Breaking Down the Biggest MLB Trade Deadline Moves: Skubal, Castillo, Garcia and More

The MLB trade deadline is later today, but there's already been a bunch of moves made that we'll break down here.

There's actually so many moves made already that we need to break them down into a couple stories. Here is the first batch of notable moves from the past couple days.

Check back soon for the other trade recap from the past few days.

Use the FantasySP trade value chart and trade analyzer as you propose and accept fantasy baseball trades all season! The Fantasy Sports Assistant now can answer questions you have after doing team breakdowns or waiver wire analysis!

Skubal to Dodgers

The biggest move so far, and likely of the deadline, is Tarik Skubal being traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers. Detroit got Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith in return.

Skubal was the prized piece at the deadline, and he went to the team that many expect him to sign with after the season, as he's a soon-to-be free agent. It seemed inevitable that Skubal would land with the Dodgers, and it came now instead of during the offseason.

Skubal has made 16 starts this season, and he sits with a 7-5 record and 2.79 earned run average. Over 96 2/3 innings, he's struck out 116 batters.

Skubal was a good fantasy asset coming into the season, and that was while on a so-so team. Now on a juggernaut, Skubal should be one of the top fantasy arms for the remainder of the season. He's bound to shine if he remains healthy, and makes the Dodgers the overwhelming favorites to win it all again.

Hope was the big prospect get for the Tigers. He ranks 25th overall right now. Hope has a 2027 ETA, and there's a chance Detroit gives him a chance later this year, so keep tabs on the 21-year-old outfielder.

Ryan is the No. 68 prospect, even though he's 27 years old and made his MLB debut two years ago. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since then, but should get that chance with the Tigers.

Smith is the No. 14 prospect for the Tigers after the trade. The 21-year-old pitcher has a 2029 ETA and has been pitching in High-A, so he's a ways off from making his MLB debut.

White Sox Land Castillo

Chicago made a move to increase its odds of making the postseason after acquiring Luis Castillo from the Mariners. Seattle got Seranthony Dominguez, Nolan Jones and Boston Smith in return.

Castillo gives the White Sox a veteran starting pitcher to lead the team's rotation. He's made 17 starts and 20 appearances this season. Castillo is 3-9 with a 5.09 ERA over 99 2/3 innings, and has struck out 86 along the way.

Castillo has a better fantasy outlook in Chicago, as he should stick as a starting pitcher for the remainder of the season. He's one to add in a few more leagues where he's available, and one to keep tabs on in case he improves after the trade.

Dominguez opened the year as the White Sox' closer, so now an option for saves is open in Chicago - expect Grant Taylor to be the top closer option, with Sean Newcomb and Bryan Hudson also as options.

Back to Dominguez, I'd expect him to be a middle relief, or setup, option in Seattle ahead of Andres Munoz. Dominguez is 4-3 with a 3.99 ERA over 43 games this season. He has 12 saves, five blown saves and four holds, plus 47 punchouts over 38 1/3 innings.

Jones has not played in the big leagues yet in 2026, so he's outfield depth for Seattle. He had a big year back in 2023, so maybe a change of scenery will help him get back to that level of play.

Smith is the Mariners' No. 14 prospect after the trade. He's 23 years old, has a 2028 ETA and is playing in Double-A after being a 2025 sixth-round pick. He can catch and play the outfield, which increases the chances of him maybe debuting earlier than that, but likely in 2027 at the earliest.

Braves Acquire Mahle, Plus Thomas and Falter

Tyler Mahle is going to Atlanta in a deal with the Giants, who get Anthony Molina in return. Atlanta landed Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter from the Royals, sending out Lucas Braun and Carter Holton in return.

Mahle is a starting pitching option for Atlanta. Despite a 5.13 ERA, he's got better career marks and could be a better fantasy asset on a better team. He has 89 punchouts over 94 2/3 innings, and could be worth streaming or owning after the trade, so look into him.

Molina is a 24-year-old reliever who has been in the big leagues for three years now. He's pitched just three games this year, and has a 6.89 ERA over 99 1/3 career MLB innings. I don't see him becoming too big a fantasy threat in San Fran, but if the Giants keep selling, he could earn some holds the rest of the season.

Thomas gives the Braves some outfield depth. The 30-year-old has a .232 average and .326 on-base percentage over 97 games and 328 plate appearances this season. 

I see Thomas as a platoon option in Atlanta right now, which means he'll be a better deep-league asset as a right-handed hitter. He's one to keep tabs on at least.

Falter is a 29-year-old pitcher who again provides Atlanta with some depth - he might not even pitch in the big leagues right away. He has appeared in just five games this season, sitting with a 13.97 ERA over 9 2/3 innings, but he has a 4.77 ERA over 475 2/3 career innings, and has starting experience in his past.

Braun is the new No. 11 prospect for Kansas City. He has been working in Triple-A, and he has a 2026 ETA, so he should be up soon, or at least by the end of the year. He has pretty good numbers in the minor leagues, so he's one to keep tabs on, especially with a clearer path to the big leagues now.

Holton isn't ranked among the Royals' top-30 prospects. He's 23 years old and has a 4.32 ERA across his first 10 minor league appearances. He's in Single-A for now. While he doesn't have a great long-term outlook, his outlook did get a slight upgrade because of the organization change.

Garcia Headed to Yankees

Luis Garcia Jr. was traded from Washington to New York. The Yankees sent away Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Jack Cebert and Ben Grable in return.

Garcia gives the Yankees another left-handed hitting first baseman - he has played second base and shortstop in the past, so he could be options there too.

Over 104 games and 374 plate appearances, Garcia has a .283 average and .313 OBP. He has 23 homers, 20 doubles and five triples among his 101 hits, along with 76 RBIs, 48 runs scored, 16 walks, four stolen bases and 61 strikeouts.

This is a weird trade to me, as the Yankees already have Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Maybe one of the injured Yankees is going to miss even longer than expected, or New York has plans to get Garcia in the lineup more often. He's usually a platoon guy, so that will hold his fantasy value down just a bit. Garcia is worth standard league roster spots if he's hitting well though, so add him if that happens.

Cruz appeared in his first four big league games this season. He's got a 1.69 ERA over 5 1/3 innings, and the 26-year-old could be a solid relief option for a retooling Nationals' team, so he's one to keep tabs on.

Bird is another reliever, but owns a rough 5.93 ERA over 36 appearances this season. He won't have a ton of fantasy value, and he might not even be in the big leagues anyways.

Cebert is the Nationals new No. 14 prospect after the trade. The 24-year-old pitcher has a 2027 ETA and was working in Double-A before the deal. He was a 15th-round pick, but gained some value after leaving a stacked organization for one where there's more opportunities.

Grable is the No. 26 prospect for Washington after the trade. The 24-year-old pitcher was also in Double-A, and he too has a 2027 ETA. Grable has great numbers across his first 36 2/3 minor league innings, so we'll see if he keeps rising as a prospect.