17 Starting Pitchers Who Could Be Available At The MLB Trade Deadline

[Bryan Jaeger]

Once the All-Star Break is over, the baseball world turns its attention to the upcoming trade deadline that expires July 31 at 6:00 pm EST. The trade deadline already started with a bang when Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants. 

We likely won't see another blockbuster trade of that magnitude this season, but the Padres could add depth at the starting pitcher position. Here's a list of the top targets we could see in a Padre uniform.

*All stats are before the July 19 games

Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks ($13.5 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Gallen is struggling this season with a 5.40 ERA, but he's still a solid option for starting-pitcher needy teams. The last three seasons, the right-hander had an ERA under 3.80, so he's shown he can succeed. Getting out of the NL West gauntlet could benefit him as well. Gallen is a free agent after this season and will be 30, making him a prime trade candidate.

Mitch Keller, Pirates ($15.4 million in 2025, $16.9 million in 2026, $18.4 million in 2027, $20.4 million in 2028)
Keller is as durable as a pitcher can be. He's having his best season since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He's 31 innings away from a fourth-consecutive season throwing at least 150 innings. He's posted a 3.48 ERA and a 92:32 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season. Pirates can hold onto Keller, but they have a deep pool of young pitching prospects so that the Pirates could leverage Keller for offensive prospects.

Seth Lugo, Royals ($15 million in 2025, $15 million player option in 2026)
Lugo will be 36 next season, meaning he's not in Kansas City's long-term plan. He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting last year and is having another standout season (2.94 ERA).

Adrian Houser, White Sox ($1.3 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Houser has come out of nowhere this season. Over 57 2/3 innings, the righty has an incredible 1.56 ERA and allows hitters to hit .228 off of him. He's not a power arm with only 39 strikeouts, but with only 18 walks, Houser shows he can keep the ball around the strike zone. The cheap rental should reap valuable prospects for the White Sox.

Sandy Alcántara, Marlins ($17.3 million in 2025, $17.3 million in 2026, $21 million club option in 2027)
Alcántara is far from his 2022 Cy Young Award-winning form. He missed all of the 2024 season recovering from a UCL injury in his right elbow. He's been abysmal this season, posting a 7.14 ERA and allowing hitters to hit .275 off of him. The only reason the Marlins don't trade him before the deadline is that they believe he will turn his season around in the second half and be more valuable to trade in the offseason. There's the risk of an injury blowing this plan up, though.

Edward Cabrera, Marlins ($1.9 million in 2025, three years off arbitration eligibility remaining)
Cabrera has yet to exceed 100 innings in a season during his five-year career. He is at 82 1/3 innings this season, posting a 3.61 ERA. The righty is only 27 years old, and the Marlins have three more years of team control. With the team-friendly years remaining, the front office will need to decide whether to trust Cabrera or leverage his strong season and team control to acquire multiple prospects.

Andrew Heaney ($5.4 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Heaney is more likely to get traded than Keller because he's 34 years old, and his contract expires at the end of the season. Heaney has had a down season, posting a 4.59 ERA,  and has allowed 18 home runs over 102 innings. He's a left-handed arm that could bring his 12-season experience to a pitching staff.

Jeffrey Springs ($10.5 million in 2025, $10.5 million in 2026, $15 million club option in 2027)
Springs was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Athletics this past offseason and has adapted nicely. He's posted a 3.97 ERA and has an 89:39 strikeout: walk ratio over 113 1/3 innings. The injury bug has derailed Springs's career, as he has pitched over 100 innings in only two of his eight seasons (including this one). The veteran could reap a couple of quality prospects if the Athletics decide to part with the lefty.

Michael Soroka ($9 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Soroka is likely the pitcher the Washington Nationals decide to trade since he becomes a free agent after the season. Mitchell Parker, Mackenzie Gore, and Jake Irvin all have multiple team-friendly years available, meaning it'd take a nice package in return. Soroka has a 5.10 ERA, but in his six-year career, he's only thrown over 150 innings in one season. Despite the inflated ERA, batters are only hitting .228 off of him. 

Germán Márquez ($10 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Márquez has been limited to 24 innings combined during the last two seasons. The righty missed a majority of 2023 due to a UCL injury needing TommyJohn surgery, and had a stress reaction in the same elbow after only four innings, missing the rest of the 2024 season. Márquez has thrown 95 1/3 innings this spring but has allowed opposing hitters to hit .307 off of him. Part of the struggles could be pitching in the Rockies organization.

Aaron Civale ($4.6 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Civale will be a name teams will keep an eye on. The 30-year-old won't be included in the White Sox's long-term plans, allowing the team to acquire valuable assets. Civale has a 4.78 ERA over 58 1/3 innings and is allowing hitters to bat .260 off him, but could be a depth arm for a starting-pitcher-needy team.

Luis Severino ($20 million in 2025, $25 million in 2026, $22 million in 2027)
Severino was a massive surprise signing for the Athletics with his $67 million, three-year contract signed in Free Agency this past offseason. He's struggled mightily this season, posting a 5.10 ERA over 118.1 innings. Control has been an issue as he's walked 52 batters this season, while striking out only 84. I'd be surprised if the Athletics don't attempt to offload this contract to another team.

Merrill Kelly ($7 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Kelly is having a better season, stats-wise, than his teammate Gallen and is a cheaper rental option for teams, but he is six years older. The righty has posted a 3.34 ERA, a 113:34 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and only allowing batters to hit .207 off of him. Kelly has spent his seven-year career in Arizona, but multiple teams are likely to make a phone call if he becomes available. 

Charlie Morton ($15 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Morton was abysmal in March and April, starting at the beginning of the season, posting a 9.45 ERA over 26 2/3 innings. He has since lowered his ERA to 5.58, but he benefits teams by being durable. Each of the last four seasons, the righty has thrown more than 160 innings. Despite his struggles, Morton could add reliable depth to a team.

Chris Paddack ($7.5 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Paddack has dealt with injuries over his seven-year career, but has posted a 5.14 ERA over 105 innings this season. He has a 75:30 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season, which may catch some teams' eyes. The veteran could be a cheap rental to add depth to a team's starting rotation.

Tyler Anderson ($13 million in 2025, free agent at season's end)
Anderson is another inning-eater that contending teams could use for depth. Over the last four seasons, he's thrown more than 140 innings and is well on pace to add a fifth-straight season with 101 2/3 innings. He has a 4.34 ERA, but could be a quality left-handed acquisition.

Freddy Peralta ($8.1 million in 2025, $8 million club option in 2026)
This trade would be the Rafael Devers equivalent, although it's incredibly reasonable. With the emergence of Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers have a surplus of quality starting pitchers. Peralta is off to a career season, posting a 2.85 ERA over 116 2/3 innings, with a 122:47 strikeout: walk ratio, and allowing hitters to hit only .201. José Quintana is an alternate option here, but he's only under contract for $2 million this season and is seven years older. Which means Peralta could reap a more valuable prospect package.

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