MLB Trade Deadline: Tarik Skubal Hits 99.9 MPH as 90% Trade Candidate

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal reaches 99.9 mph following bone chip surgery, making him a 90% likely candidate for the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

Major League Baseball’s August 3 trade deadline is days away, with Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal emerging as the top candidate with a 90% chance of being moved. Skubal, a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner, recently returned from midseason bone chip surgery to record a 99.9 mph fastball. His arsenal features a four-seam fastball sitting between 95 mph and 98 mph, complemented by a premier changeup and above-average sinker, slider, and slurve. While the Tigers' postseason trajectory dictates his availability, he currently offers game-changing rest-of-season impact with control lasting through the remainder of 2026. Potential fits for the ace include the Dodgers, Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, and Rays.

San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez holds a 95% likelihood of being traded before the deadline. Arraez is on pace to lead MLB in strikeout rate for the fifth consecutive year and has transitioned into a plus defender at second base under coach Ron Washington. Despite a lack of power and speed, the 29-year-old infielder is projected for a 3-win or 4-win season. Clay Holmes of the New York Mets also carries a 90% trade probability as he prepares for a rehab start this Thursday following a two-month absence due to a broken leg. Holmes possesses an opt-out clause after the 2026 season.

Shortstop Market and Control Years

Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels faces a 40% chance of being dealt, carrying three years of team control beyond 2026. The 25-year-old has produced 68 home runs and 69 stolen bases over the last three seasons, hitting 15% above the league average. However, defensive metrics show a minus-16 run deficit in range going up the middle. The Angels recently replaced GM Perry Minasian with John Mozeliak, who now oversees the potential movement of Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers. Detmers, who has a 35% trade likelihood, ranks fourth in MLB strikeouts behind Misiorowski, Cristopher Sanchez, and Dylan Cease.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams and San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller both sit at a 20% trade probability. Abrams is currently posting career highs in his age-25 season, though evaluators cite defensive concerns at shortstop. Miller, who averages 101.3 mph on his four-seam fastball with a 6.8-foot extension, has three years of control remaining after 2026. The Padres previously traded prospect Leo De Vries to acquire Miller and may look to move him if they cannot attach Xander Bogaerts’ contract to a deal.

Catching Depth and Power Hitters

Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies is a 20% trade candidate after hitting 30 home runs through the team’s first 101 games. A former fourth-round pick from Memphis, Goodman has improved to an average defender behind the plate while maintaining plus-plus power. His wRC+ remains higher on the road than at Coors Field. The Baltimore Orioles are listening to offers for Adley Rutschman, who has a 35% chance of being moved. Rutschman is controllable through 2027, but the presence of Samuel Basallo in the Orioles' system makes the 28-year-old catcher a potential trade chip for pitching.

Jeremy Peña of the Houston Astros is 25% likely to be traded, with one year of control remaining after 2026. Peña recorded a 5.7 WAR season in 2025, aided by the Crawford Boxes at Daikin Park, though his typical production ranges between 2.7 and 3.3 WAR. The Miami Marlins hold Otto Lopez, who is under team control through 2029 and is currently hitting nearly 80 points higher than the league batting average of .244. Lopez has a 35% chance of being dealt as a well-rounded player with elite contact skills.