RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesNEW YORK — The tectonic twist before Major League Baseball's trade deadline came late Saturday night as the rich got richer.
The Dodgers acquired two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers for a pair of top 100 prospects in Zyhir Hope and River Ryan and fellow pitching prospect Brady Smith.
The ripples of the massive splash for the Dodgers, who are seeking a third straight World Series title, were felt across baseball on Sunday morning, with less than 48 hours until Monday's 6 p.m. deadline.
And with it, the starting pitching market was set.
Skubal was undoubtedly the top pitcher on the open market - a 29-year-old ace on an expiring deal who has a 2.40 ERA and 0.91 WHIP combined over his last three seasons. He had struck out at least 228 batters in each of the last two seasons in helping the Tigers reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
The Mariners also moved veteran right-hander Luis Castillo for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith.
So where does that leave the Mets? They are in full sell mode following their disastrous 2026 season that saw them sitting at 47-65 entering Sunday. The Mets have a pair of starting pitchers that they will be looking to sell in Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta. Kodai Senga is also lingering along the periphery.
Clay Holmes could net Mets best haul
The biggest question now might be how much teams are willing to give up to try and keep pace with the Dodgers and their super team, which now has Skubal alongside World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop their rotation.
The Tigers' return felt light to some, particularly with a little less than 48 hours until the deadline. Hope is the baseball's No. 25 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, while Ryan sits at No. 68. Smith is now slotted as the Tigers' No. 14 prospect in their system.
That sets the bar of a pair of top-100 prospects and another former third-round pick for one of the top arms in baseball.
Holmes, who has a $12 million player option ahead of 2027, is near the top of the pitching market among players on expiring deals, alongside the Tigers' Casey Mize and Giants' Robbie Ray. All profile as No. 2 or 3 starters on a contender, unlike Skubal.
Holmes was having an All-Star caliber season before suffering a fractured fibula. He is 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in nine starts. The question for teams might be health. Holmes is "at his moment" expected to make his third rehab start for High-A Brooklyn on Sunday, with the expectation that he will throw 70, 75 pitches.
Freddy Peralta a similar reclamation project as Luis Castillo
Peralta fits a similar mold as Castillo — a one-time ace who is having a down year.
Castillo is 3-9 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 20 appearances for the Mariners. Peralta is 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP in 22 starts for the Mets.
The big difference is that Castillo is owed $7.8 million for the remainder of this season and $22.75 million for 2027. Peralta is due to become a free agent at the end of the season.
The Mariners received Dominguez and his $2.1 million remaining this season and $10 million for next season to offset some of the cost.
Peralta's presence as a expiring deal with high-end potential could pique the interest of one of the contenders who believes he might be able to turn the tide at a reduced cost.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What Tarik Skubal, Luis Castillo trades might mean for Mets at deadline
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