Miami Marlins Intended to Retain Sandy Alcantara
The club plans to pick up the veteran pitcher's $21 million option for the 2027 season.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Baseball
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The Miami Marlins have signaled an intent to exercise the $21 million club option for pitcher Sandy Alcantara for the 2027 season. This decision anchors the rotation with a former Cy Young Award winner despite his recent recovery from surgery.
Why it matters
Retaining Alcantara provides the Marlins with a franchise icon and a stable veteran presence for their roster. The team views his leadership as crucial for the upcoming season as they look to build on a 3.87 ERA performance from 2026.
Alcantara finished the 2026 season with a 3.87 earned run average and a 17.1% strikeout rate. The Marlins also remain responsible for a remaining $3 million payment owed to Giancarlo Stanton.
The players
Sandy Alcantara
He is a veteran starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022.
Giancarlo Stanton
He is a professional baseball player currently owed a final $3 million by the Miami Marlins organization.
Miami Marlins
They are a professional Major League Baseball franchise based in Florida that has not signed a multi-year free agent since Jean Segura.
The details
The Marlins retain the right to either pick up the $21 million option or buy out the contract for $2 million to send the pitcher to free agency. This move follows Alcantara's return to the field after missing the 2024 season to recover from Tommy John surgery.
Timeline
2022: Sandy Alcantara won the National League Cy Young Award.
2023: Alcantara's season ERA rose to 4.14.
2024: The pitcher missed the entire season due to Tommy John surgery.
2025: Alcantara recorded an ERA of 5.36.
2027: The potential return season for Alcantara on his club option.
Season Trajectory
The decision to retain Alcantara signals a departure from recent trends where the club avoided long-term commitments to free agents. This move stabilizes the rotation and serves as the foundation for the club's strategy to become more active in the upcoming free agency period.
The activation of the $21 million club option accounts for a significant portion of the team's remaining payroll flexibility for 2027. Fans should expect the team to balance this salary commitment against their stated plans to pursue additional talent in the offseason.
The takeaway
The Marlins are clearly prioritizing veteran stability over the financial flexibility that a $2 million buyout would have provided. Fans should monitor whether this investment in a franchise icon leads to further aggressive spending during the current offseason.
Further reading
For more updates on the roster, visit Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MLB Trade Rumors.
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