Chicago Cubs’ emergency Plan B may have them re-exploring trade for this ace

The Chicago Cubs find themselves in a really tough spot, less than two weeks into the 2026 season.

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On April 5, 24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton was placed on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain. One day later, on April 6, Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd was also placed on the 15-day IL, suffering from a left biceps strain.

The news regarding Horton has not been positive at all. While he’s on his way to a second opinion regarding a troubling MRI, some believe that all roads lead to Tommy John surgery—his second since he was a college freshman in 2021.

From bad news to worse news

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Jesse Morse M.D., a board-certified sports & family medicine physician with a specialty in sports injuries, is one of those who feels that Horton’s injury is a worst case scenario:

“Cubs ace Cade Horton likely done for the season with an elbow injury. This is likely an injury to the UCL, whether it is a partial or full thickness tear.”

Dr. Morse indicates that the only question about Horton’s injury right now appears to be whether the young pitcher will need an internal brace procedure or full Tommy John surgery.

The news regarding Boyd, meanwhile, is not as dire. However, there are some serious questions regarding whether the veteran lefty’s 15-day timetable for return is way too optimistic.

The Cubs losing their two top pitchers—Horton for the season and Boyd for possibly more than a month—should force Cubs president Jed Hoyer and the front office into an immediate emergency Plan B.

An emergency Plan B?

And that contingency plan could bring back a rumored Cubs trade target from the not-so-distant past—Sandy Alcantara from the Miami Marlins.

The 30-year-old Alcantara, who was coming back from 2024 Tommy John surgery last year, had been tied to the Cubs’ pursuit of frontline starters since last offseason and through the 2025 trade deadline. Ultimately, Chicago did pull the trigger on a trade for a Marlins pitcher, opting to acquire Edward Cabrera this past offseason in a deal that included the Cubs’ top prospect Owen Caissie.

At this point, however, the Cubs may have no choice but to come back to the Marlins to inquire about Alcantara, who has a $21 million 2027 club option possibly keeping him under team control for the rest of this season and all of next.

If Horton is, indeed, done for the year, a low-end rotation pickup like Lucas Giolito will not be enough. Alcantara has legit ace stuff and has looked overpowering so far this year, posting 16 scoreless innings over two starts, with 12 strikeouts. While last year’s overall numbers were rough (11-12, 5.36 ERA), his post-All-Star break tally (7-3, 3.33 ERA) told the tale of an elite pitcher who was truly coming around after a lost 2024 season.

Getting Alcantara will be costly. The Marlins will take full advantage of the Cubs’ desperation and charge them accordingly. A deal could likely include top first base prospect Jonathon Long, middle infield prospect Jefferson Rojas, and/or infielder/outfielder Matt Shaw, as well as other high end minor league talent.

The Cubs, though, may have no choice but to make this kind of trade happen if they’re serious about making a deep playoff run this season.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-emergency-plan-b-sandy-alcantara-miami-marlins-trade/