Late Saturday night, the biggest blockbuster of this summer’s trade deadline sent two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to the back-to-back defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Skubal will try to help the Dodgers become baseball’s first three-peat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, then head out into free agency.

Tarik Skubal trade winners and losers: Dodgers just keep getting better; MLB scores easy (if faulty) narrative

Dayn Perry

Skubal was the best starter and the biggest name on the trade market at this year’s trade deadline, which is 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 3. Who are the best available starting pitchers now? Here are the top starters on the market.

It stands to reason the Tigers will now trade Mize, who, like Skubal, is a rental. Mize has dealt with a nagging groin injury all year and he returned from his third injured list stint on June 17, and he’s looked quite strong in two starts since. Detroit scratched him from Friday’s start to protect him ahead of a potential trade. Now 29, Mize has been outstanding when healthy this season. He’s an impact pitcher who should come at a reasonable price given the groin injury and lack of long-term control.

Soriano was scratched from Saturday’s start to protect him ahead of a potential trade. He and Detmers will both remain under team control through 2028, so they’re long-term buys who can help you win now and later. Detmers ranks 11th among all pitchers in WAR, and the belief is there’s still another level he can get to with a team that has its ducks in a row, pitcher development-wise. He very well could be traded for the largest prospect package of any starter this deadline, Skubal included.

For lack of a better term, Holmes is a distressed asset. He has not pitched in a major-league game since May 15 because of a broken leg, though he’s made three minor-league rehab starts and has looked strong in all three. Holmes will surely decline his $12 million player option for next season, so he’s essentially a rental. He has experience starting and relieving, and in the postseason and in a big market. The guy checks an awful lot of boxes. Holmes figures to be the next Mets starter to get moved now that Freddy Peralta is with the Rays.

Last week’s six-walk, two-out disaster didn’t exactly help Bieber’s trade value, but his two starts before that were terrific. He had been trending up before that ugly hiccup and he offers Cy Young winning pedigree. Toronto traded Kevin Gausman to the Cubs late Sunday. It’s likely only a matter of time until they move Bieber, who like Gausman will be a free agent after the season.

If you’ve stopped paying attention to the Giants, I get it, but Ray has been on a heck of a run the last two months. He has a 1.65 ERA in 60 innings in his last 10 starts, and five of the 11 earned runs he allowed in those 10 starts came in one game. Ray is a rental and the Giants are reportedly open to paying down salary to better the return package. He’s not getting the attention some other pitching trade candidates are receiving, but Ray remains very effective. Some contender will be happy when they get him.

It’s hard to see Ryan moving at this point. The Twins are in the third wild-card spot and they added A.J. Minter and Dean Kremer within the last few days. Moving up the standings and adding to the roster only to turn around and trade Ryan seems unlikely. Still, teams want him and are calling about him. Ryan’s really good, and he’ll remain under control through 2027. 

Others available: RHP Dustin May, Cardinals; LHP Trevor Rogers, Orioles; RHP Brady Singer, Reds