The Marlins were looking to land George Lombard Jr. or Spencer Jones from the Yankees in a Sandy Alcantara trade, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Yankees naturally balked at moving either of their top prospects, and this gives the kind of idea of the big-ticket return Miami was trying to land for either Alcantara or Edward Cabrera. “No one came especially close” to prying Alcantara away from the Fish, which reflects both the big asking price and the inconsistent numbers the righty has posted (6.36 ERA over 109 innings) in his first season back after rehab from Tommy John surgery.
Other than trading Jesus Sanchez to the Astros and moving depth catcher Nick Fortes to the Rays, it was a quieter deadline than expected from the Marlins, who looked like clear-cut sellers a couple of months ago. However, the team’s plans may have been changed by an unexpected development — winning. A three-game sweep of the Yankees in Miami this weekend brought the Marlins’ record back to 55-55, as the Fish have won 25 of their last 35 games. It is a great sign of progress for the team’s rebuild at the very least, and even a longshot wild card race can’t be ruled out given how well the Marlins have been playing.
Some more from the last few days of NL East news…
- Rafael Montero was the only veteran Atlanta moved at the deadline, as if anything, the Braves focused a lot of attention on adding short-term pitching help to its injury-riddled staff. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos told reporters (including the Athletic’s David O’Brien) on Thursday that since his team plans to contend again in 2026, the Braves put a high ask on any player that was controlled beyond the 2025 season. As for impending free agents like Raisel Iglesias and Marcell Ozuna, Anthopoulos said “we weren’t just going to give players away, move guys just to move them or just to dump salary….If we were going to move any player, we were going to have to get something back that we liked.” The executive added that the team didn’t approach Ozuna for his approval about any potential trades, as Ozuna has veto rights as a 10-and-5 player.
- The Mets freed up some 40-man roster space for their deadline additions on Thursday by moving Jesse Winker to the 60-day injured list, which ensures that Winker will be now be out of action until at least September 9. There is concern that Winker’s entire season could be in jeopardy, as president of baseball ops David Stearns told MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo and other reporters that Winker’s back is “frankly not [recovering] at the pace that I think he or we were hoping.” Winker rejoined the Mets on a one-year, $7.5MM free agent deal last winter but he has been limited to 26 games due to an oblique strain and now this back problem, as both injuries landed the veteran on the 60-day IL.
- Sticking with the Mets, the Athletic’s Will Sammon reports that Max Kranick underwent a flexor tendon repair surgery last month, not a Tommy John surgery as was the initial expectation. A TJ procedure would’ve very likely cost Kranick the entire 2026 season, but there is now some improved chance the right-hander might be back on a big league mound before Opening Day 2027. Kranick already underwent a Tommy John surgery in June 2022 that cost him the entire 2023 campaign, and his 2024 work was limited to 70 2/3 innings in the Mets’ farm system. Returning to the bigs this season, Kranick had a 3.65 ERA over 37 innings with New York before arm problems have again put his career on hold.
Braves have a significant interest in avoiding the appearance of tanking, arguably the most of any team. Will that be a good thing for the long-term success of the on-field product, time will tell.
yetipro: Why more than other teams?
Braves have no reason to tank. Main core of players are coming back next year and they will have an intact starting rotation pretty much healthy again. No reason not to be full on competitive in 2026.
The Marlins were never getting Lombard or Jones for Alcantara. Sandy’s era this season is over 6. Keep dreamin’ Fish!
Nah, the Yankees would definitely make that trade if given the chance.
The Yankees turned it down obviously
Nah, they offered a 3rd piece but Miami said no.
When Lombard and Jones arrive with impact of Anthony Volpe no one will even remember this story.
Jones is 24 and only just reached AAA. He shows all the signs of an overhyped prospect who ends up a AAAA player, at best. An MiLB HR king every year who gets 50 ABs or so in the majors when someone gets hurt.
How can you say he’s a AAAA player when he hasn’t even been tested in the bigs yet, you seem like you want the big fella to fail
Asking for Lombard is preposterous.
The Yankees would of entertained Cunningham or Hess in a package for Sandy or Cabrera. The Fish should of definitely done it. They blew it.
Given how bad he’s pitched and how much he’s owed next year I can guarantee there wasn’t a single team willing to give up that package if they’re over the luxury tax. Why would the Yankees risk paying like 35 million next year for that production?
AA “we don’t want to just give players away”. I mean they are FAs in 2 months. So not trying them is kinda like giving them away for nothing IDK
He gets so much credit for all these extensions and half of them or more have been duds.
carlos, that Michael Harris one looks especially bad right now.
horaceallen: Small sample size, but Harris has a .388/.414/.672/1.086 over his last 17 games. Maybe he’s starting to turn it around. Overall, he’s been dreadful, though.
Yeah, I have been keeping an eye on him. Hopefully he can sustain some positivity and maintain a spot in the big leagues.
Which ones have been duds? Acuña? Albies? Riley? Olson? Harris II? Strider? Murphy?
Anybody know how Kelenic is doing in Gwinnet ?? Is he piecing it together and perhaps learning some meditation skills so he’s not so hard on himself?
Perhaps the Braves extend the Quality Offer to both players and get draft pick compensation in the event either signs elsewhere.
$22 million QO for a cooked Ozuna?
For a guy who can only hit, and he’s not hitting. He’s cooked.
It’s time to part ways with Ozuna.
$22 million for a closer who is having a subpar season at age 35.
-0.3 bWAR. 4.74 ERA
Turns 36 in January
Not happening.
Both player are not eligible
Mike_Divi: QUALIFYING offer.
It really means no one wanted them I’d rather save face and resign them cheap next year as the worst outcome was losing them for nothing either way
Correctomundo flee. Ozuna and Iglesias don’t have much value in trade.
I’m thinking they didn’t have much of a market with their salaries. AA could’ve paid them down to dump for a lotto ticket but it was never going to be much of anything.
Neither of those guys is sniffing a QO
The NL should be scared of the marlins since their batting is strong and they have a bunch of pitchers that can do a lot of better
It would be so funny if they won the World Series
It’s nice to see the Marlins rebuild coming along well, hopefully they keep at it and don’t get rid of half this group already.
Cashman was right to tell the Marlins to shove their trade ideas up their you know what
One of Two future stars for a has been ???
Absurd !
WRONG Spencer Jones link. I wish they would clear up these stupid incorrect links. Very poor reporting!!!!!
What was Anthropolous supposed to do, send Ozuna and Iglesias AND most of their left over salary for a couple of lottery tickets? He’s a lot smarter than that.