Yankees ‘lead’ as landing spot for Cy Young winner, but Braves noise is real

Jul 08, 2026 - 04:10

0 1

Yankees ‘lead’ as landing spot for Cy Young winner, but Braves noise is real originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

If the New York Yankees want to win a World Series, it will probably require them to make a blockbuster move at the trade deadline.

The same can be said for the Atlanta Braves, who have been one of the better teams in the National League throughout the year. Atlanta hasn't been as dominant as it was earlier in the season over the past few weeks, but this is still one of the better teams in baseball, and if things go as planned, the Braves should be in a very good spot.

Regarding potential rumors, the Yankees and the Braves could be the top landing spots for Sandy Alcantara, with a Sports Illustrated writer recently suggesting that's who things will come down to.

“Despite several injuries to key contributors the Atlanta Braves have sustained their status as one of baseball’s top teams, winning 52 of their first 88 games. The NL’s top squad has few weaknesses in its roster, but could greatly benefit from the addition of a high-volume veteran arm in the bullpen to headline the unit down the stretch of the season. With a move to Atlanta, Alcantara’s fantasy production could take a sizable jump, taking his volume into account. With a vastly superior defensive unit behind him, the two-time All-Star projects to improve on his ERA while sustaining encouraging strikeout numbers,” Ethen Hutton wrote.

It's all but guaranteed at the moment that Alcantara will be wanted by nearly every contending team in Major League Baseball, though some will have to determine whether they want to move on from the needed draft capital to land a player of his caliber.

If the Yankees aren't willing to do so, the Braves should be. If the Braves aren't willing to do so, the Yankees need to be right there.