Cubs losing Matthew Boyd to injury creates immediate urgency to trade for Sandy Alcantara originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Chicago Cubs are one of the best teams in baseball right now, coming off a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. Not only did the Cubs complete the sweep, but every win came in walk-off fashion.

Chicago is playing with a great deal of confidence, thanks in large part to its high-powered offense led by players like Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. However, the starting rotation has already been hit hard by injuries this season, with Matthew Boyd becoming the latest pitcher sidelined.

“The red-hot Chicago Cubs down another starter with left-hander Matthew Boyd scheduled to undergo surgery to repair meniscus in his left knee. There’s no timetable on his return,” Bob Nightengale posted.

Boyd now joins players like Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Shelby Miller, and several others on the injured list. If Chicago wants to seriously compete for a World Series title, adding another proven arm could become a necessity.

Cubs need to go all in for Sandy Alcantara

One name that makes perfect sense is Sandy Alcantara, who has looked like his old self again with the Miami Marlins this season. Alcantara has already thrown a no-hitter and was just a few outs away from another.

The biggest question is whether Miami is willing to move the right-hander after several years with the organization. However, Alcantara is already being viewed as one of the most likely stars to be traded at the deadline.

“It’s early, but Sandy Alcantara seems like the most likely player to be traded at the deadline. The Marlins are 9.5 games out of the NL East race, currently tied with the Nationals and Phillies. I do not see Miami winning that battle given the resources available to them. Ideally, this ownership group would invest in the roster, but that’s a longshot. Instead, the Marlins will do what they always do — dump proven, talented veterans to contending teams for cheaper prospect capital,” FanSided’s Mark Powell wrote.

More:Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara named ‘hottest commodity’ ahead of MLB trade deadline

Trading for the most proven arm available on the market makes plenty of sense for Chicago. Pairing Alcantara with Shota Imanaga would give the Cubs a dominant duo in the NL Central. Once Horton, Boyd, and Steele return from injury, Chicago could realistically have one of the best rotations in baseball.

Alcantara also comes with a $21 million club option, which would likely allow the Cubs to keep him beyond this season. He is the type of player who can alter the trajectory of a franchise, which is why Chicago should strongly consider making an aggressive push for him.

More MLB news:

• Dodgers Blake Snell near return signals much-needed change for struggling Roki Sasaki

• Tigers could pursue Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara in light of Tarik Skubal’s surgery announcement

• Phillies predicted to part ways with Alec Bohm after nightmarish offensive start

• Tigers’ AJ Hinch sounds off on Framber Valdez after benches clear: ‘We play a good brand of baseball’