Ex-MLB GM says Yankees preparing to strike back against Blue Jays' Dylan Cease deal

The Toronto Blue Jays are showing they want to be a part of the big players club in the AL East. Signing Dylan Cease to a reported seven-year $210 million deal certainly raised eyebrows and turned heads, including from those within the division.

The New York Yankees, the team Toronto beat for both the AL East division title, and in four games in the ALDS in 2025, are suddenly realizing they may need to counter punch with a big rotation addition of their own. A former MLB GM has floated out the idea that that rotation add could be former Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara.

Ex-MLB GM says Yankees preparing to strike back against Blue Jays' Dylan Cease deal

Jim Bowden is the ex-MLB GM in question, wo is now an analyst for The Athletic and he recently stated on MLB Network Radio that the Yankees have a realistic shot of lining up a deal with the Miami Marlins to bring Alcantara to the Bronx.

"I also think Sandy Alcanatara of the Marlins has a legitimate shot of getting traded to the New York Yankees," Bowden said. "I know they've had a lot of discussions. Think of this for a minute... [New York] could sign Kyle Tucker in free agency, and then trade Spencer Jones for Alcantara."

Jones is one of New York's top prospects and he was mentioned as possible trade bait throughout much of the trade deadline season, but the Yankees didn't pull the trigger on any deal that involved the 24-year-old outfielder. The Yankees may not have a choice this time around though if they want to get an arm of the caliber of Alcantara. 2026 will be Alcantara's ninth big league season, debuting with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017 at 21-years-old before being sent to Miami.

He's been with Miami since 2018 and has, for the most part, been a top of the rotation starter, outside the end of 2023 - leading to his Tommy John surgery, which wiped out his 2024 campaign. His 2025 numbers on the surface don't look great, but as he built back his arm strength he continued to improve and over his last 12 games he had a 3.13 ERA in 77.2 innings pitched.

If people thought the Blue Jays were taking a gamble on signing Cease, the Yankees would have to be willing to take a bigger one on Alcantara. Sure, he might only be on their books for two years, and he'll be very affordable; he's set to make $17.6 million in 2026, while also holding a club option for $21 million in 2027. The caveat is, the Yankees may be giving up an All-Star outfielder to bring him in.

For the Yankees though, who have gone 16 years without winning a championship, that risk should be worth it. If Alcantara regains his Cy Young form, lining him up in a rotation that already includes Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and eventually Gerrit Cole, the Yankees would at the very least, be keeping pace with what the Blue Jays and the Red Sox have done so far with their starting rotation heading into 2026.