The top fits for 10 teams that need rotation help

If your favorite team needs a starting pitching boost, it better move quickly.

Many of the best free-agent starters -- Blake Snell, Max Fried, Nathan Eovaldi, Yusei Kikuchi -- are already off the board. And following last week's Red Sox-White Sox swap involving Garrett Crochet, the trade market is gaining steam.

That's not to say the cupboard is bare. This winter's top available starter, Corbin Burnes, is still out there. We could see high-impact hurlers such as Luis Castillo and Dylan Cease on the move as well. But the demand for quality starters is now outpacing the supply.

More than 10 Major League teams have starting pitching on their shopping list, but we've identified 10 clubs with postseason aspirations and a clear need for rotation help. We've ranked them based on how great their need is and assigned each a starter who would be an ideal fit.

1. Giants

Projected rotation: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Hayden Birdsong

Ideal fit: Burnes

You could argue that the Giants aren't the most pitching-needy team in baseball. Their rotation has some pluses. Webb's 613 innings since the start of 2022 are the most in MLB, and he has received some Cy Young votes following each of those three seasons. Ray still has good strikeout stuff when healthy, and the 23-year-old Harrison flashed some promise during his first full season in the Majors.

But trying to compete in the NL West is not for the faint of heart. The Dodgers are a behemoth. The Padres earned a Wild Card with 93 wins last season -- second-most in franchise history -- and the D-backs led the big leagues in runs scored. San Francisco has landed one marquee free agent this offseason, but to keep up in the division, it needs to upgrade a rotation that is projected to rank 24th in fWAR next season. The Giants are reportedly one of the frontrunners to sign Burnes, who has thrown the third-most innings over the past three years (590).

2. Orioles

Projected rotation: Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, Albert Suárez

Ideal fit: Cease

The Orioles filling a void at the top of their rotation by trading for an ace entering his final year of club control -- where have we seen that before? Baltimore hasn't closed the door on reuniting with Burnes, but rival executives believe that it might not be pursuing him as aggressively as the Giants and Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

If Burnes goes elsewhere, the O's could pivot to Cease. Even after the trades for Burnes and Trevor Rogers, Baltimore's farm system is still plenty deep enough to get a deal done with San Diego. Cease, who turns 29 later this month, is one of seven pitchers who have made at least 30 starts in each of the previous four seasons. He has recorded a 120 ERA+ and an 11.2 K/9 rate during that span. Acquiring him would be a good way for the Orioles to counteract the headline add that the Yankees (Fried) and Red Sox (Crochet) have made to their starting staffs.

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3. Tigers

Projected rotation: Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson, Alex Cobb, Casey Mize, Keider Montero

Ideal fit: Jack Flaherty

The Tigers might have been atop this list at the very beginning of the offseason. As triumphant as their 2024 run to the postseason was, they ended it with basically one traditional starter in the rotation: Skubal. He is now the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, but he can do only so much. Detroit badly needed a veteran arm, and it found one in Cobb. But the 37-year-old has a lengthy injury history, including last season when he missed time due to hip, finger and back ailments. The Tigers should be on the hunt for someone a little more reliable.

Reliability wasn't really a part of Flaherty's game just a few years ago as he was beset by numerous injuries as well, but he's coming off a year in which he tossed 184 innings with 209 strikeouts and a 3.67 ERA (postseason included). His season began with Detroit, and he shined during his four months with the club before being traded to the Dodgers. Re-acquiring the 29-year-old would be a worthwhile move for the Tigers as they look to continue their upward trajectory.

4. Guardians

Projected rotation: Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, Luis L. Ortiz, Triston McKenzie

Ideal fit: Walker Buehler

Cleveland has already made multiple transactions regarding its rotation, re-signing Bieber and obtaining Ortiz in a trade with the Pirates. But as you can read in that story link, starting pitching should still be one of the Guardians' top priorities.

Buehler, in his return from a second Tommy John surgery, struggled throughout the 2024 regular season (5.38 ERA over 75 1/3 innings). But he rounded into form in October and especially during the World Series. He finished the Fall Classic with 10 scoreless innings spread across his last three appearances, capped by his flawless frame that secured the Dodgers' first full-season championship since 1988. More importantly, Buehler's stuff looked nasty in the postseason.

Cleveland has a history of kicking the tires on pitchers with injury concerns -- it brought on Cobb and Matthew Boyd during last season -- and Buehler should still have plenty of upside at age 30. Plus, he should come at a price that is well within the Guardians' means.

5. Mets

Projected rotation: Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, Paul Blackburn

Ideal fit: Sean Manaea

There is no doubt that the Mets are a better team now than they were just 10 days ago. Getting possibly one of the best hitters of all time to wear your uniform for the next 15 years is quite a coup. But New York's roster still has a few glaring holes, including in its rotation. Montas is a solid mid-tier add, and Holmes could work in a new role. But the Mets could use another ace-level pitcher to pair with Senga.

You can't rule out someone such as Burnes since money seems to be no obstacle for the Mets. However, why not run it back with Manaea, who looked like a legitimate No. 1 during the second half of last season? Over an 11-start stretch from late July into late September, the left-hander registered a 2.63 ERA and limited hitters to a .155 average with a .498 OPS. There was reportedly "increasing optimism" in recent days about the Mets and Manaea coming to an agreement. That would make a lot of sense.

6. Red Sox

Projected rotation: Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito

Ideal fit: Castillo

Crochet is a massive get for the Red Sox as he gives their rotation two things it had lacked: A true ace and a left-hander. However, it doesn't seem like Boston is done looking for ways to augment its starting pitching. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow even said following the Crochet trade that the Red Sox remained in talks with other clubs about pitching trade targets.

Despite unloading four prospects for the southpaw, the Red Sox still possess a lot of burgeoning bats whom they could dangle in a deal. Many of those players are infielders, which is what the Mariners are looking for. Could a Castillo trade involve slugging first baseman Triston Casas or No. 2 prospect Marcelo Mayer? Boston has the pieces to get Castillo, who is under contract for at least three more seasons (he has a vesting option for 2028) and is annually dependable for a sub-4.00 ERA, at least 170 innings, plenty of strikeouts and not too many walks.

7. Nationals

Projected rotation: MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker, DJ Herz, Cade Cavalli

Ideal fit: Kyle Gibson

The NL East is a gauntlet, but the Nationals' rebuild is coming together perhaps faster than some anticipated. They have a nice offensive core based around James Wood, Dylan Crews, Luis García Jr. and CJ Abrams. Washington's future looks even brighter after it won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft.

In the rotation, Gore and Herz have swing-and-miss stuff, Irvin looked like an All-Star during the first half of 2024, and former Top 100 prospect Cavalli has a lot of untapped potential as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. If things break right, the Nats can compete for a Wild Card. But it would behoove them to add some veteran leadership to that quintet listed above, none of whom are older than 27. The 37-year-old Gibson certainly fits that bill. He was just about league average (99 ERA+) with the Cardinals this year and has reached 160 innings in each of the past six non-shortened seasons.

8. Cubs

Projected rotation: Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Matthew Boyd

Ideal fit: Jesús Luzardo

This fit might become a reality in the not-too-distant future. There have been multiple reports in the past few days regarding the Cubs' interest in the 27-year-old Luzardo, who is arbitration-eligible through 2026. Much like the Mariners vis-à-vis Castillo, the Marlins are said to desire young, controllable bats in return for their prized hurler. Even after the Cubs shipped infielder and 2024 first-round Draft pick Cam Smith to Houston as part of the Kyle Tucker trade, seven of Chicago's top eight prospects are position players.

Luzardo's 2024 season was marred by injuries, but from 2022-23 with Miami, he produced a 3.48 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and struck out 328 batters over 279 innings. Although his presence could make the Cubs' rotation almost too left-handed, he would cost a lot less in dollars than Castillo, who is owed about $72 million through 2027.

9. Blue Jays

Projected rotation: Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Bowden Francis, Yariel Rodríguez

Ideal fit: Nick Pivetta

The Blue Jays appear ready to spend big -- now they just need someone to take their money. They were among the final five teams in the running for Juan Soto and remain one of the top contenders for Burnes. While Toronto fans would much rather see a bigger name in that "Ideal fit" section, there may not be significantly better options available if Burnes spurns them. There are difference-makers in the trade market, but the Blue Jays' farm system doesn't seem to have the top-end prospects who are often necessary to pull off such a trade.

Pivetta, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, isn't a flashy add, but his 30% strikeout rate and 22.8% K-BB rate since the start of 2023 each rank fifth-best in MLB (minimum 250 innings pitched). His ERA was once again above 4.00 last season, but his expected ERA was a stellar 3.51. The homecoming angle would be a sweet story, but the 31-year-old Pivetta would also allow the Blue Jays to push Rodríguez into a swingman role and give them a bit of insurance with Bassitt slated to hit free agency after next season.

10. Padres

Projected rotation: Dylan Cease, Michael King, Yu Darvish, Randy Vásquez, Matt Waldron

Ideal fit: Roki Sasaki

The Padres would obviously move up this list if Cease were dealt. But they have rotation issues to address beyond him. King is also entering his walk year, and Darvish will turn 39 in August. The Dodgers have signed Snell (and will probably do more). The Giants have signed Willy Adames (and will probably do more). San Diego must respond with at least one eye-opening acquisition.

If that acquisition is Sasaki, it likely won't be finalized until at least Jan. 15, when the 2025 international amateur signing period begins. But the Padres have been oft-rumored as one of the favorites for the 23-year-old phenom, who is reportedly close with Darvish. The Sasaki sweepstakes figure to be intense since he is subject to international bonus pool money restrictions, meaning his salary will be capped at a pretty low level. But for a team like the Padres, who may or may not be willing to spend beyond the competitive balance tax threshold but could really use an elite arm to help keep pace in their division, Sasaki would be a perfect match.