While it's too early to tell whether the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins will be sellers in advance of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, enough of the season has been played to know that a percentage of the league should probably consider offers for key veterans this summer.
From teams that look like clear sellers at this stage, here are the top 10 starting pitchers that could be traded this summer:
1. Nathan Eovaldi, Boston Red Sox
Will the Red Sox trade Nathan Eovaldi?(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Chaim Bloom holds the keys to this summer's trade deadline; whether and to what extent the Red Sox are willing to sell off veterans before Aug. 2 will shape the market. Certainly, Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez will be coveted if the Red Sox consider offers, as will Eovaldi. After getting shelled by the Houston Astros in his most recent start, Eovaldi's numbers look pretty brutal currently. However, a year ago he finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting, posting a 3.75 ERA, 2.79 FIP and 5.6 fWAR across 182 1/3 innings. The 32-year-old can become a free agent after the 2022 season.
2. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Will the Reds trade Luis Castillo?(Joe Sargent/Getty Images)A shoulder injury kept Castillo from making his season debut until May 9, but he's seemingly been mentioned as a trade candidate for the entirety of his career. The only race that the Reds are in is for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Castillo is 29 and has one remaining year of arbitration eligibility after 2022, so this summer may be the right time for the Reds to trade him.
3. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Will the A's trade Frankie Montas?(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Over the last six months, the A's have allowed nearly every veteran on their roster -- Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Andrew Chafin -- to leave the organization via trade or free agency. Why would Montas be any different? The 29-year-old has a 3.67 ERA and 3.37 FIP across his first 49 innings this season. Given that he can't become a free agent until after the 2023 season, Montas should be a popular trade target.
4. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Will the Reds trade Tyler Mahle?(Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Given that he has one more year of team control in 2023 before free agency, the Reds don't have to trade Mahle. But chances are that the 27-year-old's timeline doesn't line up with that of the Reds, if there's a real plan at all in Cincinnati beyond not spending money. Mahle has a 5.89 ERA through his first eight starts of the 2022 season, but his 3.56 expected ERA and 3.44 FIP suggest that positive regression could be on the way.
5. Germán Márquez, Colorado Rockies
Will the Rockies trade German Marquez?(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)At 17-19, the Rockies could stand pat or even try to add at the trade deadline. With that said, they have a -32 run differential and are probably the worst team in the loaded National League West. Márquez is on this list because if the Rockies are willing to listen on him, there's going to be quite a bit of interest. The 27-year-old has struggled so far in 2022, but has a 3.91 ERA in road games in his career, as opposed to 4.81 at Coors Field. It wouldn't be hard for a contender to convince themselves that if Márquez didn't pitch half his games every year in Colorado, he would be one of the best starters in the league. He's due $15 million in 2023, with a very affordable $16 million club option for 2024. The Rockies would have to pay Márquez $1 million if they trade him, so when you couple that with what's seemingly a team-friendly contract, the price to land the righty will probably be pretty high.
6. Eduardo Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers
Will the Tigers trade Eduardo Rodriguez?(David Berding/Getty Images)Rodriguez signed a five-year/$77 million contract to join the Tigers this past offseason and has a 10-team no-trade clause, so he might be the least likely pitcher on this list to move this summer. With that said, the Tigers are off to a 13-24 start to the season, so at least some contending teams are likely to call on the 29-year-old. Given that he can opt out of his deal after 2023, perhaps Al Avila and the Tigers should at least listen to offers on Rodriguez.
7. Martín Pérez, Texas Rangers
Will the Rangers trade Martin Perez?(Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)Pérez is off to an excellent start in his second stint with the Rangers, as he's posted a 2.01 ERA, 2.41 FIP and 1.3 fWAR in seven starts. Given that he's making just $4 million on a one-year deal in 2022, Pérez will likely garner quite a bit of trade interest as the summer goes on.
8. José Quintana, Pittsburgh Pirates
Will the Pirates trade Jose Quintana?(Duane Burleson/Getty Images)Quintana was underwhelming in a 2021 season split between the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants, but seems to have revived his career after signing a one-year/$2 million deal with the Pirates. With a 2.19 ERA and 3.38 FIP across 37 innings, the 33-year-old is both an early All-Star and trade candidate.
9. Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals
Will the Royals trade Zack Greinke?(Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)Greinke may not be a top-of-the-rotation starter for a contending team anymore, but he's been impressive so far in his second stint with the Royals. The six-time All-Star has a 3.52 ERA and 3.42 FIP in seven starts in 2022, and continues to be one of the greatest defenders of his position that the sport has ever seen. The only thing missing on the future Hall of Famer's resume is a World Series title.
10. Michael Wacha, Boston Red Sox
Will the Red Sox trade Michael Wacha?(Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Wacha is currently on the injured list with a left intercostal strain, but had a tremendous start to the season before being sidelined. In his first five starts of 2022, Wacha looked as good as he has since he seemed like a future star with the St. Louis Cardinals early in his career. Across 26 innings, Wacha, now 30, has a 1.38 ERA and 3.89 FIP.
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