Best pitchers traded at MLB trade deadline: How Tarik Skubal can join C.C. Sabathia, Max Scherzer in company originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There's arguably nothing more valuable to a team's World Series chances than a true No. 1 arm in the rotation — an ace who can shut down any opposing lineup. Because of the exclusivity of that group of pitchers, teams rarely choose to trade one midseason.
The best pitchers moved at the MLB trade deadline are typically mid-rotation arms who may have a good track record or even some All-Star nods but aren't quite top-five pitchers in the sport or future Hall of Famers. When the true best-of-the-best pitchers are traded, it has typically happened in the offseason. But the Detroit Tigers' current situation with Tarik Skubal could be an exception to those trends.
With Skubal being the biggest name in trade rumors entering the 2026 deadline, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has a chance to become one of the best pitchers ever moved at the trade deadline. There have, however, been a few previous aces traded at the deadline who became elite weapons for their new teams.
From Max Scherzer to Randy Johnson, here's a look at some of the best pitchers ever dealt at MLB's trade deadline.
#scherzer
There's arguably nothing more valuable to a team's World Series chances than a true No. 1 arm in the rotation — an ace who can shut down any opposing lineup. Because of the exclusivity of that group of pitchers, teams rarely choose to trade one midseason.
The best pitchers moved at the MLB trade deadline are typically mid-rotation arms who may have a good track record or even some All-Star nods but aren't quite top-five pitchers in the sport or future Hall of Famers. When the true best-of-the-best pitchers are traded, it has typically happened in the offseason. But the Detroit Tigers' current situation with Tarik Skubal could be an exception to those trends.
With Skubal being the biggest name in trade rumors entering the 2026 deadline, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has a chance to become one of the best pitchers ever moved at the trade deadline. There have, however, been a few previous aces traded at the deadline who became elite weapons for their new teams.
From Max Scherzer to Randy Johnson, here's a look at some of the best pitchers ever dealt at MLB's trade deadline.
#scherzer
2 months ago
