Where MLB’s top trade deadline arms fit as the market shapes up

The matchmaking of teams and players isn’t an easy business, and it’s especially dicey with six weeks to go before the trade deadline. Yet, I’ll give it a shot here. Here are six of the biggest starters likely to hit the market, and the best guesses for landing spots (not recommended for betting purposes):

1. Tarik Skubal

The two-time defending American League Cy Young winner showed big-time stuff but looked “rusty” in his quick, six-week return following elbow nanoscope (aka “Skubal scope”), according to an AL scout. Regardless, Skubal will be most contenders’ No. 1 target. The Cubs and Blue Jays are seen as among the more desperate big-market teams, while the Padres, Phillies and Rangers have the most aggressive decision-makers (A.J. Preller, Dave Dombrowski and Chris Young, respectively). Cubs baseball president Jed Hoyer worked for years in Chicago with Tigers baseball president Scott Harris. The Rays watched Skubal’s first bullpen session at The Trop and have new ownership. The Brewers have an opportunity to form arguably the best playoff rotation with Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski and resurrected star Kyle Harrison, but the small-market team understandably doesn’t like to surrender prospects; they once did a deal like this when they acquired CC Sabathia, which may be the blueprint for others here.

Early fit: Blue Jays.

2. Freddy Peralta

Peralta makes almost any playoff rotation and stands as that rare bargain with his $8M salary. The Cubs, with Craig Counsell, Peralta’s longtime manager in Milwaukee, make sense here too.