It seems that if the New York Yankees want to try again to acquire 2022 Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara in the offseason, the asking price will probably be the top player in their minor league system.
Heading into Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, adding another impact starter was reportedly a goal of general manager Brian Cashman and New York’s front office. And rumors claimed that Miami Marlins starters Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera were two players targeted by the pinstripes.
Obviously, a deal did not happen yesterday. But a new report from New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman has shed light on why.
“Yankees declined to give up either Spencer Jones or George Lombard Jr. for Sandy Alcantara. Marlins control Alcantara and Edward Cabrera for multiple years after 2025 so they needed something big. Cubs and Red Sox tried hardest there but no one came especially close.”
Jon Heyman
George Lombard Jr. is the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees system. And is considered among the 30 best in baseball in MLB.com’s latest rankings. Lombard is among their five best. However, his value has exploded in 2025 via a dominant season in Triple-A. The 6-foot-7 slugger is hitting .402 at Triple-A with 13 homers and 25 RBIs. His play has New York brass feeling like he can be a building block for the future.
While Alcantara was one of the league’s best pitchers two years ago, he has not been the same after missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery. As we enter August, he owns a 6.36 ERA and is still struggling to recapture his previous form. If the two-time All-Star was playing at that level this season, the Yankees may have been more willing to part with Jones or Lombard Jr.
However, it is understandable why this did not want to give up a pair of players they are very high on. Especially for a pitcher who may never be able to return to the player he was before TJ surgery.
