Who Needs Starting Pitching the Most at the Deadline?

What’s the one thing every team needs by July? Pitching! There’s no such thing as too many arms, and as the trade deadline approaches, every contender will have to navigate the market carefully to land the correct pieces. To that point, not every roster needs the same type of pitcher. 

It’s easy to daydream up a scenario where your favorite club lands a marquee name, but in reality it’s a rarity to see elite-level arms on the move. 

Fortunately for fans, this season has multiple battle-tested frontline starters just waiting to be sent to a new home. 

Below I’ll talk through the teams that will be in the mix for a rental, just to get them over the hump. Then, I’ll move on to teams that may look to add, but will need those additions to impact not only this season, but also the future. 

Let’s dive in. 

Stats updated prior to games on July 23.

Teams in the Market for Rental Arms

Philadelphia Phillies 

Current rotation: Cristopher Sánchez (2.71 ERA), Zack Wheeler (2.13 ERA), Aaron Nola (5.82 ERA), Jesús Luzardo (3.43 ERA)

The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of baseball’s most improbable stories this season. 

Through 28 games, Philly fans endured a 9-19 record, which prompted the firing of manager Rob Thomson. 

After that, seemingly out of nowhere, the Phightins were alive. Either Thomson’s firing sparked a turnaround, or Bryce Harper’s crew got tired of showering in boos. Regardless of what it was, the Phillies are back in a position for a deep postseason run. That is, if they have the pitching. 

Philadelphia’s rotation ranks 12th in ERA, sixth in innings pitched, and first in strikeouts. There’s no shortage of talent, but down the stretch, it may aid them to add a sturdy veteran. 

According to FanGraphs’ RosterResource, Philadelphia currently sports a four-man rotation, albeit a great one, but that’s a gamble in itself. With the persistent struggles of pitching prospect Andrew Painter, and plenty of games left to play, Philly needs to get ahead of its potential innings problem. The Phillies don’t need another horse; they need a saddle so the rest of the ride doesn’t get too bumpy.

Current fits include Casey Mize (2.79 ERA, DET), Tomoyuki Sugano (4.76 ERA, COL), and Brady Singer (4.53 ERA, CIN). 

The trio of Wheeler, Sánchez, and Luzardo matches up well with any team in baseball. So, the goal isn’t to reinvent the rotation. It’s to support what might already be MLB’s best 1-2-3. 

Chicago Cubs

Current Rotation: Matthew Boyd (4.15 ERA), Shota Imanaga (3.91 ERA), Jameson Taillon (5.38 ERA), David Peterson (5.97 ERA), Colin Rea (4.85 ERA)

The Cubs’ rotation has been the epitome of ‘injury-riddled.’ Currently, ON the shelf in Chi-Town houses names such as Justin Steele, Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera, and Cade Horton – and that’s just the starting pitchers. 

With almost an entire big league rotation hurt, all the Cubs need to do is make it into the playoffs. This team has the makings of a juggernaut that limps through the regular season and then comes alive in October. 

That being said, reintroducing players from the IL always comes with questions, and there’s no guarantee the Cubs will have access to the best versions of their injured hurlers at any point in 2026. 

They’ve already started to add on the margins, trading for David Peterson and Aaron Civale from the Mets and Athletics, respectively. 

There’s only one thing left to add: a big fish. The Cubs need to shell out for one of the better rentals, because if they do play postseason ball, which seems likely, their only apparent weakness is a middling rotation. 

Due to their immense need for innings, the Cubs may target someone in between a rental and a controllable piece. Chicago’s staff sits 19th in ERA in the majors. A ‘get me over’ piece won’t fix that, but there’s no need to shell out the entire farm with so much help on the way. 

Current fits include Michael Wacha (3.66 ERA, KCR), Freddy Peralta (5.01 ERA, NYM), and Dustin May (4.78 ERA, STL)

Atlanta Braves

Current Rotation: Chris Sale (2.06 ERA), Grant Holmes (3.87 ERA), Bryce Elder (4.06 ERA), Reynaldo López (3.95 ERA as RP/SP)

Similarly to their NL East rival Phillies, the Braves lack depth, not execution. With Sale at the helm and a slew of solid pieces to follow, the Braves could still use another arm to aid them down the stretch. 

As it stands, Atlanta is 20th in innings pitched from its rotation and ninth in ERA. Tuning into the starters has been electric. Unfortunately, their air-time is running on fumes. 

With injuries to Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves need more than reliability. Sale can’t pitch every game, and the rest of the rotation lacks experience. Thankfully, there are a few names available who fit Atlanta’s vacancy. 

Current fits include Robbie Ray (3.33 ERA, SFG), Clay Holmes (2.39 ERA, NYM), and Foster Griffin (2.68 ERA, 2.68). 

Remember when the Braves brought in a platoon of serviceable outfielders en route to a World Series win in 2021? Run it back, but this time on the mound. 

Teams Who Should Pursue Controllable Arms

Miami Marlins

Current Rotation: Sandy Alcantara (4.01 ERA), Eury Pérez (3.53 ERA), Janson Junk (5.09 ERA), Tyler Phillips (3.48 ERA as RP/SP)

The Marlins have put together a first half that’s finally taken them past the threshold of ‘surprise contender.’ This team is real. 

On offense, the simultaneous breakouts of Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez have led the Fish’s bats. Still, pitching remains their biggest strength. 

The rotation ranks 13th in ERA, 11th in innings pitched, and 12th in WHIP. Across the board, they’ve been effective, and that’s with All-Star Max Meyer currently sitting on the injured list. 

It might be one year too early for Miami to outright go for it, especially in the onslaught that is the NL Wild Card race. 

That being said, a controllable starter to plug for innings at the back end of their rotation could position them for success in the second half – and next season. Additionally, it would send Tyler Phillips back to the bullpen upon Meyer’s return, where he was much more effective. 

Current fits include Andre Pallante (4.02 ERA, STL), Andrew Abbott (3.89 ERA, CIN), and Spencer Arrighetti (4.34 ERA, HOU). 

The Marlins have an elite and projectable starting rotation. They don’t need another big name. They just need someone to plug-and-play as a fourth or fifth starter. 

Boston Red Sox 

Current Rotation: Sonny Gray (2.48 ERA), Payton Tolle (3.31 ERA), Jake Bennett (2.58 ERA), Patrick Sandoval (4.82 ERA in 2 GS)

The Red Sox are alive! They just won 15 in a row, but the real excitement should be for what’s to come. 

Brayan Bello’s contract and fall from grace left a major hole in the Red Sox rotation. That is, until Jake Bennett, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle reinvented Beantown. 

With so much surging young talent, the Red Sox don’t have much room to spare. If Boston is going to add an arm, it needs to be a needle-mover.

Current fits include Hunter Greene (6.06 ERA in 3 GS, CIN) and Joe Ryan (3.38 ERA, MIN).

Sonny Gray is pitching like an All-Star, as can Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez when healthy. However, Gray is likely to be a free agent after the season, and there are no promises of a seamless return for either Crochet or Suárez.

So, it’s time for the Red Sox to get bold. If the Red Sox pick up another frontline arm, then a youngster could either be flipped for offensive help or shifted to a bullpen role. 

Boston has its future outlined, and another big addition could help solidify years of contending. 

Chicago White Sox

Current Rotation: Davis Martin (3.31 ERA), Sean Burke (3.20 ERA), Erick Fedde (4.16 ERA), Noah Schultz (6.04 ERA), Anthony Kay (4.24 ERA)

The White Sox are a year or two early, there’s no doubt. With the scaffolding of one of MLB’s best young rosters, the Southsiders put together an impressive first half. 

However, there’s no reason for them to push all their chips in before the iron is even hot. In reality, it’s lukewarm. These White Sox are competitive, but they still likely lack the star power and experience to execute down the stretch. 

One of the biggest bright spots from last year’s roster, the rotation, has leaked over into 2026. Most notably, Burke and Martin have cemented themselves as building blocks for the foreseeable future. 

Conversely, the Sox still lack a true ‘ace.’ Although it may be tough to find a trade partner willing to fork one over, there are definitely solid pickups who, with the right environment, could ascend and become the type of pitcher that the White Sox need. 

Current fits include José Soriano (3.43 ERA, LAA), Landen Roupp (3.93 ERA, SFG), and Reid Detmers (4.05 ERA, LAA). 

All three pitchers have multiple years of control and legitimate ace-type stuff. If the White Sox want to contend perennially, these are the kinds of trades that can keep them ahead of the curve.

Realistically, every contender needs pitching. There’s never a shortage of suitors when an arm is made available. It’ll be up to these front offices to land difference-makers before the August 3 cutoff date, in an effort to ensure success down the stretch.