Does your team need a starting pitcher? Here are the trade options

Starting pitching could define the 2026 Trade Deadline, and not just because two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is up for grabs.

While this year’s trade market is short on impact bats and relievers, there are quite a few starters available with the potential to make a major difference down the stretch and into October.

That’s true even when you account for the names we can safely rule out. Sonny Gray and Joe Ryan looked like prime candidates in early July, but the Red Sox and Twins have since become buyers. Michael King has been mentioned as a trade possibility, but the state of San Diego’s rotation right now makes him incredibly important to the club’s playoff push. The Royals are out of it, but they don’t appear interested in dealing Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo. And despite their recent slide, the Marlins aren’t budging on Sandy Alcantara.

Now that we’ve looked at the names who probably won’t be traded, let’s look at some who might. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the 15 best available starters.

All stats below are through Thursday.

The top prize

Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers

Skubal’s potential availability has been one of this season’s top storylines, and there have been many twists and turns over the past few months. Trade whispers started early when the Tigers struggled out of the gates, quieted down for a bit when Skubal underwent left elbow surgery in May but picked back up again when he made a quick return from the procedure looking no worse for wear.

Detroit's surge back into the race gave the Tigers reason to hold on to their ace, but a recent skid -- capped by Wednesday's stunning collapse against the Orioles in which they blew a 7-0 lead -- has increased the chances of a trade. He’s only a rental, but given his potential impact and robust market, he should fetch a sizable return.

They’re available, but it’s going to cost you

Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds
Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels
José Soriano, RHP, Angels
Emerson Hancock, RHP, Mariners

Rumors have been swirling around all of these controllable arms, with Greene the latest to emerge as a realistic trade candidate. The Reds flamethrower’s injury history is extensive, and he’s posted a 7.06 ERA over four starts since returning from right elbow surgery. But teams may be willing to look past that for the chance to add a soon-to-be 27-year-old with electric stuff on a reasonable contract. He is owed $15 million in 2027, $16 million in '28 and has a $21 million club option for '29 with a $2 million buyout. The Reds are going to want a haul for those same reasons, but they at least appear open to dealing him.

Although the Angels haven't made the playoffs since 2014, owner Arte Moreno typically has resisted selling, even when it might have benefited the organization in the long run. This year, though, the club reportedly has shown more of a willingness to listen on some of its more valuable trade chips. That includes Detmers and Soriano -- both controllable through 2028 -- as well as shortstop Zach Neto (’29).

The Mariners aren’t sellers per se, but they could deal from their rotation depth to address other needs. Seattle doesn’t intend to trade George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo, but is listening on Hancock, who is controllable through 2030. A former top prospect, the 27-year-old Hancock pitched to a 4.81 ERA over 162 2/3 innings from 2023-25 but has broken out in ’26 (3.26 ERA, 1.04 WHIP).

Seattle would undoubtedly prefer to trade Luis Castillo, but with a 5.06 ERA this season and about $32.5 million left on his contract through next year -- plus a $25 million vesting option for 2028 if he reaches 180 innings in '27 -- he has little trade value.

No. 1 starters on 2025 playoff teams (just don’t look at their ’26 stats)

Kevin Gausman, RHP, Blue Jays
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Mets

Gausman and Peralta share a lot of similarities as trade candidates. Both are pending free agents on Deadline sellers and neither is having a particularly good season, but they should have strong markets nonetheless thanks to their track records. The veteran righties ranked among baseball's top starters across 2021-25 and were staff aces for top contenders as recently as last year -- Gausman for the American League champion Blue Jays and Peralta for a Brewers team that reached the National League Championship Series.

Rental arms on the rise

Robbie Ray, LHP, Giants
Trevor Rogers, LHP, Orioles
Casey Mize, RHP, Tigers
Clay Holmes, RHP, Mets
Foster Griffin, LHP, Nationals

Here we have five more upcoming free agents who could realistically start playoff games in 2026, including perhaps the hottest pitcher in baseball, Ray. The 34-year-old, who is in the final season of the five-year, $115 million deal he signed after winning the 2021 AL Cy Young Award, has posted a 1.09 ERA over 49 1/3 innings in his past eight starts for a Giants team that's a clear seller. Ray’s lofty walk rate is a concern, but he's found ways to succeed throughout his career despite that being the case.

Rogers also has surged lately after his ERA ballooned to 6.84 entering June. He's recorded a 2.21 ERA with a 2.54 FIP in his past 10 starts, looking more like the pitcher who put up a 1.81 ERA over 18 starts in 2025. The Orioles haven't determined their Trade Deadline path yet, but if they sell, Rogers is certain to go.

Mize was a league-average arm who dealt with a lot of injuries across 2020-25 (101 ERA+), but the '18 No. 1 overall Draft pick has registered a 2.70 ERA with the peripherals to match (2.58 FIP, 3.07 xERA) this year. Detroit scratched him from his scheduled start Friday as a precaution to protect his trade value, another sign that it intends to sell.

Holmes hasn't pitched since May 15 due to a fractured right fibula, but the former reliever had a 2.39 ERA and a 3.22 FIP over nine starts before his injury, and his most recent rehab start was heavily scouted by contenders. Expected to opt out of his contract to become a free agent this offseason, he's likely to be dealt as well.

Griffin is easily the most obscure name in this group, but believe it or not, he's the only pitcher on our entire list who made the All-Star team in 2026. After three years in Japan, the 31-year-old signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Washington in the offseason and has yielded three runs or fewer in 18 of his 21 starts en route to a 2.76 ERA.

Back-end rotation options

Dustin May, RHP, Cardinals
Brady Singer, RHP, Reds
Shane Bieber, RHP, Blue Jays

The overall numbers aren't pretty, but these pitchers could be an upgrade over the options some playoff hopefuls have been using to cover innings at the back of their rotations. May is probably the most intriguing of the bunch, given his 3.15 FIP on the year and 3.54 ERA dating back to April 10.

Singer has pitched better of late, notching a 2.73 ERA with a 3.48 FIP in his past nine starts. He's also quite durable, tying for seventh in the Majors with 114 games started since the beginning of 2023.

Bieber looked more appealing prior to his most recent start, when he walked six batters and failed to get out of the first inning. The 2020 AL Cy Young winner entered that game having allowed only one run with nine K's and two walks over 13 innings in his previous two outings. He's been limited to 16 regular season starts due to injury since the outset of 2024.