Years before Sandy Alcántara hit the trade market as the Miami Marlins’ ace, he was a prized prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ system.

The Cards sent him to Miami nearly ten years ago, and he has since blossomed into one of baseball’s most dominant starters when healthy.

Now, with the Marlins entering a rebuild, Alcántara is expected to be shopped before this year’s deadline.

Thomas Gauvain of Redbird Rants floated the idea of a reunion, noting that president John Mozeliak could deliver new chief executive Chaim Bloom a top‑of‑the‑rotation arm.

Although Alcántara owns a 6.69 ERA through 15 starts in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, he has shown signs of turning the corner: in four June outings (23 IP) he posted a 2.74 ERA and held opponents to a .207 batting average while striking out 19.

For St. Louis, Alcántara would bolster a 2026 rotation projected to feature Sonny Gray and Matthew Liberatore, but the price won’t be cheap.

Miami would likely insist on elite prospects such as Tink Hence or Quinn Mathews to headline any package. If the Cardinals are willing to part with that caliber of talent, a blockbuster that brings their former Cy Young winner back to Busch Stadium could become reality.