5 starting pitchers the Minnesota Twins should go get now

1. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

Alcantara had a nice first full season in the big leagues last year, with a 3.88 ERA over 197.1 innings (32 starts) as he earned an All-Star nod. Better peripherals (most notably more strikeouts-6.5 K/9) would have been nice, but there’s plenty of upside here for the 24-year old right-hander with a deep pitch mix and plenty of fastball velocity (95.9 MPH average in 2019).

In concert with using his sinker more, Alcantara seemed to have found something late last season. Over his final 11 starts (from Aug. 5 on), he had a 2.78 ERA, 62 strikeouts (7.5 K.9) and 21 walks (2.5 BB/9) over 74.1 innings. A solid jump in 2020 is possible.

Alcantara is under club control through 2024, so the Marlins asking price has surely and rightly been substantial when teams have called on him this offseason.

But the Twins have enough good prospects in their system, probably shy of 2017 No. 1 overall pick Royce Lewis, to get Miami’s attention in trade talks if they weren’t already one of teams with interest in Alcantara earlier in the offseason. Caleb Smith is another Marlins’ starter who could be on Minnesota’s radar, but Alcantara’s upside puts him here.