YANKEES ARE GEARING UP FOR SANDY

The trade deadline is creeping up faster than a 2-0 fastball, and the Yankees have two glaring needs that even blindfolded fans can see: a starting pitcher and an infielder who can actually hit above .220. At the top of the pitching rumor mill? None other than Sandy Alcantara, who’s been flirting with Yankees speculation more than Aaron Judge flirts with the short porch.

Now, let’s talk turkey. Alcantara isn’t just some random name off the waiver wire. The guy throws gas — averaging 97 mph — and comes fully loaded with a four-seamer, a sinker, a nasty slider, a deceptive changeup, and a curveball that makes hitters rethink their life choices. He’s also just 29, not outrageously priced ($17.3 million this year), and if you squint hard enough, you can still see flashes of the Cy Young winner he once was.

Of course, there’s a catch. He’s coming off Tommy John surgery, and since his return in 2025, he’s lugging around an ERA north of 7 like it’s carry-on luggage. The strikeout numbers are down, the walks are up, and there’s enough inconsistency to make any GM hesitate for a second. But not long — because in Yankee Stadium, risk is just another flavor of opportunity.

Let’s be honest: Max Fried and Carlos Rodón have been lights-out this season — both 2025 All-Stars — but October doesn’t come with participation trophies. The Yankees need more depth, more dominance, and more durability to survive the playoff gauntlet. And Sandy? He just might be the boom-or-bust piece that tips the scales.

Plus, with the Marlins neck-deep in a rebuild, you can bet they’re not going to sit on Alcantara like he's a long-term piece. If they’re smart, they’ll cash out now before his value becomes a rehab case. That’s where the Yankees step in — kings of the "we'll fix him" philosophy. They've done it before. They’ll do it again.

So buckle up. If the Yankees land Alcantara and plug that infield gap before the deadline, the rest of the league better hope the Bombers forget how to hit. Otherwise? It’s October in the Bronx — and business is about to pick up. That's my take.