NL East4 of 6
Atlanta Braves (48-30): They’ll get Tarik Skubal from the Tigers
The Braves check two major boxes as a suitor for the two-time Cy Young Award winner: they’re a real World Series contender right now, and they badly need another top-of-the-rotation arm.
Whether they have the prospects to deal for Skubal is the question, but it’s not out of the question. If they tell the Tigers to pick two of their three best pitching prospects—Cam Caminiti, JR Ritchie, Didier Fuentes—would they be able to say no?
Miami Marlins (41-39): They’ll trade Sandy Alcantara to the Blue Jays
Alcantara has, of course, been the subject of trade rumors for years. And those have repeatedly gone nowhere, including when the team was in a similar spot as the one it’s in now ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Given his 95 ERA+ dating back to 2023, though, the Marlins should probably give up on the pretense that Alcantara might again have trade value worthy of a Cy Young Award winner. And while the organization clearly has a solid floor, the focus on this point has to be on raising the ceiling by stockpiling prospects.
New York Mets (34-44): They’ll trade Freddy Peralta to the Cubs
The Mets have been decent for a month now, and the looming return of Francisco Lindor could be what allows them to take off. But we’re obviously not counting on it, in which case the question will become how far they’ll push a fire sale.
Even if he only has a 4.83 ERA, Peralta’s top-of-the-rotation creds and pending free agency would make him a sure goner. Apart from him, though, the Mets might only be able to get anything for guys like Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter.
Philadelphia Phillies (43-36): They’ll get Matt Chapman from the Giants
Yeah, we’re going for it with this one. And for two good reasons: the Phillies rank 29th in rWAR from third base, and 30th in wRC+ from right-handed batters. Chapman is thus the best two-birds, one-stone upgrade they can get.
Plus, getting Chapman from the Giants could be as simple as agreeing to swallow the last four years of his $151 million contract. The Phillies can afford to do so, and there’s no better time to take such a chance than in the face of a closing championship window.
Washington Nationals (41-39): They’ll get Garrett Whitlock from the Red Sox
The Nationals are already a pleasant surprise, so just imagine if their bullpen didn’t have a 4.70 ERA and a league-low strikeout percentage. And of all the relievers they could acquire, few have the Swiss-Army-Knife usefulness of Whitlock.
The Nats would stand to control the righty through 2028 by way of two club options, and it might only help that Paul Toboni helped build Boston’s farm system. A swap involving former top-100 prospect Brady House would be a fun concept.