Just before the 2025 trade deadline buzzer officially sounded, momentum seemed to be building on a Yankees-Marlins trade that could’ve upended New York’s rotation. In the end, they seemed to balk at the price of acquisition, preferring to put their faith in Cam Schlittler making an internal leap (smart call!) rather than paying top dollar for a Sandy Alcantara/Anthony Bender package.

Somebody blinked. Maybe it was Miami. Perhaps it was Brian Cashman. Maybe the Marlins were demanding Gleyber Torres for Pablo López again, only to be informed that neither asset belongs to the same team they did back in 2022. Regardless, the Yankees’ interest in Alcantara/Bender was registered, and represents something they could easily revisit this winter.

According to former MLB GM Jim Bowden, those exploratory talks have already taken place.

“I think Sandy Alcántara of the Marlins has a legitimate shot at getting traded to the New York Yankees,” Bowden noted over the weekend. “I know they’ve had a lot of discussions.”

The Yankees have reportedly called the Marlins recently about Sandy Alcantara, which would represent a perfect Spencer Jones trade fit.

Of course, Bowden’s fanciful plan went a step further, as he goaded the Yankees to consider trading Spencer Jones to Miami, then signing Kyle Tucker to replace him.

Who knows? It’s possible — at least, a group of 16 anonymous MLB executives believed the Yankees were a leading contender for Tucker last week. Add in Jeff Passan’s belief that a Yankees outfield trade is coming, and the rumor that Jones was the sticking point in this summer’s Alcantara/Bender-based fracas, and we may not be cooking with gas just yet, but … we’re definitely cooking.

Last winter, the Yankees talked up Caleb Durbin incessantly as a potential comfortable starter during the Winter Meetings, then dealt him a week later in exchange for Devin Williams. You want to know if these Alcantara/Jones rumors have legs? Just wait and see how Cashman speaks about his outfielder when given a platform next week.

Alcantara, who missed all of 2024 after Tommy John surgery, just put up his first full season since the procedure and took a step back, posting a 5.36 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings. He represents an $11 million luxury tax hit for 2026, and comes with a 2027 team option. He won’t weigh down the payroll like Tatsuya Imai, but there’s at least a chance his best days are behind him (though the second season back after TJ typically more closely resembles the pitcher’s original effectiveness level).

Is Jones for Alcantara back on the table after being begged for in July? It certainly seems plausible. Tucker? Less plausible, but delightful to envision.