Juan Soto is probably the biggest name to be on the market right now. There are numerous reports flying around about who's the favorite, ranging from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the San Diego Padres. However, there are other targets to consider. The following players are also available and could instantly boost a contending team's chances of making the World Series.
Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds: The Reds ace will be a valuable piece for whoever's looking for rotation help. Castillo's got spectacular stats, with a SO9 of 9.5, WHIP of 1.07, and an ERA of 2.86. He also doesn't give up many home runs (0.7 HR). Teams like Seattle, the New York Yankees, and San Diego could use the All-Star's services, especially when trying to compete with top teams like Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics: A great fallback option if Castillo gets off the market is Montas. The Athletics ace strikes out more batters than Castillo (109 to 90) and has a sterling pitch selection. Montas will fit right in as either the top guy or a middle-of-the-rotation star, giving whoever acquires him a more potent pitching punch.
Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles: The O's utilityman brings a lot of versatility to whoever acquires him, making him a lucrative pickup. Mancini is an incredible fielder, having only committed two errors this season. In fact, his career fielding percentage is .995, making him a valuable option for any team seeking fielding help.
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: In what has been a disappointing season for the Tigers, Skubal will make a nice pickup for anyone seeking a middle-of-the-rotation guy. He strikes out a lot of batters (113), his FIP is decent (2.98), and he doesn't give up much in the line of homers (only nine conceded this year). On top of that, he's only 25 and has plenty of control to establish himself on a team. The Tigers are making a poor decision making Skubal available, but any team that picks him up should benefit nicely.
