Tier 5: The Ones Who Are Still Worth It5 of 7

Likely Asking Price: An overpay in which the receiving team takes on salary and gives up MLB or MLB-ready talent.

RHP Clay Holmes, New York Mets

2026 Stats: 9 GS, 52.2 IP, 40 H (3 HR), 45 K, 18 BB, 2.39 ERA

Contract Status: Year 2 of 2-year, $26 million, with 2027 player option

Holmes hasn’t pitched since breaking his leg on a comeback in May, but there’s been a ton of buzz on him anyway. Teams must have liked what they saw from him in 2025 and early in 2026.

Well, why not? Holmes can lose the strike zone easily, but his bowling-ball sinker and generally nasty stuff are good for ground balls and swings outside the strike zone. He’s a playoff-caliber starter when healthy.

Landing Spots: Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers

RHP Michael King, San Diego Padres

2026 Stats: 22 GS, 125.1 IP, 97 H (13 HR), 109 K, 50 BB, 3.38 ERA

Contract Status: Year 1 of 1-year, $17 million, with 2027-28 player options

King was injured for a chunk of last season, and this year has seen his K% fall into the 39th percentile. So, it’s best not to expect him to pitch like the guy who was a legit No. 1-caliber starter back in 2024.

King does have a 2.79 ERA to show for July, however, and that is partially owed to some extra zip on the sinker. So if a team sees his arrow as pointing up, that’s fair.

Landing Spots: Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies

RHP Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals

2026 Stats: 22 GS, 123.2 IP, 129 H (15 HR), 96 K, 40 BB, 4.22 ERA

Contract Status: Year 1 of 2-year, $46 million, with 2028 club option

Two years ago, Lugo was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award. He’s been more like a mid-rotation starter ever since, indeed posting a nearly exactly average ERA+ of 98.

But if nothing else, his ability to give six innings every time out has the potential to save any especially weary rotations out there. And with veterans like this, you never want to rule out the possibility of extra gumption for October.

Landing Spots: Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves

LHP Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants

2026 Stats: 20 GS, 116.1 IP, 97 H (15 HR), 101 K, 56 BB, 3.16 ERA

Contract Status: Year 5 of 5-year, $115 million

If you’re worried about the Oracle Park mirage, well, it is there a little bit with Ray this year. He has a 2.22 ERA in San Francisco, compared to a 4.35 ERA everywhere else.

You nonetheless have to hand it to Ray for the nice post-Tommy John run he’s had with the Giants. And he’s another guy whose arrow is pointed up, with his last 10 starts yielding a 1.71 ERA and only two home runs allowed.

Landing Spots: Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox

RHP Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals

2026 Stats: 21 GS, 132.1 IP, 117 H (16 HR), 104 K, 38 BB, 3.60 ERA

Contract Status: Year 2 of 3-year, $51 million, with 2028 club option

Five years ago, Wacha seemed in danger of flaming out of MLB. He’s been one of the league’s most dependable starters ever since, overall posting a 119 ERA+ and notably facing an AL-high 538 batters this year.

Buyers should beware that Wacha is not a Game 1 starter, and that success like he’s had will be hard to sustain as he gets deeper into his mid-30s. But if all a team wants is a workhorse to use as a Game 2 or Game 3 starter, he’s the guy.

Landing Spots: Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers