured and stays solid he’ll lose a lot of money that he would have had as a 28 year old free agent
Not necessarily I think he can still land a nice 5 year deal around 30 million annually once this deal expires as long as he continues to pitch at an elite level. That would give him about 200 million within two contracts. Not too bad.
I get jumping at the guarantee pre-arb. Especially for a pitcher. But he’s made it to arbitration and is about to get at least a little bit of security. I find it an odd time to forego the potential big payday he would have been on track for.
How can he “lose money” when he just signed for $56,000,000.00 for the next 5 years. That’s not counting the $2,000,000.00 buyout of the option year. He gained all of the financial security for 2-3 generations of his family. I think if he remains healthy, he’ll lead the fish to the playoffs in 2-3 of the next 5 yrs.
Great deal for the fish if it gets done. Front end starting pitcher through their prime years on the cheap.
On a rotation note, if the Marlins are serious about trading a starting pitcher, between Lopez, Luzardo, and Hernandez, which one would you trade for and what would you give up for them?
If I am the fish, I prefer to keep Lopez and Hernandez. Instead, I would trade Luzardo for a team’s top 30 outfield or catching prospect, if there is a taker.
How about Pablo Lopez and Sixto Sanchez for Diego Cartaya?
Or Lopez and Meyer?
@mannyBeingMvp I like where your minds at with this deal.
But unless the Marlins also send over Khalil Watson AND pay for Pablo, Sixto and Meyers salaries for the next 7 years then no deal.
Future MVP and HOf’er Cartaya is going to be Mike Piazza on steroids. No pun intended.
Miami can try to sign him to an extension, and assuming he maintains his performance, look to sell his low-cost contract to a contending team for a boatload of prospects.
At some point you transition to being competitive and with the rotation they’ve got they can probably afford to flip one for the right position player package or just keep them all and roll with it. Their window should open up as soon as this season.
What are you talking about? Don’t the Mets have the division locked up for the next decade?
Oooooh …a 22-caliber shot …and him not here to take one for the team!
This trade still makes me laugh. Couple this with the Randy Arozarena move, and it’s clear just how incompetent the St. Louis Cardinals are.
I generally agree but Liberatore may yet be a good pitcher.
Nothing fishy about that deal for the Marlins.
Darn!
Alcantara is in my opinion a stud. He was the guy I was really hoping the Jays would make a play for. How good would Toronto’s rotation look:
1) Berrios
2) Alcantara
3) Manoah
4) Ryu
5) Pearson / Hatch / Stripling or another back end free agent
Oh well … one can always hope and wish.
Good signing by the Fish.
That Marlins rotation is looking absolutely filthy right now. They have about at least 7-10 guys who can just absolutely bring it. If I were them…I’m not trading any of them. I’d take on the Josh Donaldson contract from the Twins that only has two years left and they’d probably give away and add a catcher and one more outfielder and call it good.
I never thought of Donaldson… Hmm… I would do it if there was a way to not give up much and take the salary. Brian Anderson plays decently in the OF and I still think he can be a valuable player. Donaldson is a character and I think he would become an instant leader and have that “it” factor people would go see. It’s a matter of keeping him on the field. But I like where your head is at
Agreed if it’s just the money it’s a great fit with a very short term commitment and gives them the middle of the order bat they need while maintaining the defense at third base. I’ve soured on Brian because of health issues and inconsistencies so a change of scenery might do him some good.
This is a good move. Watch out for the Marlins. They are vastly underrated.
that’s a steal
Very good deal for the Marlins.
Yea !
A no brainer!
Marlins finally making moves to win again!
Wow, this looks like an excellent deal for the Marlins.
I’ve got them reaching the World Series but losing to the White Sox in 2026.
Wao pero que robo!
Muertos ganando muchísimo dinero y a un buen lanzador una miseria.
Yo cancelo al agente.
Good deal for Marlins.
Excellent move for the Marlins.
What a coup by Miami. Stupid signing by Sandy. Which idiot is representing him? Doing an awful job.
This is a steal for the Marlins
Good for him. He’s not a top tier ace but still a really good pitcher and could have gotten double that on the market. There’s something admirable about loyalty and sticking with your team on a team friendly deal. He gets paid but still gets to be a part of his team and teammates he loves.
Extending him made all the sense in the world if the offers they where getting where comparable to this site and Twitter by fans the Marlins where being offered older worse more expensive players possibly even with less control for their asset! Easy decision to decline and extend
It’s the dawning of a new era for the Marlins. They have some excellent young talent and increased financial flexibility. Anyone who thinks they’re the same old Marlins is sadly mistaken. It’s fun watching teams like this improve and make a commitment to winning.