Dodgers proposed trade ships top prospects for $56M Cy Young winner to pair with Shohei Ohtani originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers arguably have the best roster in baseball, positioning them to compete for a third consecutive World Series title. However, that doesn’t mean everything is settled. The starting rotation still has some question marks, particularly surrounding Roki Sasaki.
“While some fans are being way too harsh on Sasaki, it's undeniably troublesome to see the right-hander getting off to another rough start. In 2025, Sasaki's rookie season, his struggles out of the gate were such that he was ultimately removed from the Dodgers' pitching plan entirely. Injuries played a role in this, but Sasaki's temperament was also called into question,” Dodgers Way’s Colin Keane wrote.
The Dodgers could look to add pitching depth as a precaution, and one name to watch is Sandy Alcantara. Acquiring him would come at a significant cost, potentially requiring prospects like Emmet Sheehan, James Tibbs III, and Emil Morales.
“The package to acquire Alcantara, who is under contract through 2027, would be substantial. The headliner would be Emmet Sheehan, a young starter oozing with potential who'd come with several years of cheap club control. Additionally, the Dodgers would part with emerging prospect James Tibbs III, who doesn't really have a place to play in Los Angeles, and Emil Morales, who is still years away from contributing at the major league level. Tibbs, who has experience at first base, could slot in there for the Miami Marlins in the very near future,” FanSided’s Zachary Rotman wrote.
Alcantara remains one of the top pitchers in the game and has already thrown a complete game this season. He nearly recorded a second consecutive complete game before being pulled in the ninth inning.
“Sandy Alcantara took the mound in the top of the ninth inning with a 2–0 lead, aiming to become the fourth pitcher in Marlins franchise history to record back-to-back complete-game shutouts. After surrendering a double and a walk, manager Clayton McCullough made his most controversial move of the young season, removing his ace in favor of Anthony Bender,” Fish on First’s Kevin Barral wrote.
Alcantara is a Cy Young Award winner and more than capable of adding another to his résumé. He is also on a $56 million contract, which would be manageable for an organization like the Dodgers.
Adding Alcantara would make an already elite rotation even more dangerous. If Los Angeles were to acquire him, it would further widen the gap between them and the rest of the league.