Pitcher
Team
Innings Pitched (IP)
Strikeouts per 9 (K/9)
Arbitration/Contract Status Note
Dylan Cease
SDP
168
11.52
Arbitration 3 (likely Free Agent after 2026)
Garrett Crochet
BOS
205.1
11.18
Arbitration 1 (meets original ≥2 years)
Tarik Skubal
DET
195.1
11.1
Arbitration 3 (Super Two status)
Jesús Luzardo
PHI
183.2
10.58
Arbitration 2 (meets original ≥2 years)
Freddy Peralta
MIL
176.2
10.39
Signed extension through 2025 (Club option 2026-27)
Paul Skenes
PIT
187.2
10.36
Arbitration 1 (meets original ≥2 years)
Joe Ryan
MIN
171
10.21
Arbitration 1 (meets original ≥2 years)
Sonny Gray
STL
180.2
10.01
Free Agent after 2026 (signed 3-year deal before 2025)
Hunter Brown
HOU
185.1
10
Arbitration 1 (meets original ≥2 years)
Logan Webb
SFG
207
9.74
Free Agent after 2026 (signed extension)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
LAD
173.2
9.64
Under long-term MLB contract
Jacob deGrom
TEX
172.2
9.64
Under long-term MLB contract
Nick Pivetta
SDP
181.2
9.41
Free Agent after 2025
Carlos Rodón
NYY
195.1
9.35
Under long-term MLB contract
Gavin Williams
CLE
167.2
9.29
Arbitration 1 (meets original ≥2 years)
Robbie Ray
SFG
182.1
9.18
Under long-term MLB contract
Here's a table of possible targets I made with Gemini using 100 innings pitched in 2025 and greater than 9 strikeouts per nine. Of these, I'm probably rolling the dice on Sonny Gray in a trade because he's likely got very little surplus value and is probably the lowest trade cost option.
Pitcher
Team(s) in 2024
Innings Pitched (IP)
Strikeouts per 9 (K/9)
2025 Contract/Arbitration Status
Years of Control Remaining (End of 2025)
Chris Sale
ATL
177.2
11.4
Signed through 2026 (Club option for 2027)
2+
Sonny Gray
STL
166.1
10.98
Signed through 2026
2
Jack Flaherty
LAD/TOT
162
10.78
Signed through 2026 (with DET, traded/signed FA)
1
Cole Ragans
KCR
186.1
10.77
Pre-Arbitration (Arb 1 in 2026)
3+
Tarik Skubal
DET
192
10.69
Arbitration 2 (Super Two status)
2
Dylan Cease
SDP
189.1
10.65
Arbitration 3
1
Yusei Kikuchi
LAA/TOT
175.2
10.55
Signed through 2026
1
Michael King
SDP
173.2
10.42
Arbitration 1
3
Freddy Peralta
MIL
173.2
10.36
Signed through 2025 (Club options 2026-2027)
1+
Zack Wheeler
PHI
200
10.08
Signed through 2027
2
Carlos Rodón
NYY
175
10.03
Signed through 2028
3
MacKenzie Gore
WSH
166.1
9.79
Pre-Arbitration (Arb 1 in 2026)
3+
Tanner Bibee
CLE
173.2
9.68
Pre-Arbitration (Arb 1 in 2026)
3+
Bailey Ober
MIN
178.2
9.64
Pre-Arbitration (Arb 1 in 2026)
3+
Pablo López
MIN
185.1
9.6
Signed through 2027
2
Logan Gilbert
SEA
208.2
9.5
Arbitration 1
3
Hunter Brown
HOU
170
9.5
Pre-Arbitration (Arb 1 in 2026)
3+
Brandon Pfaadt
ARI
181.2
9.2
Pre-Arbitration (Arb 1 in 2026)
3+
Sean Manaea
NYM
181.2
9.1
Signed through 2027
2
Charlie Morton
ATL
165.1
9.1
Free Agent after 2024
0 (Signed for 2025)
Shota Imanaga
CHC
173.1
9
Signed through 2028 (Club options for 2029-30)
3+
This table is for 2024, otherwise same criteria. I don't know who you chase off this list, maybe Ober and Lopez in a big swing trade? Ober pitched poorly in 2025 and Lopez has the dreaded "misc. elbow soreness" that appears to precede TJ at some point. Otherwise, most of these guys are already on contenders, have age or health related conditions, or are free agents.
What these lists also show is that Hunter Brown might be the best, cheapest pitcher in MLB, and Crane should be offering him something that offers him security and pushing his FA years out a bit.
Another name that might work as an innings eater but capable of starting a playoff game is Brady Singer, but he's probably not cheap.