The most polarizing trade target at the MLB trade deadline for the Chicago Cubs was Miami Marlins' starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. A former National League Cy Young Award winner, Alcantara made his return this season from Tommy John surgery that wiped out his entire 2024 campaign, and during the first half of the season, he was arguably the worst starting pitcher in baseball. Still, given the success and swing-and-miss stuff he has flashed in the past, Alcantara was a popular name bandied about at the deadline.
As was the case with all controllable starting pitchers on the market, Alcantara stayed put at the deadline.