Around the Diamond: Jake McCarthy relishing veteran role with young Rockies

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After five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jake McCarthy enters the 2026 season with a new team, a new shade of purple, and a new role.

The veteran outfielder for a young Colorado Rockies squad that is looking to build upward from a 43-119 2025 season.

“It reminds me a lot of when I got called up in 2021 and the young team I played on in 2022,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s fun to be a part of something ascending and I think we’re going in the right direction here.”

The 2021 Diamondbacks finished 52-110 but demonstrated the building blocks of what would be their run to the World Series two years later. Through the rubble of the previous season, Colorado saw Hunter Goodman emerge as a franchise cornerstone at catcher (31 HR, 91 RBI), Mickey Moniak (24 HR, .270 BA) finally emerge in his first season on his third team. McCarthy joins an outfield core that includes Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck, both solid hitters and elite defenders.

This year’s Rockies also feature the corner infield duo of TJ Rumfield, who homered off Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez in Saturday’s 4-3 loss, and Kyle Karros, the son of Ex-big leaguer Eric Karros. There is also the potential of Ezequiel Tovar rebounding to his 2024 form, where he hit 26 home runs and earned a gold glove at shortstop. He hit a two-run home run off Perez in the fourth inning.

“I think there are a lot of young, really talented players here who are eager to prove themselves,” McCarthy said. “I think the more experience they get, the better overall club we’ll get.”

An athletic outfielder, McCarthy was no stranger to altitude prior to joining the Rockies. Aside from playing in Denver during his time as a division rival, he also spent his Triple-A years in Reno, NV, which has an elevation of 4,498 ft.

“You’ve got to just get more reps under your belt there,” McCarthy said. “I do think I have at least some experience in playing in elevations and sort of the bigger outfields with the ball carrying a little bit.”

At his best, McCarthy is a speed demon on the base paths. He averaged 24 stolen bases from 2022 to 2024. Coors Field is a ballpark that rewards speed on offense but requires it on defense.

“We want to use that park to our advantage,” McCarthy said.

Marlins Opening Day the start of a crucial season for Sandy Alcantara

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No Miami Marlins pitcher has started on Opening Day as often as Sandy Alcantara.

The first prized prospect netted in the Bruce Sherman ownership era, Alcantara made his big league debut in 2018 and he has been the ace of the Fighting Fish ever since, with two playoff appearances and a Cy Young award to his name.

Alcantara started the all-so crucial 2026 season with a strikeout. He finished his sixth Opening Day start with a seven-inning gem allowing no earned runs on four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in a Marlins 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.

“We know this is a long season,” Alcantara said, “and it’s better when you start winning.”

It was the type of performance that had first baseman Connor Norby proclaiming it as “vintage Sandy” during his postgame interview.

“Everything was working today,” Alcantara said. “Put a lot of sweeper in today and we’ve got to see the result.”

That sweeper is what has the Marlins confident in the 30-year-old’s chances of returning to his peak form. After returning from Tommy John surgery and struggling through the first half of 2025, Alcantara went 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 13 starts, signaling a potential return to greatness this year.

“He’s building on that this year by adding a new pitch, adding a sweeper,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. “His changeup is even better than before. It’s really the version of Sandy from a few years ago.”

Alcantara is in the final year of a five-year, $56M extension he signed in 2022, just before he won the 2022 Cy Young (2.28 ERA, 8.0 WAR, 228.2 IP, 207K). His contract also contains a team option for 2027, which has given the ace a lot of trade value.

However, Alcantara is more valuable to a Marlins team that is gearing up for a potential playoff push.

“Sandy’s really important to this organization,” Bendix said, “the things that he’s accomplished here, what he means to this organization. We know that and I think he’s proud of that. We’re proud of that.

Miami won 79 games last year with ascending talent and when the Marlins were at their best, so was Sandy. Should he and Eury Perez, who starts on Saturday, reach their potential this year, this young Marlins team could be positioned to compete for the postseason.

“I think this year could be maybe the best year yet for Sandy,” Bendix said.

Miami baseball rolling after four-game sweep over Lafayette

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If nothing else, the No. 23 Miami Hurricanes baseball team has proven to be the class of the Patriot League.

The Hurricanes concluded their opening weekend series against Lehigh by scoring 27 runs. Lehigh’s rival, Lafayette, did not prove to be any more of a challenge.

Miami hit nine home runs, including five in the fourth inning, to complete a four-game sweep over Lafayette with a 30-5 win on Sunday. As wild as that sounds, the Hurricanes only totaled 28 runs during their two seven-inning wins in Saturday’s doubleheader.

Daniel Cuvet hit two of the Canes’ five fourth-inning home runs including a grand slam to drive his RBI total to 13 on the season. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, a Hurricane hitter has smashed a grand slam.

“It was a great inning,” Cuvet said after the game. “The guys were able to get on base for me.”

Cuvet has been a star in Miami since first donning the orange and green. He smashed 24 home runs as a freshman and drove in 84 runs as a sophomore. He seems on pace for both totals after the first two weeks of his junior season.

This series was a coming-out party for freshman Dylan Dubovik, who despite starting only two of the six games he’s played this season, has batted .846 with three home runs and 11 RBI. Much like Cuvet on Sunday, Dobovik hit two home runs, including a grand slam, on Saturday.

Alex Sosa, a junior catcher who transferred from North Carolina State, homered on Friday and Sunday against Lafayette and leads the Hurricanes with 17 RBI while tied with Cuvet for the team lead with five dingers.

The Miami pitching is showing top form as well. AJ Ciscar has 16 strikeouts in 11 innings with a 2.45 ERA in two starts. After a 10-strikeout performance on Saturday, Larazo Collera has 18 total punch-outs in 9.2 innings.

Miami faced similar competition last year, but did not beat them like they are now. The Hurricanes scored 57 runs against Lehigh and 73 runs against Lafayette. Against their toughest opponent, Central Florida, the Canes stormed back from a 5-0 deficit and won on a walk-off home run in extra innings.

Throughout the series against a mid-major opponent Miami was certain to beat, the Hurricanes enjoyed the energy of a packed crowd at Mark Light Field.

“It’s amazing,” Dobovik said after Saturday’s game. “This is kind of like my backyard, my hometown.”

Miami will truly be tested in the upcoming week. The Hurricanes will travel north to Florida Atlantic on Wednesday before hosting No. 14 Florida during the weekend. The Owls are coming off avoiding a home sweep against Iowa with a 3-2 win on Sunday while the Gators enter the week 7-1 and will host FIU for a mid-week series.

This week will test just how good Miami can be, but after two weeks and a lot of fireworks, the focus and chemistry are already there.

“It’s pretty easy to stay locked in,” Cuvet said. “It’s a fun group of guys.”

The Three Most Underrated Miami Marlins Acquisitions of the Offseason

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Peter Bendix & Co. have been extremely busy this offseason, especially in the past month, with six (6!!) trades occurring in the past month, with the most recent one being the addition of Bradley Blalock to the Marlins bullpen depth. Between waiver claims and big league trades, the Miami Marlins are going to look very different this upcoming season. There have been big acquisitions, like Pete Fairbanks or Owen Caissie, but there are a lot of players that fly under the radar.

 

Player One: Brendan Jones (OF)

Brendan Jones is a player who, if you squint your eyes, may seem a little familiar to you. In fact, his 2025 season is very similar to fellow Marlin Jakob Marsee’s MiLB 2025 stats. With a matching 126 wRC+, BB% and K% within 1% difference of each other, and 10+ HR and 45+ SB, they are a near carbon copy. Jones flew under the radar initially by Marlins fans since the most intriguing piece in that acquisition is the outfielder (chosen one round later in the 2024 draft) Dillon Lewis. One big change I want to see from Jones is to begin to swing more for line drives. He currently sits at about 44.6% on his fly ball rate, and 22.3% on his line drive rate. With Jones’ speed, beginning to spray balls instead of launching them will allow him to be able to utilize his legs on the basepaths more. Jones should be expected to start in AAA-Jacksonville with a crowded competition, but his athleticism and attitude will make him a mainstay in the majors for a long time.

 

Player Two: Edward Cabrera (RHP)

I know, I know. We traded away Edward Cabrera, we didn’t trade for him. Now, Edward was stellar last year, with a 2.8 bWAR, a 125 ERA+, and a 3.53 ERA. Edward also pitched his career high in innings last season at 137 IP. However, with his 4 prior seasons with the Marlins, he had only pitched 294 innings in 63 G, for a 4.4 bWAR, averaging 4.2 IP per outing, with 5.14 BB/9. However, with the subtraction of Edward Cabrera, it allows the freedom for players like Robby Snelling and Thomas White to start the season in the majors. Robby Snelling, who came over in the Tanner Scott trade from San Diego, is poised for a big rookie season, after holding a 1.27 ERA in his first taste of AAA with a 11.5 K/9, while holding baserunners to a minimal 0.99 WHIP. Clearing up this rotational space allows an opportunity for the Marlins MLB ready pitchers to showcase their talents in the majors.

 

Player Three: Christopher Morel (1B/3B/OF)

The Marlins first MLB signing of this offseason, Christopher Morel comes to Miami after some really rough seasons in Tampa. Morel’s biggest flaw has been his struggle against the fastball. In 2024, he hit .164 off the 4-seam, and last season he hit .207 off the 4-seam. If he can find a way to become serviceable against the fastball, and learn to chase less, his bat can become impactful again. Even in his struggles last year, he still slugged, with a high bat speed of 76 MPH and an average exit velocity of 91.8 MPH. Now, Morel is scheduled to play a majority of his innings at 1B, a position in which he has not played at all in his professional baseball career thus far. It will be interesting to see how he fares defensively, and if that takes any focus away from his offensive capabilities. All that being said, I do expect Morel to be a positive WAR player. At $2 million this season, if there isn’t a positive impact, it’ll be an easy pill to swallow.

The Fish Are Still Fighting? How The Miami Marlins Can Make the MLB Playoffs

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Photo Credits- (1) Miami Marlins – Search / X

If I would have told you before the MLB season that with 6 games left to play the Miami Marlins could still make the playoffs, you would have called my delusional. Well, I’m here to say that I would have been right.

Yet here we are. The Miami Marlins have exceeded all expectations this year under first-year manager Clayton McCullough. Currently sitting at 76-80, they are alive for a winning season and even a playoff spot, having far outperformed their preseason projection of roughly 60 wins.

This season has been full of surprises, from trade speculation surrounding their aces to questions about lineup consistency and McCullough’s leadership. Despite all of that, the Marlins have life. Here is how they could pull off this improbable run.

The Marlins currently hold the tiebreaker over both the Giants and the Reds, who are both ahead of them. Their next three games against the Phillies are absolutely crucial to their slim playoff hopes and could possibly set up a huge weekend finale against the New York Mets at LoanDepot Park. Here is what would need to happen for the Marlins to clinch a spot:

  • Miami must go 5-1 or better in their final six games

  • New York Mets must go 1-5 or worse

  • Cincinnati Reds must go 1-5 or worse

  • Arizona Diamondbacks must go 1-5 or worse

  • St. Louis Cardinals must go 4-2 or worse

  • San Francisco Giants must go 4-2 or worse

Yes, the odds are long. Yes, it may feel impossible. But that is the beauty of baseball. The Marlins are a young, hungry team, and this season has already been nothing short of miraculous. They have proven they can compete with anyone, even amid skepticism and low expectations.

Looking ahead, the future is bright. The free agent market is full of stars, Miami has talent at the major league level and throughout the minor leagues, and this team has shown it has fight. The 2025 season may not end with a playoff berth, but it has laid the groundwork for optimism and excitement heading into next year.

One thing is certain: the fish are still fighting, and they have a huge offseason ahead of them.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Rhyne Howard drains nine threes, tying the single-game record again, leading the Dream over the Sparks

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The Dream, minus All-Star Allisha Gray (knee), completed their miniseries at home (2-0) against the desperate Sparks, overwhelming them by going to the body and with a surplus of threes. Rhyne Howard and Maya Caldwell made up for most of the latter, shooting them up worse than Scarface at his last stand. The win also gave the hosts home-court advantage through the first round of the playoffs.

 

In combat sports, these types of matchups are called tune-ups because eventually one side will take off like a jet next to a dust cropper. In this case, the Dream pulled away in the second half as if they were in another time zone.

 

Nobody needed to wait long for the fireworks. Howard swished five triples on and off the dribble, plus nailed two freebies in the first quarter. Yet the Sparks were still within striking distance because of Dearica Hamby’s paint pressure, and outside shooting from Rickea Jackson and Kelsey Plum.

 

The visitors hung around, but Howard added another pair of 3-pointers and dribbled into the lane for two close-range baskets, lifting her output to a career-high of 29 first-half digits.

 

The Dream led 56-52 at halftime. Despite little separation on the scoreboard, one of the differences was Brittney Griner, standing at 6-foot-9, was a mismatch in the lane, too.

 

Then the game plan shifted as Brionna Jones punctured the heart of the defense four times. The problems were that her teammates went cold, and Atlanta’s defense had lost its teeth going back to the first frame.

 

It took Howard almost seven minutes to drain her first second-half triple as she curled around a dribble handoff at the top of the key, extending the lead to 11. That was also Atlanta’s 11th straight point coming out of a timeout halfway into the third. She buried another pull-up trey as 28 seconds were left in the third quarter.

 

The hosts were never in danger of losing their lead in the fourth, and they held LA to 25% shooting. Howard stayed through most of garbage time, too, looking for the 3-point record (10) but finished after 37 minutes.

 

The Dream won 104-85. They also outscored the Sparks by 26 off the bench. It was Howard’s second time logging nine 3-pointers this season, the current record for most made in a game, and her first was on June 13. The other players to share this record are Kelsey Mitchell (Sept. 9, 2019, Jewell Loyd (July 11, 2023) and Arike Ogunbowale (Sept. 1, 2024).

 

Miami Marlins Trade Deadline Outlook

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We are just under 24 hours away from the 2025 MLB trade deadline and the Marlins are in prime position to accelerate their World Series window. The Marlins sit at 52-55 (after winning their 5th series in a row for the first time since 2017) and are 7.0 games back from the Wild Card. Not in a position to buy, but rather a soft sell, one where they maintain their quality talent, bright future, and add guys that can help win in the next few years. So here are the players to watch as the deadline approaches, and my predictions of where they will land.

  • On Tuesday the Marlins sent catcher Nick Fortes to the Tampa Bay Rays, in return for outfielder prospect Matthew Etzel. Etzel was ranked as the Rays’ No. 28 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Anthony Bender

In a good way for the Marlins the relief pitcher market has been hot, seeing the Mets take two relievers in Tyler Rogers and Ryan Hesley, the Phillies snagging Jhoan Duran and many other moves. For the Marlins Bender should begin to get some interest as it has been reported that the Padres had interest before these moves. With the market for relievers heating up and many World Series hopeful teams in need of back of the line bullpen help, Bender seems like a perfect option. His return could be good for the Marlins as he is under team control until 2027. Bender is having a career year with a 1.83 ERA, a .097 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts over 44.1 innings.

  • Prediction, Blue Jays. The Jays have taken control of the AL East and need pitching help, both starting and relieving.

Edward Cabrera

Edward Cabrera is insanely talented, and when he is healthy, he’s a top pitcher in this league, unfortunately his health is shaky, and it may be in the Marlins best interest to move him at his highest value. The 27-year-old is having a good season, holding a 3.35 ERA and 96 strikeouts. Cabrera has three more years of team control, meaning the Marlins would need a haul in return, but many teams need a starting pitcher for their playoff push, especially with injuries piling up.

  • Prediction Tigers, need a 2 next to Skubal, have the talent to get a deal done.

Sandy Alcantara

Sandy Alcantara is one of the best pitchers in franchise history and has been struggling mightily since his return from Tommy John surgery. But his last two starts are promising in hopes that he can be moved at this deadline at his value of a Cy Young level pitcher.

Sandy Alcantara‘s last two starts:

7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K

If this is Sandy’s last pitch as a Marlin, no better way to go out. Bases loaded, big spot, and gets the strikeout to leave the runners stranded.

  • Prediction, I expect the Marlins to be quite firm on their stance with Sandy. He’s one of the franchise’s best arms; he is returning to form and is under team control until 2027 with a club option for 2028. A pitcher of Sandy’s caliber doesn’t get traded for nothing, especially as he returns to form. I predict Sandy to the Cubs who are in dire need of rotational help (trading for Soroka does not change my stance).

Cal Quantrill

The most obvious option here is Cal Quantrill who is overlooked as the Marlins have two major pitchers on the market. That being said moving Quantrill would be smart as he is the Marlins only expiring contract.

Cal Quantrill last 3 starts: 16 IP 8 H 1 ER 10 KS

  • Prediction, I’m not too sure on Quantrill’s market, but I am going to throw the Padres out there.

Jesus Sanchez

Last but not least, Jesus Sanchez. An above average outfielder who has power potential from the left side and can play the field at a good level. The 27-year-old outfielder has two more years of arbitration before hitting free agency and can help a team that needs a spark in the middle of their lineup.

  • Prediction, the Houston Astros. The Astros need some offense as it’s been their pitching propelling them back to the top of the American league. The Astros are dealing with a mountain of injuries that can’t go without notice, yet they continue to win ball games. Adding a bat and getting healthy will be crucial for their World Series dreams.

Final Outlook

The Marlins are in a good spot with a lot of talent blooming. Stowers, Eury, Henriquez, Ramirez, Junk, Edwards and many more. The farm is deep and there is also a lot of young talent who hasn’t seen the field due to injury. Peter Bendix has things figured out in South Florida, and a World Series window can be opened as long as they hit this deadline out of the park. The Marlins have the control in this sweepstakes as their guys are under team control, hold firm on your stance and let the World Series hopefuls make their desperate offers.

Junk has been showing his stuff for the Marlins

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CINCINNATI, Ohio – Over 20,000 people have played in a Major League Baseball game. Every single one of their journeys is different, and Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk’s is no exception. 

 

From Federal Way, Washington, and a former Seattle University player, Junk was drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft–a round that no longer exists. It was the first step that shaped an underdog journey for Junk

 

“I’ve always had something to prove,” Junk told 5RSN. “I’m thankful the Yankees took me because they did teach me a lot.”

 

There’s a lot of growth that comes with jumping from the amateurs to the professional level, and Junk says the Yankees taught him a lot on how to evaluate himself from an analytical standpoint.

 

“College was more motivational, building that competitive nature. When I got to the bigs, analytics were getting really big, so it was good to see that my stuff was actually good.”

 

The first time Junk had to face adversity in his professional career was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Minor League Baseball canceled its season. Teams began setting up alternate sites near their ballpark, where top prospects and other minor leaguers could stay fresh and be ready in case of a COVID-19 breakout amongst the big league team. Junk wasn’t invited, so he stayed back with his trainer, Kyle Rogers, in Washington to stay ready for the 2021 season.

 

Once 2021 rolled around and Minor League Baseball returned, Junk made his largest stride to that point with the help of an influential coach. “Daniel Vazquez was my pitching coach in AA at the beginning of the year; he’s one of the most influential, smart, relatable, good humans,” Junk said. “He’s just fun to be around and have as your pitching coach, and he helped me along the way that year, and luckily I had probably my best year.”

 

Junk pitched well enough that the Los Angeles Angels made sure he was in the trade package for Andrew Heaney, as Junk moved organizations for the first time in his career. After one month at AA-Rocket City, the day had finally come–Junk was a Major Leaguer. On September 3rd, 2021, Junk got the call. However, it wouldn’t last long, as Junk was optioned to AAA-Salt Lake City just mere weeks later. It was the start of a series of options back and forth between AAA and MLB, as Junk would be sent between the two levels a grand total of five times between 2021 and 2022.

 

“It was naive thinking that once you get there, you’re gonna stay there forever. It’s a typical saying that it’s easy to get there but harder to stay,” Junk said. “I had a lot of pressure in moments where I thought if I don’t perform well, I’m gonna get sent back down, then it’s like, what more can I do?”

 

After a year and a half in the Angels’ organization, Junk was traded to Milwaukee in October 2022 as part of a package for Hunter Renfroe. 2023 was more of the same for Junk, getting sent between AAA and Milwaukee, but 2024 presented a new challenge–getting moved to the bullpen.

 

“I enjoyed my time in Milwaukee; they were good to me, but I felt like I never got a good opportunity to show myself before I got moved to the bullpen,” Junk said.

 

After burning through all of Junk’s minor league options, the Brewers designated him for assignment right before the 2024 trade deadline. This would be a series of DFAs for Junk, which he called the roughest two months of his career. 

 

Now, in 2025, it seems like Junk has finally found stability with the Marlins. After moving from the bullpen back into a starting role, he leads the team in pitching WAR and is on the heels of back-to-back dominating outings, allowing two or fewer earned runs. 

 

There’s been a variety of reasons why Junk’s been able to have success with the Marlins, but his living situation is the most ideal it’s been since entering the big leagues.

 

“I really value my personal space and having my own space off the field…I have my wife (in Miami) living with me, which is our first year doing that, so it’s been a pleasure to have her support,” Junk said.

 

The new-era Marlins have caught the league’s attention over the past couple of weeks, having sported a 19-11 record over their last 30 games entering Wednesday’s contest. The new winning culture that’s been brought into the clubhouse has affected Junk in a positive manner, to no one’s surprise.

 

“It’s a great group of young, hungry guys that just mesh really well from position players, to the bullpen, to the coaching staff, it all just intertwines so well,” Junk said.

 

Junk’s 2025 season has been nothing short of impressive, as he sports a 3.12 ERA and 2.00 FIP between five bullpen appearances and four starts since his callup in May. With the Marlins surprisingly finding themselves in the mix for a Wild Card spot in July, Junk will be looked upon to lead the way for this rotation.

Sandy Alcantara Is Heating Up — Just in Time for the Trade Deadline

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Sandy Alcantara Is Heating Up — Just in Time for the Trade Deadline

Sandy Alcantara opened the 2025 season in a troubling slump, looking like a shadow of the Cy Young winner he once was. At one point, his ERA sat above 6.00, and the elite command and velocity that once defined his game had all but vanished. I dove into those early-season struggles in this in-depth analysis, breaking down the mechanical and approach-related issues that led to his rocky start.

I wrote an article breaking down what was wrong with him earlier in the season that you can read here.

But now? Sandy is back.

Over his last four starts — against playoff-caliber teams like the Braves and Phillies, as well as the Rockies and Pirates — Alcantara has posted a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings. He’s regained his feel for the strike zone, cut down on walks, and looked far more in control of the game. His fastball velocity has ticked back up, and he’s doing damage with his changeup again. Since June 1, he’s shaved two full runs off his ERA, reminding everyone why he was once among the best pitchers in the sport.

Perfect Timing — for Both Sandy and the Marlins

The timing couldn’t be better. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Marlins are expected to field offers for Alcantara ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. And they’re not desperate sellers: if a team doesn’t meet their asking price, Miami is prepared to hold firm. With Sandy under contract through next season and a team option for 2027, they’re in a position of leverage.

That means no rental discount. Any team acquiring him is getting a legitimate top-of-the-rotation starter — not just for the stretch run, but potentially for multiple seasons.

Who’s Calling?

There’s a real market for pitching this year, and Alcantara could sit atop it. The contenders who fit the mold — teams that need an arm and have the prospect capital to make a deal — include:

  • Blue Jays: In need of rotation stability and under pressure to make a playoff push (4.22 team ERA 23rd in baseball).

    • Martinez, 2B/3B

    • Trey Yesavage, RHP

    • Jake Bloss, RHP

    Cubs: Looking for another frontline starter to pair with Shota Imanaga and after Justin Steele’s injury.

    • Matt Shaw, INF (MLB No. 25)

    • Cade Horton, RHP (MLB No. 31)

    • Owen Caissie, OF (MLB No. 36)

    Dodgers: Always in the mix for elite talent, and their depth at the upper minors makes them a top candidate.

    • Dalton Rushing, C/OF (MLB No. 39)

    • Josue De Paula, OF (MLB No. 49)

    • River Ryan, RHP (MLB No. 65)

    Padres: They’ve been aggressive before and have been scouting pitching closely.

    • Ethan Salas, C (MLB No. 20)

    • Leodalis De Vries, SS (MLB No. 47)

    • Kash Mayfield, LHP

    Red Sox: Clinging to Wild Card relevance, but with enough top-end talent to swing a deal (best farm on this list).

    • Marcelo Mayer, SS (MLB No. 5)

    • Roman Anthony, OF (MLB No. 14)

    • Kyle Teel, C (MLB No. 27)

    Astros: Add a veteran Cy Young to Christian Javier, Hunter Brown, and Framber Valdez as they push to return to glory.

    • Jacob Melton, OF

    • Walker Janek, C

    • Brice Matthews, SS/3B

    Mets (My Favorite): They have the resources and a front office that’s shown it can pivot quickly, especially with recent injury to Griffin Canning.

    • Brandon Sproat, RHP (MLB No. 40)

    • Jett Williams, SS/OF (MLB No. 57)

    • Drew Gilbert, OF (MLB No. 82)

    Rays?!?: This is the best Rays team in a long time, and we know the depth of their farm. With Taj Bradley’s inconsistency and uncertainty surrounding Shane McClanahan, do the Rays try and make a run with the depth of their farm?

    • Carson Williams, SS (MLB No. 6)

    • Xavier Isaac, 1B (MLB No. 21)

Some have floated the Orioles as a possibility, but they simply aren’t playing competitive enough baseball right now to justify giving up key pieces of their farm system. If Miami holds until the winter, that door may open, but for now, Baltimore likely sits this one out.

For prospect rankings and scouting reports, A deep dive into each team’s updated Top 30 Prospects list

Analysis:

The Mets and Dodgers seem like the most aggressive fits due to their resources and recent trade tendencies, with the Cubs and Padres close behind if they prioritize a postseason push. The Rays are a wild card, but their conservative approach might keep them on the sidelines. Miami’s decision to trade Alcantara now or wait until the winter will hinge on the quality of prospect packages offered, with teams like the Mets, Cubs, and Dodgers likely able to meet their high asking price. No clear favorite has emerged, but the Mets’ urgency and prospect depth make them a slight frontrunner in my eyes.

Important to note the Marlins need to try and get three or more high end prospects in a deal for Alcantara. 

Every Start Matters Now

The Marlins will be closely monitoring every inning Alcantara throws from now through July. His next outing — Saturday, June 28, against Brandon Pfaadt and the Diamondbacks — will be another key data point. With many expected to be paying close attention and trade talks heating up, each pitch carries real weight.

The better Sandy pitches, the more Miami can ask for. And if he keeps this up, he won’t just be a trade chip — he might be the pitcher that shapes the playoff race.

 

Who Will Represent the Marlins at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?

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Who Will Represent the Marlins at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?

We’re just under a month away from the 2025 MLB All-Star Game (July 15), and unfortunately, the Marlins aren’t getting much love in fan voting. Not a single Marlin currently ranks in the top 10 at any position. Miami enters today 13 games under .500, remains one of the youngest rosters in baseball, and ranks near the bottom in attendance. But despite the struggles, a few young standouts have made a strong case for All-Star recognition—if only the process wasn’t driven so heavily by fan votes.

Reminder: Every MLB team must have at least one All-Star representative. Rosters will be filled out after fan voting concludes.
All-Star FAQ: How players are selected

Dane Myers – OF

Myers has quietly put together a breakout campaign and should be the leading candidate to represent the Marlins. A true five-tool player, he’s showing off elite defense, solid power, and speed. Myers has swiped eight bags and owns a 136 OPS+ (league average is 100). He ranks in the top 70th percentile in defensive run value and has tallied a team-leading 1.4 WAR—even while bouncing in and out of the lineup.

If he qualified, Myers would rank:

  • 6th among NL outfielders in OPS

  • 1st in batting average

  • 3rd in on-base percentage

If he keeps it up through early July, Myers should be Miami’s All-Star.

(1) MLB on X: “This is an absolutely ridiculous catch by Dane Myers 😳 https://t.co/yvN4Hk0HQq” / X

(1) MLB on X: “Dane Myers put his body on the line to rob Jung Hoo Lee of extra bases 👀 https://t.co/ij5HikLIoF” / X

Kyle Stowers – OF

Stowers has arguably been the Marlins’ most consistent hitter this season. He leads the team in home runs (10), RBIs (34), and triples (3), while posting a strong .803 OPS—top 10 among National League outfielders. His season has had ups and downs (including a walk-off grand slam and a few three-strikeout games), but he’s been a steady presence in the lineup.

If Myers cools off, Stowers might get the nod.

(1) MLB on X: “101.7 MPH coming in 🔥 107.2 MPH coming out 💥 Kyle Stowers CLOBBERS a walk-off grand slam against Mason Miller 🤯 https://t.co/ruddk8jMIS” / X

Anthony Bender – RP

Sometimes the All-Star rep comes from the bullpen, and Bender fits that mold perfectly. With a 2.45 ERA and only nine runs allowed over nearly 30 innings, Bender has quietly become one of the most reliable Marlins. His breaking ball is elite, with an 8-run value on Statcast. While he may not be a household name, he’s certainly earned consideration—and could be trade bait for a contender in July.

(1) Jeremiah Geiger on X: “Anthony Bender Frisbee sweeper https://t.co/JF182Go0bZ” / X

Heriberto Hernandez – DH/OF

Hernandez has been electric in limited action. Acquired after the Rays released him this winter, he’s slashing .353/.405/.500 with a 148 OPS+. The sample size is small, but his impact has been big. If he keeps hitting and stays in the lineup through June, Hernandez could be a dark horse All-Star—and a fan favorite for years to come.
Check out Heriberto’s Baseball Savant Page.

(1) MLB on X: “Heriberto Hernandez clubs his first Major League home run for the @Marlins! https://t.co/CoS35ezEHW” / X

Final Take

The Marlins are guaranteed at least one All-Star, and while Myers is the best story so far, Stowers and Bender are right behind him. Hernandez is one to watch. Either way, these players represent hope for the franchise’s future—whether they stay to build it or are moved at the deadline.

And don’t forget—vote for your favorite Marlins before Phase 1 closes!