Flaherty is the highest rental arm, if not the highest rental participant totally, on the 2024 commerce market. The one-year, $14M deal he signed in Detroit proved to be a jackpot addition for the Tigers, who’ve seen Flaherty flip the clock again to the dominant kind he confirmed within the second half of the 2019 season and within the first half of the 2021 marketing campaign. In 95 innings, he’s pitched to a 3.13 ERA with a scintillating 2.50 SIERA. Flaherty has an elite 32.1% strikeout charge and equally dominant 4.3% stroll charge. He’s been top-of-the-line pitchers in MLB, and whereas some again discomfort served as a short purple flag, he averted a visit to the IL and returned to the mound with six innings of two-run ball as this checklist was being finalized.
Flaherty is the kind of playoff-caliber starter who ought to command a top-100 prospect (after which some) regardless of his rental standing. The Tigers don’t must really feel obligated to maneuver him, as Flaherty is an apparent qualifying provide candidate and will earn them a comp decide after the primary spherical in 2025 after he rejects that QO and indicators for greater than $50M — each of which really feel inevitable.
2. Garrett Crochet, LHP, White Sox
There’s no commerce candidate in current reminiscence just like the distinctive case of Crochet. The previous first-round decide skipped the minors totally and debuted as a reliever late within the 2020 season, simply months after being drafted eleventh total out of the College of Tennessee. He spent the 2021 season in Chicago’s bullpen, missed the 2022 season as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure, pitched simply 25 innings between the minors and massive leagues mixed final 12 months whereas ending off his rehab … after which broke out as the very best pitcher on the planet atop an terrible White Sox rotation in 2024.
Crochet’s lengthy harm historical past gave him sufficient IL time to accrue sufficient service to achieve arbitration this offseason — however his lack of innings restricted him to a tiny $800K wage. That, paired together with his jaw-dropping outcomes and two remaining seasons of membership management past the present season, make him one of the interesting commerce candidates in current reminiscence. Nonetheless, Crochet has additionally already thrown extra innings in 2024 than he did in his complete profession previous to the present season. The Sox will worth him like an ace — and rightly so. groups could worth him as such in 2025-26, however they’ll be cautious of what number of innings he can contribute down the stretch in ’24.
Nonetheless, the Sox broached the potential for an extension with Crochet and have been rapidly rebuffed. They’re now reportedly targeted on buying and selling him. The unprecedented nature of Crochet’s profession arc makes it unattainable to forecast simply what sort of return he’ll command, nevertheless it needs to be huge.
3. Carlos Estevez, RHP, Angels
Estevez ought to draw loads of commerce curiosity coming off his Reliever of the Month honors in June. The Angels nearer is amid a streak of 13 straight scoreless appearances. Except for a tough couple of weeks in mid-April, he’s been a pressure behind the Los Angeles bullpen. Estevez owns a personal-best 2.79 ERA throughout 29 innings. He’s placing out 26.2% of opponents whereas strolling fewer than 4% of batters confronted. After saving 31 video games a 12 months in the past, he’s 16-19 in locking down the ninth inning this season. Estevez is taking part in on a $6.75M wage and can head again to free company subsequent winter. He’s alongside Tanner Scott as essentially the most interesting rental relievers accessible.
4. Tanner Scott, LHP, Marlins
Talking of which: A flamethrowing nearer who’s an impending free agent on a last-place group? Scott is likely to be essentially the most quintessential commerce candidate on the summer season market. He’s inferior to his 1.42 ERA, as that belies a grisly 14.9% stroll charge. Command has lengthy been a difficulty for Scott, however he did stroll a career-low 7.9% of hitters simply final 12 months whereas fanning greater than a 3rd of his opponents. Scott throws gasoline, retains the ball on the bottom and misses bats at a plus charge. His $5.7M wage isn’t exorbitant. The Marlins are going to commerce him, barring an harm. It’s only a query of the place.
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., OF/2B, Marlins
There’s reportedly a “growing belief” that Miami will transfer its infielder-turned-center fielder within the subsequent few weeks. Chisholm has drawn loads of nationwide consideration regardless of outcomes that haven’t fairly caught as much as his status. He’s a set of loud instruments and massive persona that give him star potential even when he’s extra upside than outcomes so far. Chisholm has proven enormous energy and pace alike but additionally been too susceptible to strikeouts. He’s a .253/.317/.459 hitter courting again to 2022, and he’s clubbed 44 homers with 52 steals in that stretch of 996 plate appearances.
Accidents are a very massive purple flag, as Chisholm has solely reached 100 video games in a season as soon as and has by no means topped 507 plate appearances within the majors. He realized heart area on the fly out of necessity and hasn’t graded nicely there, however he was a plus defensive second baseman earlier than that shift. Chisholm is incomes simply $2.625M this season and has official 30-homer, 30-steal upside if he can keep wholesome. He’s by no means hit lefties significantly nicely however continues to be a possible on a regular basis bat within the outfield or center infield who’s controllable via 2026.
6. Erick Fedde, RHP, White Sox
It’s been fairly the journey for Fedde, the 18th total decide again in 2014. A longtime prime prospect of the Nationals, his improvement was slowed by Tommy John surgical procedure shortly after his draft choice. He reached the majors in 2017, pitched in components of six seasons as a Nationwide whereas posting a mid-5.00s ERA, and went to reinvent himself within the Korea Baseball Group. Reinvent himself he did. Fedde posted a flat 2.00 ERA in South Korea, received KBO MVP honors and returned to North American ball on a two-year, $15M contract with the South Siders. It’s maybe the very best transfer of rookie GM Chris Getz’s tenure thus far.
Brandishing a brand new split-changeup and more durable, extra horizontal sweeper than the slider he utilized in D.C., Fedde has burst again onto the MLB scene as not only a serviceable back-end starter however a playoff-caliber arm. In 111 1/3 innings, he’s pitched to a 2.99 ERA with a 21.6% strikeout charge (simply shy of league-average) and a terrific 6.6% stroll charge. He’s saved the ball on the bottom at a 46.5% clip, averted onerous contact very properly, and left little doubt that he may also help any contender down the stretch.
Fedde’s deal is evenly distributed. He’s incomes an eminently inexpensive $7.5M each this 12 months and subsequent. He’s gone from MLB afterthought to bona fide deadline commerce chip who ought to web the White Sox a official prime prospect (plus some secondary items). Not a lot has gone proper for the Pale Hose this season, however the Fedde signing has confirmed to be top-of-the-line strikes made by any group this previous winter.
7-8. Zack Littell, & Zach Eflin, RHPs, Rays
The Rays already dealt one starter, sending Aaron Civale to the Brewers final week. That was partially to make means within the rotation for Shane Baz, who’s again from Tommy John rehab. With Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen additionally probably returning within the second half, Tampa Bay might transfer one other starter. Littell and Eflin are the likeliest choices.
Littell is the rather more inexpensive of the duo. One other of the Rays’ reliever-to-starter success tales, he’s taking part in on a $1.85M wage. Littell is below management for another season and appears like an honest No. 4 starter. He’s sitting on a 4.44 ERA over 95 1/3 innings — already a profession excessive when it comes to MLB workload. Littell has fanned a median 22.1% of batters confronted and has pristine management, strolling round 4% of opponents in consecutive seasons.
Eflin, however, is within the second season of a three-year deal he signed with the Rays going into 2023. The $40M assure is backloaded, with $11M salaries within the first two seasons and $18M in 2025.
He had a profession 12 months in 2023, with a 3.50 ERA, 26.5% strikeout charge, 3.4% stroll charge and 49.8% ground-ball charge. Most significantly, he stayed more healthy than ever earlier than, attending to profession highs with 31 begins and 177 2/3 innings. This 12 months has been a little bit of a step again however not by a lot. He had a short stopover on the IL as a result of lower-back irritation however has logged 99 1/3 innings over 17 begins with a 3.99 ERA. His strikeout charge has fallen to 18.9% and his grounder charge to 42.8% however he’s additionally dropped his stroll charge to a miniscule 2.2%.
11th of September. Danny Jansen (C), Yusei Kikuchi (LHP), Trevor Richards (RHP), Blue Jays
The Blue Jays’ trio of most interesting rental items might all be in play with Toronto buried within the AL East and now 9.5 video games again within the wild-card hunt. Any of Jansen ($5.2M wage in ’24), Kikuchi ($10M), Garcia ($6M) or Richards ($2.15M) could be each inexpensive and impactful for a brand new membership.
Jansen stands as the highest catching choice available on the market. He slumped on the plate after a sizzling begin and entered play right this moment at a league-average 100 wRC+, hitting .217/.315/.377. (He upped that line to .222/.319/.398 with a solo homer as this was being written.) The 29-year-old has plus energy for a catcher and high-end defensive abilities. He’s been injured too often in his profession, however courting again to 2021 he’s a .233/.317/.464 hitter who’s averaged 27 homers per 162 video games performed. It’s uncommon for beginning catchers to vary palms on the deadline, as studying a brand new pitching workers on the fly midseason isn’t any small feat, however Jansen ought to nonetheless garner loads of curiosity.
Kikuchi is without doubt one of the prime rental starters available on the market. After a dominant displaying in March/April/Could, he hit a roadblock in June. He’s bounced again with 4 runs and an 18-to-2 Okay/BB ratio throughout 13 innings (two begins) in July. Kikuchi has a flat 4.00 ERA this season however a powerful 26.1% strikeout charge and excellent 5.4% stroll charge. Since incorporating a new-look curveball into his arsenal final June, Kikuchi has a 3.77 ERA, 27.1% strikeout charge, 5.9% stroll charge and 40.8% grounder charge in 212 1/3 innings. That’ll play in any rotation.
Richards has been inconsistent year-to-year however is inexpensive and has been extremely efficient in ’24. He owns a 3.40 earned run common, 25% strikeout charge and 9% stroll charge. At 92.4 mph on common together with his heater, he’s not overpowering — however he’s by no means struggled to overlook bats, both (profession 25.8 Okay%).
12. Luis Robert Jr., OF, White Sox
Robert hits the commerce market with an enviable three years of management remaining past the present season. He produced MVP-caliber numbers a 12 months in the past when he hit 38 homers and swiped 20 baggage whereas taking part in elite heart area protection, however he’s additionally been injured as a lot as almost any high-profile hitter within the sport in current seasons. That continued when a hip flexor pressure worn out two months of Robert’s 2024 season.
He’s caught fireplace on the plate lately (.280/.345/.580 over his previous 55 plate appearances), and there’s little doubting that Robert is without doubt one of the most gifted gamers within the sport … when his physique permits him to take the sphere. Add in that he’s being paid $12.5M this season and $15M subsequent 12 months earlier than the Sox (or one other membership) maintain a pair of $20M membership choices, and the attraction solely grows. Since 2021, Robert is a .280/.327/.509 hitter. He’s been value simply shy of 12 WAR in simply over two full seasons’ value of video games. Controlling him for 3.5 seasons and a complete of $59M is an unmitigated cut price. That stated, Robert’s harm historical past is a significant purple flag.
The Sox can rightly search a king’s ransom in a commerce, realizing they’ll have a number of alternatives to market him sooner or later when Robert nonetheless has two and even three full seasons of contractual management remaining. Will somebody pony up a sufficiently big provide to make them budge?
13. Brent Rooker, OF/DH, Athletics
