Kyle Gibson is one of the best starters out there. Photo by Nolan Writin.

If you asked anyone in baseball who was one of the best pitching targets in the at MLB Close of trading before this season, I doubt anyone would have said that Kyle Gibson. But here we are in late July and Kyle Gibson’s trade rumors are swirling around.

The right-handed veteran of the Texas Rangers has a career year with a 6-3 record and a 2.67 ERA. The 33-year-old still has one year of contract to run, with a cap hit of just $ 7 million next year.

Any team that wants to have an arm in their rotation not only this season but also next season should look for Gibson. The Rangers should sell high, with Gibson’s value being the highest.

Gibson trade rumors

As with most competing teams at close of trade, starting pitching is a hot commodity. There are many teams rumored to be looking for an arm to increase their rotation.

Here are some of the teams that should surely pick up the phone and try to trade for Kyle Gibson.

Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are still without an ace Jack Flahertywho had a brilliant 8-1 record with 2.90 ERA in 11 starts before going down with an oblique injury. He is expected to have rehab soon, but the Cardinals are in a dogfight in the NL for a wildcard spot and now need help with their pitching staff.

Has led the way in his place Kwang Hyun Kim, with a 6-5 record and 2.88 ERA. Adam Wainwright was reliable with a 3.56 ERA and a 9-4 record. But after that?

There are Carlos Martinez and its 6.32 ERA and then Johan Oviedo and his 0-5 record. The Cardinals desperately need another starter even if Flaherty comes back.

Red Sox

That Boston Red Sox have had quite a turnaround season. One reason for this was their pitching.

Nathan Eovaldi had an all-star season Martin Perez was once again above average and Nick Pivetta turned out to be a great # 3 or 4 option on the rotation.

It is expected that they will Chris Sale eventually back, but with the Sox battling for top spot in the AL East, they could use another arm in the rotation.

Gibson has better numbers than any of the starting pitchers that include Eovaldi. with Garrett Richards The Red Sox have been fighting hard since the substance raid and need a fifth starter while waiting for Sales to return, and Gibson could be that guy.

Swindler

Athletic the best pitching staff in baseball that Los Angeles swindlers leads the league in Team ERA with 3.24. Julio Urias has the highest ERA of all starters with 3.63 ERA. How unacceptable!

The problem is they don’t have a fifth starter. And with Trevor Bauer for an unknown period of administrative leave, that gives them an arm less.

You have already lost Dustin May for the year earlier in the season. Tony Gonsolin has actually made eight starts and has done well (2-1, 2.38 ERA). But they are at the point where they use them David Price as a beginner. The Dodgers should be with all available starting mugs by the deadline, including Gibson.

Giants

Which team also has dominant pitch and is actually ahead of the Dodgers? That San Francisco Giants.

With a team ERA of 3.31, only the Dodgers have a better team ERA than the Giants. And with the Dodgers and San Diego Padres following their heels for NL West, adding a guy like Gibson not only strengthens their rotation, but bans a team like the Dodgers from getting that type of arm.

Kevin Gausmann and Anthony DeSclafani, both with one-year contracts with the Giants, have strengthened in the bay. Everyone has an ERA under 3.00, Gausman with the fourth best ERA among the starters with a 2.21. Alex wood, another year-long engagement, blossomed in his role in San Francisco.

Johnny Cueto and Logan Webb weren’t bad either as the back end of the rotation. But adding Gibson would allow the Giants to play a three-headed mega-monster in Gausman, DeSclafani and Gibson, pushing Webb or even Cueto back into the playoffs that every team needs.