Some big-name starting pitchers could be on the move by the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline. Here are dark horse teams that could potentially land the top four starting pitchers on the market.
The 2023 MLB season is about to reach July, which means that we are on the one-month countdown until the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline. With that, teams will have to decide whether their best course of action is to buy at the deadline to make a playoff push or determine that the postseason is unattainable and sell for assets (prospects). Given how many teams are in playoff position, it could make for an interesting and hectic month for the majors.
One position that will be heavily sought after will undoubtedly be starting pitching, given the star power that could be available. In regards to names, the top four that stick out are Max Scherzer of the New York Mets, Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies, Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox, and Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians. Now, the world will wait to see how the next month will go and see if these names get moved, or if they stay put for the remainder of the season.
We know teams that will be the favorites to land some of these pitchers. Let's take a look at a dark horse suitor for each trade candidate. Remember, this is purely speculation.
MLB Rumors, Max Scherzer trade dark horse suitor – Los Angeles Angels
Remember when the baseball world anticipated the possibility of the Los Angeles Angels trading Shohei Ohtani? Well, the Angels may as well be called "Buzzkills," because they're actually having a good season and are in a position to make the postseason. Given that Ohtani is set to become a free agent, the Angels should be motivated to bring in help for a playoff berth, and show that they're willing to build a winner to entice him to stay long-term.
One obvious area of need for the Angels is starting pitching, an area that has been a struggle for them in recent years. One name that could be an option for the Angels is Max Scherzer.
The New York Mets had the highest payroll in all of baseball entering the 2023 season to help them make a deeper run in the playoffs as compared to the year prior. They brought in Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, and David Robertson. Overall, the team has been a disappointment in 2023, currently sitting in fourth place in the NL East with a 36-44 record as of Thursday (June 29).
Scherzer has had some rough starts this year, but he is still putting up relatively good numbers. Through 13 starts, Scherzer holds a 3.95 ERA, a 1.175 WHIP, and a 7-2 win-loss record, while recording 76 strikeouts and 16 walks in 70.2 innings.
It's important to note that Scherzer would have to waive his no-trade clause, which he reportedly said he would do for the right situation, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. If the Angels keep up this strong start to the season, maybe Scherzer could deem the team the "right situation?"
MLB Rumors: Aaron Nola trade dark horse suitor – Cincinnati Reds
The Philadelphia Phillies are in an interesting position. Just last year, they were two wins away from winning their first World Series title since 2008. They made moves in the offseason to help them make a return to the Fall Classic, notably adding shortstop Trea Turner and starting pitcher Taijuan Walker. Entering June 29, the Phillies are 42-37 and 10.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East.
While buying could be in the cards for the Phillies, they do have one player that could be flipped. That is none other than Aaron Nola, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and would be one of the top starting pitchers available.
If the Phillies are to decide that it would be in their best interest to trade Nola to get some sort of return for him, the Cincinnati Reds should call.
No team has shocked MLB quite the way that the Reds have. Ever since they called up top prospect Elly De La Cruz, the Reds have been, well, red-hot, carrying a winning streak that spanned 12 games this month. With that, they have positioned themselves above the NL Central. The thing is, the Reds do not have a sizable lead, as that division is very wide open. Even the last-place St. Louis Cardinals are less than 10 games behind them for first place.
Adding a pitcher like Nola would benefit them. In a major-league-high 17 starts, Nola posted a 4.51 ERA, a 1.117 WHIP, a 7-5 win-loss record, 102 strikeouts, and 29 walks over 105.2 innings.
MLB Rumors: Lucas Giolito trade dark horse suitor – San Francisco Giants
The Chicago White Sox have been unable to find the success they last had in 2021. They underperformed last year and the moves they made this past offseason haven't worked out in the current campaign. As of this writing, the White Sox are 35-47 but are still just 5.5 games behind first place. Much like the NL Central, the AL Central is wide open. But given how far under .500 they are, it may be in the best interest for the White Sox to sell at the deadline.
One name that could fetch a decent haul for them is starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, who is set to become a free agent. Giolito does slot near the top of trade candidate rankings, considering how well he has pitched so far this season. Through 17 starts, Giolito owns a 3.53 ERA and a 1.178 WHIP, while recording 108 strikeouts and 29 walks over 99.1 innings.
One team that is familiar with White Sox starting pitchers is the San Francisco Giants. Just last year, they signed Carlos Rodon to a contract, who made the All-Star Game and finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a 2.88 ERA, a 1.028 WHIP, and a 12.0 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio (NL-high).
The Giants started the year slowly, but they have since rebounded, as evidenced by their 10-game winning streak earlier this year. San Francisco now sits with a 45-35 record as of this writing, but they still trail the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lead the NL West with a 48-33 record. Not to mention the Los Angeles Dodgers are not far behind them with a 44-35 record.
San Francisco could stand to add to their starting rotation. Adding Giolito to it could help them maintain their ground in the tough division.
MLB Rumors: Shane Bieber trade dark horse suitor – Arizona Diamondbacks
There has been no bigger surprise in all of the majors than the Arizona Diamondbacks. In a division in which the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres were considered the favorites to win the NL West, neither is in first or second place as of this writing. Sitting atop the entire division are the Diamondbacks. They have had incredible seasons thus far by starting pitcher Zac Gallen, a favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, and outfielder Corbin Carroll, an easy NL Rookie of the Year candidate.
Given how the National League is going to be a gauntlet to get through, the Diamondbacks will need to make some additions to help their chances. Why not add to the starting rotation and bring in Shane Bieber to pair alongside Gallen?
The Cleveland Guardians are in a weird position. They are floating around .500, sitting near the top of the AL Central which is very much for the taking. But, they have Bieber, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season. If the team doesn't think it can re-sign Bieber to a long-term contract, now would be the perfect time to get the most value back in return.
This season, Bieber owns a 3.69 ERA and a 1.230 WHIP, while putting up 77 strikeouts and 27 walks over 100.0 innings.
Adding a former Cy Young winner to the rotation? That would be such a massive win for the Diamondbacks.