Sandy Alcantara could be Mets target if he gets put on trading block in future

MIAMI — If he were to become available this season, Sandy Alcantara would likely become the most coveted pitcher on the trade market.

The Marlins ace is 29 and coming off Tommy John surgery, but his fastball still flirts with triple digits and, with a Cy Young award to his name, he remains among MLB’s top pitching talents.

The Mets lost to Alcantara and the Marlins 4-2 on Tuesday in his second start back from surgery.

They previously saw enough of Alcantara — who went five innings and gave up two runs on three hits while striking out four on Tuesday — in spring training to know the arsenal is still there.

He also pitches for a franchise in another rebuild and will potentially waste prime years until he reaches free agency — the right-hander is signed through 2026, and the Marlins hold a club option on him for 2027.

Will the Marlins trade him this season?

It’s a notion the team’s president of baseball operations Peter Bendix didn’t dismiss when talking to reporters last week.

The Mets are undoubtedly paying attention.

In the clubhouse, the Mets’ franchise player seemed intrigued by the possibility of Alcantara, when it was broached to him by The Post on Tuesday.

“It would be one of the best trades that we could have,” Juan Soto said. “I know we have great pitching here, but adding a Cy Young winner like that would be huge.”

Soto added: “It’s going to take a lot to get him.”

But the Mets outfielder is confident that if the Mets were to land Alcantara, the pitcher would bring his game to an even higher level.

“If he goes to a team that has a chance to compete at the end, I think you are going to see who he is,” Soto said. “He is doing that on a team that has no serious chance to go to the playoffs, but he keeps trying and competing even without run support. Whenever he goes to a winning team you are going to see what Sandy Alcantara is capable of.”

Soto was asked what is so special about Alcantara.

“He’s really smart and he knows what he is doing,” Soto said. “He’s really brave. He’s not scared to come at people, and he is going to attack you when he does.”

If there’s a concern about this Mets team, it’s a starting rotation that lacks a true ace.

Kodai Senga carried that label two years ago, but the right-hander missed almost all of last season and returned to the mound Tuesday against the Marlins.

Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill are the other members of that rotation in its present form, with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas both off on the horizon.

Manaea’s rehab from an oblique strain went backward in recent days and will be shut down for at least two weeks.

Paul Blackburn is another pitcher in the starting rotation mix on the injured list.

Alcantara would potentially give the Mets a top-of-the-rotation presence to challenge a Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler or Blake Snell in the postseason.

“It would almost be like adding Soto,” Francisco Lindor said. “You add Soto, it’s going to help the team. You add Alcantara and it’s going to help the team.”

Starling Marte, who spent two seasons as Alcantara’s teammate with the Marlins, said the All-Star pitcher would thrive in the New York spotlight.

“He has the stuff and the mental makeup to be able to play in New York,” Marte said through an interpreter. “He’s got the mental strength and physical gifts to be able to have success here, and I think we have shown that we help pitchers even more.”