Three NL Contenders Have No Excuse to Skip the Trade Market for Starting Pitching

The National League playoff picture isn’t just a two-team race anymore. Sure, the Dodgers still have the best record in the league and it’s not particularly close. But behind them, the Cubs, Phillies, and Braves are all jockeying for position. And each of them has a pretty obvious hole on the roster.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the need isn’t subtle. He pointed out that while a lot of teams are hunting for right-handed bats, the bigger story might be the starting pitching market. And he called out three teams specifically.

“So many clubs are looking for a right-handed hitter, with very few apparent options, but the teams most aggressively in need of a starting pitcher — we’re looking at you, Cubs, Phillies and Braves — should have a lot of good options,” Olney said. Among the names he floated as potential targets: Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, and Robbie Ray. And he noted that list could grow as more teams decide to sell.

The Braves are the most interesting case here. Their fanbase has been screaming for rotation help for months. Atlanta’s pitching staff started the year on fire despite missing key arms, but that hot streak has faded. Right now, Chris Sale is the only guy you’d feel good about handing the ball to in a playoff game. That’s not a recipe for a deep October run.

The Phillies have their own issues. Injuries have thinned out a rotation that already lacked reliable depth. And the Cubs? They’re in a weird spot. Chicago is competing now, but their rotation doesn’t exactly scream “postseason ready” beyond a couple of guys.

Here’s the thing. The sellers are lining up. Multiple teams have already signaled they’re open for business. So if the Braves, Phillies, or Cubs sit on their hands while the arms market develops, they’re going to have a hard time explaining it to their fans. Especially if the Dodgers make a move. Los Angeles has its own injury problems, and if they add another starter while the other contenders stay quiet, the gap in the NL might get even wider.

Nobody expects all three to land a frontline guy. But the excuses are running thin. The options are there. The question is which front office blinks first.