The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing uncertainty with their starting pitchers due to injuries, including Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, with Clayton Kershaw's return also in question. As the trade deadline approaches, the Dodgers might be interested in acquiring Miami Marlins' Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young winner currently struggling with a 6.56 ERA. While Alcantara's current form is a concern, his potential for improvement on a successful team like the Dodgers could make him a valuable acquisition. Despite his high ERA, his reputation as a top pitcher and his team-friendly contract through 2027 may still keep his trade value significant. However, if his performance doesn't improve, the Marlins might be forced to lower their asking price, potentially allowing for a more favorable deal for the Dodgers.

Starting pitching injuries are impacting the Dodgers' season early, with uncertainty around the availability of key players like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, and the potential duration of Clayton Kershaw's contributions.

The Dodgers have a history of being active at the trade deadline, and given their current pitching challenges, they might pursue additional talent, similar to their acquisition of Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers the previous year.

Miami Marlins' pitcher Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young winner, is struggling with a 6.56 ERA in the current season, which could make him a target for the Dodgers seeking to bolster their rotation.

Despite Alcantara's current struggles, his reputation and team-friendly contract make him a valuable asset, and the Marlins might still demand a high price, citing his previous achievements.

If Alcantara's performance does not improve significantly, the Marlins might be compelled to lower his trade value, potentially allowing a team like the Dodgers to acquire him at a bargain, with hopes of revitalizing his form.

Alcantara is under team control through 2027, including a club option, meaning the Marlins have the flexibility to wait for the right deal if his performance doesn't warrant an immediate trade.

The Dodgers, as reigning World Series champions, could provide the right environment for Alcantara to regain his top form, making a trade mutually beneficial if the conditions align by the deadline.

Starting pitching injuries are once again playing a role in the Los Angeles Dodgers' season.

It's still only April, but the Dodgers currently don't know when Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will be available again. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani still isn't close to returning to the mound, and there's no telling how long Clayton Kershaw's eventual return might last.

The Dodgers are always active at the trade deadline, and unless everyone gets healthy between now and then, they may very well go after starting pitching again--as they did when they landed Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers last July.

This time around, the Dodgers, like many teams, could be after the Miami Marlins' Sandy Alcantara. And because the former Cy Young winner is off to a slow start this season, one baseball writer believes the Dodgers may stand a better chance to get a bargain.

On Sunday, Katrina Stebbins of FanSided wrote that the "price is dropping" to trade for Alcantara thanks to his 6.56 ERA through five starts, potentially opening the door for the Dodgers to make a splash.

"Alcantara still wouldn't be a terribly easy get — he'll continue to be regarded as a top arm, and the Marlins would cite his Cy Young in order to get his price as high as it can possibly go," Stebbins wrote.

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"But if he has a 6.00+ ERA by the trade deadline, it's going to be really hard for the Marlins to ask for much... It'd be incredibly characteristic for (the Dodgers) to trade for a struggling but formerly great starter and get him right back to winning form. That could be Alcantara."

One has to imagine that if Alcantara did still have an ERA that high, the Dodgers either wouldn't be all that interested, or the Marlins would wait until the offseason or next trade deadline to make a deal, since he's under team control through 2027 including a club option. 

But it's certainly conceivable that the righty could find his best form on a new team as opposed to the rebuilding Marlins, and there's no better team to play for these days than the reigning World Series champions.

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