ESPN Ranks MLB's Top 100 Trade Deadline Candidates
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- ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan ranked 100 MLB trade candidates by total trade value (rest-of-season value as tiebreaker) with a minimum 10% trade likelihood, ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
- Tarik Skubal tops the list at a 90% chance of being traded, tagged as 'game-changing' for rest-of-season impact; the source calls him the 'best pitcher in the world' and lists best fits as the Dodgers, Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Phillies and Rays.
- Mason Miller of the Padres ranks #2 with only a 20% trade likelihood despite being described as the best reliever in baseball; the source notes San Diego would like to attach Xander Bogaerts' contract to any deal but 'nobody's going to take it.'
- CJ Abrams of the Nationals ranks #3 at a 20% trade likelihood, with evaluators doubting his defense at shortstop despite career-high offensive production.
- Zach Neto of the Angels ranks #4 at a 40% trade likelihood, with the source highlighting uncertainty over how much owner Arte Moreno will allow interim GM John Mozeliak to execute a full rebuild.
- Jeremy Peña of the Astros ranks #5 at a 25% trade likelihood after hiring agent Scott Boras and scrapping an extension, with the source comparing the situation to the Astros' Kyle Tucker trade but noting Houston isn't contending this year.
Why it matters: Skubal's 90% trade likelihood and 'game-changing' tag mean contenders will pay an enormous price for the back-to-back Cy Young winner. Multiple star shortstops — Peña, Neto, Abrams — are in play from teams that were recent contenders, marking a roster reset across both leagues before Aug. 3.
