Examining the trade market for starting pitching this season

As of July 2, the league-average ERA for a starting rotation was 4.09, a figure lower than those of two division-leading clubs and nine Wild Card hopefuls.

In other words, plenty of teams will spend the next four weeks searching for starting pitching, and the Brewers got a jump on the race for rotation depth when they traded an infield prospect to the Rays on Wednesday for veteran righty Aaron Civale.

With so many other teams still sorting out their plans to buy, sell or hold, available starters may be few and far between. Among the clubs likely looking for rotation help are the Guardians, Padres, Twins, Astros, Cardinals, Mets, Giants and D-backs, giving sellers a wide range of potential trade partners.

Let’s take a look at 13 starters (listed by current fWAR) who could be available this month:

Garrett Crochet, LHP, White Sox
Current fWAR: 3.7
Crochet’s transition to the rotation has been an unmitigated success, as the southpaw has a 3.02 ERA through 18 starts this season -- including a 1.49 ERA in 11 outings since May 5. The 25-year-old is earning $800,000 this season and remains under club control through 2026, making him the most appealing trade candidate on this year’s market. The White Sox are in a position to hold him if they choose to, but Chicago should land a haul of prospects if they deal Crochet.

Erick Fedde, RHP, White Sox
Current fWAR: 2.3
The White Sox signed Fedde to a two-year, $15 million deal this winter, banking that the righty’s performance last year in Korea would translate in his return to the Majors. Fedde has proven them right, posting a 3.23 ERA in his first 17 starts, but as Chicago looks toward a rebuild, the 31-year-old now stands as a prime trade candidate this summer. He’s earning $7.5 million this season and next, making him an affordable option for clubs looking to bolster the middle of their rotation.

Jack Flaherty, RHP, Tigers
Current fWAR: 2.1
Flaherty posted an ERA of 4.25 or higher in three of four seasons between 2020-2023, but the right-hander has a 3.24 ERA in 15 starts this season, pitching to a 2.72 ERA in nine starts since the beginning of May. The 28-year-old ranks in the top five percent in the league in whiff percentage, strikeout percentage and walk percentage this season, fanning 115 batters against only 14 walks in 89 innings. Flaherty is earning $14 million this season and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Chris Bassitt, RHP, Blue Jays
Current fWAR: 1.8
The Blue Jays’ disappointing season might have them headed toward a sell-off by the end of the month, though whether they plan to make the moves to contend in 2025 or begin a rebuild will determine just who could get moved. Bassitt is signed through the end of 2025 ($22 million salary both this year and next), so the 35-year-old could be a prime trade candidate given his 3.24 ERA in 17 starts this season.

Yusei Kikuchi, LHP, Blue Jays
Current fWAR: 1.8
Unlike his rotation-mate Bassitt, Kikuchi will be a free agent at the end of this season, making him a more likely trade candidate if the Blue Jays are unable to turn things around in the next few weeks. The lefty owns a 4.18 ERA in 17 starts this season, throwing seven quality starts while allowing two or fewer earned runs in 10 outings. Kikuchi is earning $10 million this season.

Zach Eflin, RHP, Rays
Current fWAR: 1.4
Eflin has been an outstanding signing for the Rays, who inked the right-hander to a three-year, $40 million deal prior to the 2023 season. Eflin was tied with Bassitt for the AL lead with 16 wins in his first season with Tampa Bay, posting a 3.50 ERA over 177 2/3 innings. This year, he has a 3.92 ERA in 15 starts (87 1/3 innings), ranking in the 99th percentile in walk percentage, issuing just seven free passes all season. The Rays remain in the AL Wild Card race, but the number of clubs seeking rotation help -- and the fact that Eflin’s $11 million salary this season will jump to $18 million in 2025 -- could cause Tampa Bay to shop the pitcher this month.

Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers
Current fWAR: 1.0
The defending World Series champions are in danger of falling out of the AL postseason picture, and if GM Chris Young decides to sell, Eovaldi -- a potential free agent earning $16 million this season -- should draw plenty of interest given his track record of postseason success. The right-hander has a sub-4.00 ERA for the fifth straight season, and while his contract includes a vesting $20 million option for 2025, it’s no certainty that the 34-year-old would trigger it rather than becoming a free agent.

Tyler Anderson, LHP, Angels
Current fWAR: 0.9
Anderson is in the second year of his three-year, $39 million deal with the Angels, posting significantly better numbers than he did in 2023. The left-hander has a 3.03 ERA in 17 starts (104 innings) this season, ranking in the top 20 percent of the league when it comes to soft contact (average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage). Anderson is earning $13 million this season and carries the same salary in 2025, making him a reasonable addition for contenders seeking a controllable arm.

Frankie Montas, RHP, Reds
Current fWAR: 0.9
Cincinnati remains on the fringe of the NL Wild Card race, so the Reds may wait another couple weeks before deciding whether to buy or sell. If it’s the latter, then Montas -- who is earning $14 million this season with a $20 million mutual option ($2 million buyout) for 2025 -- could be an interesting name to watch. Montas threw only 1 1/3 innings in 2023, but he’s made 15 starts this year (72 1/3 innings) while posting a 4.23 ERA -- including a 3.55 ERA in five June starts.

Cal Quantrill, RHP, Rockies
Current fWAR: 0.9
After struggling in 2023 and being designated for assignment by the Guardians last November, Quantrill was dealt to the Rockies for Minor League catcher Kody Huff. Quantrill has had a resurgent season in 2024, pitching to a 3.78 ERA in 17 starts, posting a 2.98 mark in his last 11 outings. Quantrill is earning $6.55 million this season and will be arbitration-eligible for a fourth time this winter.

Jesús Luzardo, LHP, Marlins
Current fWAR: 0.6
Luzardo has been out with a back injury since mid-June, and having been placed on the 60-day injured list, he won’t return until after the Trade Deadline. Still, the 26-year-old could be one of the most impactful arms moved this month, especially given his club control through 2026. The Marlins could wait until the offseason to shop Luzardo, but his contract status might prompt a contender to move now in an attempt to add his arm to its rotation for the stretch run.

Max Scherzer, RHP, Rangers
Current fWAR: 0.3
As noted earlier, it’s no certainty that the Rangers will be sellers this month, but if they decide to take that route, the soon-to-be 40-year-old (Scherzer’s birthday is July 27) will be among Texas’ biggest trade chips. Scherzer -- who is earning $43.33 million in 2024 and will become a free agent after the season -- made his season debut on June 23 after missing the first two-plus months while recovering from offseason back surgery, allowing two runs over 10 1/3 innings (1.74 ERA) in his first two starts of the season.

Trevor Bauer, RHP, Free Agent
Current fWAR: N/A
Despite no market developing for Bauer during the offseason, he remains available for any club to sign. Bauer last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2021, when he was 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA over 17 starts for the Dodgers. Bauer was placed on administrative leave in July of 2021 before MLB suspended him for 194 games for violating the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The Dodgers released him in January of 2023. Bauer pitched in Japan during the 2023 season and the Mexican League this spring, and at this time, he remains unsigned. “Trevor Bauer served the entirety of his discipline and is an unrestricted free agent available to sign a contract with any team,” a league spokesperson said.