Top 20 pitcher trade candidates: Will Crochet, Skubal, Kikuchi be moved?

We rank the top 20 pitchers who could be shipped out prior to the July 30 trade deadline. Find the top 20 hitters here.

1. Garrett Crochet, White Sox

Position: SP
Age: 25
Contract: Second-year arb-eligible in 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There will be no shortage of suitors for Crochet if the White Sox are willing to pull the trigger - and for good reason. The 25-year-old won't be a free agent until 2027 and has absolutely dominated in his first season as a starting pitcher. While Chicago would certainly like to have Crochet be part of its future plans, the fireballing lefty should fetch the kind of franchise-altering prospect haul needed to accelerate a rebuild.

2. Tarik Skubal, Tigers

Position: SP
Age: 27
Contract: First-year arb-eligible in 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️

Trading a Cy Young candidate is already a tough sell to fans when a pitcher is on an expiring contract, but Skubal isn't eligible for free agency until 2027. That's why it seemed strange when the left-hander's name began to appear in trade rumors, with him being linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles. Detroit will need to be blown away to trade its ace, but his stock might never be higher, and the Tigers may want to take advantage with the playoffs looking out of reach.

3. Mason Miller, Athletics

Position: RP
Age: 25
Contract: Pre-arb eligible in 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

Given the way the Athletics do business, Miller is likely to be traded eventually - it just doesn't feel like now is the time. Oakland has understandably set the asking price incredibly high for its young and controllable All-Star, meaning an interested team would have to mortgage its future. A Miller deal is more likely to happen in the offseason when interested teams will have had more time to evaluate their assets.

4. Blake Snell, Giants

Position: SP
Age: 31
Contract: Signed through 2024 ($30M player option for 2025)
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

The Giants have a tough decision to make before the deadline with Snell. They can keep the two-time Cy Young winner and hope he pitches like an ace as they attempt to make the playoffs - the Giants are five games back of the final NL wild-card spot - or deal him if they begin to sink coming out of the All-Star break. A trade leaves them off the hook if Snell accepts his $30-million option for 2025. That seems likely given his down year after a tumultuous offseason.

5. Jack Flaherty, Tigers

Position: SP
Age: 28
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flaherty checks all the boxes for a trade candidate: He's an impending free agent having a great year on a team six games out of the final wild-card spot. The 28-year-old, who has revived his career after several injury-riddled seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, is exactly the kind of rental contenders will be shopping for at the deadline. He should be a lock to move barring a surprise run that jolts the Tigers back into contention.

6. Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays

Position: SP
Age: 33
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kikuchi is a big trade chip for the Blue Jays due to his expiring contract and a limited starting pitching market. The southpaw has his fair share of shaky moments, but he's walking hitters at a career-low rate, his stuff is elite, and he's certainly capable of helping a contender down the stretch.

7. Tyler Anderson, Angels

Position: SP
Age: 34
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anderson has returned to form after a rocky debut season with the Angels in 2023. The veteran left-hander is a bargain at $13 million per season even if he regresses from an All-Star to a league-average pitcher. Los Angeles could decide to keep Anderson with dreams of a healthy Mike Trout leading the team to glory in 2025, but a trade is more likely.

8. Kenley Jansen, Red Sox

Position: RP
Age: 36
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Red Sox are in the midst of a playoff race, so having one of baseball's all-time great closers on the roster would be advantageous down the stretch. That being said, Boston is moving in a new direction focused on youth, which doesn't bode well for the 36-year-old Jansen's future in Beantown. The right-hander is also enjoying his best season since 2021, meaning the return could be too much to pass up for an organization that continues to rebuild its farm system.

9. Zach Eflin, Rays

Position: SP
Age: 30
Contract: FA agent after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Rays always seem to do a bit of buying and selling at the deadline, putting an Eflin deal squarely in the realm of possibility. The 30-year-old's salary is also set to jump from $11 million to $18 million next season - by far the highest figure on the current roster. However, Tampa Bay may hesitate to punt on this year if it remains within striking distance of a wild-card spot and instead opt to unload Eflin in the offseason.

10. Erick Fedde, White Sox

Position: SP
Age: 31
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fedde has been one of the season's biggest surprises after inking a two-year deal with the White Sox following a stint in Korea. The right-hander is almost certain to be dealt while his value is high. He's attached to a team-friendly contract that includes the remainder of a $7.5-million salary for this season and an identical $7.5-million figure for next.

11. Andrew Heaney, Rangers

Position: SP
Age: 33
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heaney is the kind of rotation depth that good teams buy at the deadline, but are the Rangers selling? Texas, despite laboring through much of the season with a championship hangover, is still only three games back in the AL West division race. Heaney's fate will be decided by whether Texas' front office believes the team is capable of another run.

12. Luis Severino, Mets

Position: SP
Age: 30
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

The probability of a Severino trade was higher before the Mets went on a heater and jumped back into playoff contention, but it wouldn't be too surprising to see the right-hander moved. The starting pitching market is bare, Severino has rebounded nicely from an awful 2023 campaign, and David Stearns has no qualms about dealing stars during a playoff run - see Josh Hader in 2022.

13. Kirby Yates, Rangers

Position: RP
Age: 37
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yates is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career at age 37 and is on a team-friendly one-year, $4.5-million deal. The two-time All-Star, perhaps even more so than teammate Heaney, is a lock to be traded to a contender if Texas decides to waive the white flag on its title defense.

14. David Robertson, Rangers

Position: RP
Age: 39
Contract: Signed through 2024 ($7M mutual option in 2025)
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Robertson continues to defy the odds, pitching like a premier setup man in his age-39 season. His 13.5 K/9 is tied for his career best, and his 2.48 FIP is his lowest since his Yankees days. Like the other Rangers hurlers here, the team's play approaching the deadline could decide his availability.

15. Carlos Estévez, Angels

Position: RP
Age: 31
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Even if the Angels' front office intends to field a more competitive team in 2025, moving Estévez is a no-brainer. The righty has proved last year's numbers were no fluke and will be an attractive commodity to contenders looking to shore up their bullpens. He won't fetch a Mason Miller-esque haul - meaning Los Angeles has no excuse not to find a trade partner.

16. Kyle Freeland, Rockies

Position: SP
Age: 31
Contract: FA after 2026
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

The Rockies are dead last in the NL West and have next to no chance of making the playoffs, so there really isn't a need for Freeland on the roster. The oft-injured hurler has looked good in his last five starts and would benefit from a move out of Coors Field, but he's also tied to a sizeable contract that pays him $32 million between 2025 and '26.

17. Tanner Scott, Marlins

Position: RP
Age: 28
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While Scott's 3.23 FIP suggests his 1.24 ERA is due for regression, he's nonetheless been extremely effective in the final season of a three-year deal. Miami is 29 games under .500 and shouldn't hesitate to send the veteran to the highest bidder.

18. Paul Sewald, Diamondbacks

Position: RP
Age: 34
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

The D-Backs are beginning to fire on all cylinders and are in the thick of a playoff race, so the probability of a Sewald trade seems low. Arizona could, however, take advantage of a slow market for pitchers and swap out Sewald to improve other areas, with Kevin Ginkel and flamethrower Justin Martinez looking like strong ninth-inning alternatives.

19. Yimi García, Blue Jays

Position: RP
Age: 33
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Toronto's front office has made it known it's willing to move players on expiring contracts, a group that includes García. The 33-year-old flashed improved velocity and impressed as the club's interim closer earlier this year before missing time with an injury. Assuming he's healthy, García will undoubtedly find himself pitching for a contender down the stretch.

20. Michael Lorenzen, Rangers

Position: SP
Age: 32
Contract: FA after 2024
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lorenzen could be a low-risk acquisition for a contender in need of starting pitching. The right-hander's had some good moments this season, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his starts, and he's only owed the remainder of his $4.5-million salary for the campaign.