The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and World Series contenders continue to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. In this article I propose three mock trades for some of the most heavily rumoured players at the deadline and what I think it would cost to acquire them.
Note: These are theoretical proposals supported by researching reports and depth charts to see how viable these trades would be. I am not a reporter and have no additional information than what has been shared publicly. This exercise is also meant to be fun and to spark conversation.
Tarik Skubal lands in Hollywood
It wouldn’t be a mock trade article without a Tarik Skubal proposal. The Tigers superstar southpaw broke the pitcher record for the largest arbitration signing and is lined up to sign one of the biggest contracts in MLB history this offseason. That plan was almost altered after he underwent a first-of-its-kind surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow in May. He made a remarkably rapid recovery and pitched in MLB less than 6 weeks after the operation. Since his return, he has looked like his typical self, although an inflated HR/FB rate has put a dent in his ERA. His pitch metrics have remained steady and his trade value has rebounded nicely.
Tarik Skubal
P, Age: 29,
Throws: L,
6′ 3″/240 lbs
DOB: 1996-11-20,
Hayward, USA
2026 MLB Season Pitching Stats
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
GB%
FIP
WAR
65.2
3.15
0.91
29.5%
3.1%
26.4%
45.7%
3.11
1.6
With the Tigers fighting with the Royals for last place in the AL Central, it feels inevitable that Skubal will be on the move prior to the trade deadline. Skubal presents a unique situation as it has been quite a while since a bona fide ace was available on the market mid-season. The team that ultimately acquires him will need to pay a substantial price, mostly in the form of high-upside prospects and/or MLB-ready talent. Assuming no contract extension would be included in the negotiations, I would expect a package to consist of at least two Top 100 prospects and other supplementary, yet intriguing, minor leaguers. Skubal being an expensive rental with notable injury risk clouds his intrinsic trade value, making him one of the toughest rental pieces to assess.
Enter the Los Angeles Dodgers.
I can hear the groans already. The best team in the league — winners of back-to-back World Series — adding arguably the best pitcher in the world to their rotation feels like cheating. While it may not feel nice to hear, the Dodgers provide the Tigers with the ideal pieces to conduct a trade. They have a plethora of exciting outfield prospects and a ton of young arms that would inject life into the Tigers pipeline after they recently graduated names like Kevin McGonigle and Troy Melton. My proposal includes two of the Dodgers’ Top 6 prospects (Zyhir Hope, Christian Zazueta), a 19-year-old in the midst of a breakout (Ching-Hsien Ko), and a potential starter with one of the most dominant changeups in MiLB (Brady Smith).
CF, Age: 21,
B/T: L/L,
5′ 10″/193 lbs
DOB: 2005-01-19,
Chesapeake, USA
Drafted: 2023, Rd. 11, Pick: 12
School: Colonial Forge HS
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AA
GP
PA
tjBat+
OPS
ISO
HR
SB
K%
BB%
Whiff%
Swing%
Air%
77
348
118
0.859
0.214
16
13
25.0%
10.9%
27.0%
45.2%
62.2%
Zyhir Hope is in the midst of a seemingly pedestrian season in AA, but there is a lot more than what his average offensive production may indicate. Hope wields one of the loudest bats in MiLB and is the main reason he is widely considered one of the best outfield prospects in baseball. His raw power is apparent through his 106.7 mph EV90 and 46.0 HardHit%, and he consistently translates his strength during games thanks to his tendency to lift the ball. Although his offensive production is currently lagging behind prior years, he has made a substantial improvement in his contact rates. After running a poor 34% whiff rate in 2025, that number is down to 28% this season. He is also being more aggressive at the dish, which has helped him set a career high in HR. Hope is making more contact, hitting for more power, and swinging more often — all while producing at an above average rate as a 21-year-old in AA. He may not have the same allure as fellow teammates Josue De Paula or Mike Sirota, but Hope is a strong trade centrepiece.
Age: 21,
RHP,
6′ 3″/163 lbs
DOB: 2004-10-07,
Navajoa, MEX
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+, AA
GP
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
Whiff%
Strike%
GB%
14
62.2
3.45
0.91
37.2%
5.4%
31.8%
34.9%
67.4%
34.6%
Christian Zazueta is the hottest pitching prospect in MiLB, and I am glad that he is living up to my lofty expectations after I floated that he may be the Dodgers’ best pitching prospect back in November. Currently sitting just outside my Top 10 pitching prospects, Zazueta is poised to move even higher in my next update and I believe he can reach into the Top 5 before the end of the season. He has everything you want in a young arm: an elite fastball, multiple secondaries, and consistent strike-throwing. His heater is arguably the best pitch in MiLB at the moment thanks to its mid-90s velocity and shallow approach from a below-average slot — think Bryan Woo or Joe Ryan. His changeup has been utterly dominant against left-handed hitters this season with a ~50% whiff rate. He also added a sweeper this season to provide a reliable option to expand the zone against right-handed hitters. Zazueta was recently promoted to AA and continues to trend up rankings. He would be a tremendous grab for the Tigers if the Dodgers are willing to part with the young fireballer.
OF, Age: 19,
B/T: L/R,
6′ 3″/215 lbs
DOB: 2006-08-11,
Taiping, Taiwan
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A
GP
PA
tjBat+
OPS
ISO
HR
SB
K%
BB%
Whiff%
Swing%
Air%
66
306
122
0.897
0.219
13
1
25.2%
16.7%
31.0%
41.7%
62.1%
Ching-Hsien Ko, despite an underwhelming cup of coffee in Lo-A last season, was my Dodgers hitting prospect breakout pick thanks to his intriguing suite of tools. It looks like a good call at this point as he is currently rocking a .911 OPS with 13 HR while walking 16.7% of the time. The traits that help him stand out are his staunch patience and ability to consistently lift his hardest hits. While he does not have elite high-end power — although it is above average for his age — Ching-Hsien Ko has posted a ~50% hard-hit rate on line drives and fly balls this season, helping him yield some of the best batted ball data in the lower minors. He is a bat that the Dodgers would not want to relinquish, making him a perfect add-on to this deal.
Age: 21,
RHP,
6′ 2″/170 lbs
DOB: 2005-01-27,
Knoxville, USA
Drafted: 2023, Rd. 3, Pick: 25
School: Grainger HS
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A
GP
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
Whiff%
Strike%
GB%
17
57.1
4.08
1.20
37.9%
9.5%
28.4%
37.9%
64.0%
47.6%
Brady Smith is the final piece of this trade. He presents a high-risk, high-reward profile perfect for tacking onto the end of a trade as a sweetener. The Dodgers’ 2023 3rd round selection did not make his pro debut until June of last season following an elbow injury that required surgery. He was heavily restricted in terms of usage, operating in just one or two inning spurts for most of the year. Now in his first full pro season, Smith is making up for lost time. He has registered a 37.9% strikeout rate while dishing out some hellacious stuff. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with immense ride and his changeup may be the best pitch in the lower minors thanks to its drastic movement separation. He tosses the offering over a quarter of the time and it has yielded an absurd 50% whiff rate. He is comfortable throwing it in all counts and against both handednesses of batter. Smith may ultimately end up in the bullpen, but it is tough to ignore the upside of a highly-touted draft prospect who is finally living up to expectations.
Gauging a price for arguably the best pitcher in the world was tough, especially when you consider his lofty contract and recent surgery. I expect this proposal to be polarizing given that there is no recent precedent for a rental this impactful. The thought of Tarik Skubal heading to the Dodgers may feel sickening for some — probably most — fans, but it just makes sense. They have the assets to sway the Tigers and are willing to part with some of their best prospects to get a deal done, even if it is considered an overpay in the traditional sense. Other teams that could make a run at Skubal include the Brewers, Braves, and to a lesser extent the Yankees. Perhaps I will cook up a mock trade for them in the future.
Aroldis Chapman returns to Chicago
The Red Sox are in the midst of a disastrous season. After revamping their rotation over the winter and bolstering their infield, they have seen their home-grown talent stumble to produce offensively. Jarren Duran, Marcelo Mayer, and Carlos Narváez are offensive black holes and Roman Anthony has played just 30 games due to a variety of injuries. With the AL East seemingly out of reach, Boston will likely enter trade deadline season as sellers, eyeing 2027 and prioritising cost-controlled, MLB-ready talent in return. They have a handful of pieces that would intrigue contenders, including Aroldis Chapman and Sonny Gray. The biggest caveat for both pitchers is that they carry substantial price tags, which unfortunately limits their trade value.
Aroldis Chapman
P, Age: 38,
Throws: L,
6′ 4″/235 lbs
DOB: 1988-02-28,
Holguin, Cuba
2026 MLB Season Pitching Stats
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
GB%
FIP
WAR
26.2
2.36
1.28
30.7%
10.5%
20.2%
46.0%
2.44
0.8
This mock trade sends Aroldis Chapman back to the north side of Chicago, the place where he won the World Series a decade ago. The Cubs, despite facing a brutal string of pitching injuries, are comfortably in a wild card spot and are projected to safely snatch a playoff berth this October. Among those injuries is Daniel Palencia, the Cubs’ high-octane closer, who is dealing with right elbow inflammation. Without a true closer in their bullpen, Chicago should be looking to acquire the best one on the market. Chapman, at the ripe age of 38, is still one of the best relievers in baseball and can dial his fastball up to triple digits when needed. Closers tend to fetch a pretty penny at the deadline and Chapman, who needs to pitch 40.0 IP this season to trigger another year in his contract, should be no different. I would expect a backend Top 100 prospect to be the main return.
Sonny Gray
P, Age: 36,
Throws: R,
5′ 10″/190 lbs
DOB: 1989-11-07,
Smyrna, USA
2026 MLB Season Pitching Stats
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
GB%
FIP
WAR
89.2
2.61
1.10
22.8%
6.4%
16.4%
47.6%
3.60
1.6
Sonny Gray was acquired by the Red Sox over the winter and has been a revelation in their rotation. He is performing up to projections, although his strikeout rate has declined significantly from 2025. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue to move, as contenders can never have too many starters. Gray provides dependable, consistent innings and would be a perfect addition for a team looking to bolster its rotation. Not only would Gray pitch meaningful innings for Chicago in the playoffs, he would be a rock in their dishevelled rotation for the second half. Rental starters — especially ones with Gray’s track record — tend to fetch a decent haul at the deadline, but Gray is owed nearly $15M for the remainder of 2026. This price tag already limits which teams can afford to add the veteran righty, further lessening his trade value. Assuming the Red Sox do not retain any salary, his price will likely come in much cheaper than anticipated.
2B, Age: 22,
B/T: S/R,
5′ 9″/165 lbs
DOB: 2004-04-01,
Temblador, Venezuela
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AAA
GP
PA
tjBat+
OPS
ISO
HR
SB
K%
BB%
Whiff%
Swing%
Air%
43
196
137
0.925
0.235
9
19
16.3%
10.7%
15.7%
43.6%
55.7%
Pedro Ramírez has made a name for himself this season as one of the best bats in the Cubs system. He was widely considered a Top 100 prospect before graduating earlier this week, ranking as high as #65 on my rankings. He has always been a high-contact hitter with defensive versatility, but lacked the power to be considered more than an infield depth piece in MLB. That changed after he came out firing to start his 2026 season at AAA, setting a pro career high with 9 HR in his first 37 games. His underlying batted ball quality was strong and his bat-to-ball skills did not miss a beat. Ramírez can comfortably play both 2B and 3B — two positions currently locked up long-term in Chicago. With no clear path to playing time with the Cubs, he is the perfect trade candidate. On the flip side, he would be the ideal acquisition for the Red Sox, whose 2B spot is currently open. Ramírez would be the centrepiece of this deal and Boston would be ecstatic to snag him.
Age: 26,
LHP,
6′ 3″/220 lbs
DOB: 1999-09-01,
Conway, USA
Drafted: 2021, Rd. 1, Pick: 21
School: Kansas State
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AAA
GP
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
Whiff%
Strike%
GB%
12
45.0
7.40
1.93
15.3%
10.6%
4.6%
27.4%
59.5%
42.4%
Jordan Wicks seems to have fallen out of favour in Chicago. The 2021 1st-round selection has dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout his career, ranging from forearm and oblique strains in 2024 to elbow inflammation that caused him to miss the start of this season. Now in his age-26 season, Wicks has floated between AAA and MLB as a depth arm for a weakened Cubs pitching staff. On the surface, Wicks does not seem to carry much value, but a left-handed starter with team control will always be of interest to a retooling team. He was considered a Top 100 prospect by FanGraphs less than two years ago and he continues to flash a plus changeup with above-average command. The Red Sox have tried their hand at a handful of reclamation projects in recent years — Johan Oviedo, Kyle Harrison, Quinn Priester — and Wicks follows that archetype perfectly: a young pitcher with MLB experience in need of a change of scenery. While the ultimate outcomes of those acquisitions are questionable, it indicates that the Red Sox could view Wicks as a potential trade chip.
Age: 23,
RHP,
6′ 6″/230 lbs
DOB: 2002-08-23,
Austin, USA
Drafted: 2024, Rd. 9, Pick: 17
School: Lamar University
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A+, AA
GP
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
Whiff%
Strike%
GB%
13
61.1
3.23
1.08
26.2%
7.3%
19.0%
29.8%
67.2%
35.4%
Brooks Caple represents the lottery ticket in this mock trade. The stout righty out of Lamar University had a pro debut season to forget in 2025, struggling to generate swing-and-miss and yielding an underwhelming 17.3% strikeout rate. He has flipped the script this season and garnered rave reviews from scouts and analysts alike. His fastball is a lot sharper this season, sitting an additional tick higher with significantly more ride. His changeup has been excellent as well, yielding a whiff rate of ~35%. Supporting his improved pitch shapes are vastly improved strike-throwing and a notable reduction in walk rate. Caple’s resurgence has helped his prospect stock rebound nicely after a rough first professional season, making him an intriguing arm to dangle as trade bait this deadline.
This trade seems like an overpay from the Cubs’ side given the capital owed to Gray and Chapman, but there may not be a better 1-2 punch available at the deadline — and one that Chicago desperately needs. The Red Sox would gladly welcome Pedro Ramírez into their infield and hope that their pitching development team can inject life into Jordan Wicks. Caple pushes the deal over the edge with his backend starter potential. This feels like a win-win for both sides.
Luis Arraez heads to Tampa
There are not many starting-calibre rental bats available at this deadline, with most options either being too expensive, underperforming, or both. One exception is Luis Arraez — the contact-first second baseman in the midst of a career year while also posting excellent defensive metrics. This renaissance has turned Arraez from a player with a highly limited skillset into one that could fetch the Giants a pretty piece at the trade deadline.
Luis Arraez
2B, Age: 29,
B/T: L/R,
5′ 10″/186 lbs
DOB: 1997-04-09,
San Felipe, Venezuela
2026 MLB Hitting Stats
G
PA
HR
SB
K%
BB%
wRC+
WAR
85
376
4
7
4.0%
5.6%
123
3.4
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to defy expectations. They are currently leading the AL East with the best record in the American League. Their offensive production has been carried by the top of their lineup, with a rag-tag team of platoon bats barely keeping the bottom afloat. The Rays will be looking to bolster their offence this deadline, however their limited payroll typically forces them to make creative moves to optimise their roster. Thankfully, Arraez is owed around $6M for the remainder of 2026, making him a very affordable asset. That price tag combined with his strong production will still come at a non-trivial cost — a team looking to acquire Arraez will likely need to shell out a high-upside prospect, a commodity the Rays know very well.
SS, Age: 19,
B/T: L/R,
6′ 3″/190 lbs
DOB: 2006-08-05,
Atlanta, USA
Drafted: 2025, Rd. 2, Pick: 10
School: Aliso Niguel HS
2026 Season Stats
Levels: A
GP
PA
tjBat+
OPS
ISO
HR
SB
K%
BB%
Whiff%
Swing%
Air%
72
321
121
0.794
0.152
7
9
15.6%
10.3%
21.7%
45.6%
53.5%
Cooper Flemming, the Rays’ 2nd-round pick from their loaded 2025 draft, is a polarizing prospect in the industry. Baseball America ranks him inside their Top 100 and considers him a Top 5 prospect in the system while FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline rank him outside the Top 10. Flemming’s carrying trait is an advanced hit tool which has helped him produce at an above average rate this season while running strong contact and strikeout rates. He also has room to fill out his 6’3″ frame, which should heighten his power upside. I have not formally conducted team prospect rankings, but I would place Flemming in the 8–10 range for the Rays — a testament to the depth of their system. There is discernible risk in his profile given his poor foot speed and likely departure from shortstop, making him an intriguing trade chip as a lottery-ticket prospect.
Age: 24,
RHP,
6′ 6″/205 lbs
DOB: 2001-09-25,
Rockwall, USA
Drafted: 2023, Rd. 15, Pick: 12
School: Ball State
2026 Season Stats
Levels: AAA
GP
IP
ERA
WHIP
K%
BB%
K-BB%
Whiff%
Strike%
GB%
10
49.1
2.74
0.99
33.0%
9.6%
23.4%
33.8%
65.9%
32.7%
Ty Johnson and his two-pitch arsenal is an enigma. At each level in MiLB he has evenly split his fastball and slider usage to great success as a starter. His limited arsenal makes me cautious that he can stick as a starter long-term, but he has the foundation to be a productive MLB reliever — a perfect sweetener to push this trade to fruition.
The signing of Luis Arraez this past winter was criticized by many — myself included — but it may end up being the best move Buster Posey has made as the Giants’ president of baseball operations. Arraez provides the Rays a consistent bat to bolster their lineup and simplifies their convoluted platoon operation. In return, the Giants receive a high-upside prep bat and some MLB-ready pitching depth.
For more prospect coverage on the players featured in these trades, check out the latest Prospect Parade and my updated Top 100 Prospects list.
