Top 3 Under-the-Radar Starting Pitchers Still on Free Agent Market

For teams that miss out on the top starting pitchers on the market that are still available—Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen—there are a number of "under-the-radar" arms out there that could help fill in a rotation.

Here, a look at 3 of those starters who won't cost an arm (so to speak) or a leg:

Chris Bassitt

It doesn't get much more dependable and reliable than Bassitt. He's an innings-eater, and a good one at that. A real competitor and a 'gamer', willing to do whatever it takes for his team. Witness his willingness to go to the bullpen for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 postseason, and perform spectacularly, with a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings, and a 10:2 strikeout to walk ratio.

In the regular season, he's had four straight seasons with over 30 starts, 170+ innings, and an ERA almost always below 4.00. In his 11-year career, the 36-year-old has a 3.64 ERA.

Lucas Giolito

The 31-year-old was a great comeback story for the Boston Red Sox last season. After missing the 2024 campaign following elbow surgery, he barely missed a beat in 26 starts, over 145 innings, going 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA, and a 1.29 WHIP. It was the best full season of his career since 2019, when he was an All-Star with the Chicago White Sox. The one caveat is that he missed the 2025 postseason as he experienced late-season elbow soreness.

Nick Martinez

The Reds' 35-year-old swingman had a couple of great runs in 2025, including in May when he posted a 2.25 ERA in five starts. In September, out of the bullpen, he had a 1.93 ERA in nine appearances.

Two other starting pitchers who won't cost a lot to bring in, but can hardly be called "under the radar", are Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. With six Cy Youngs and four World Series titles between them, they can bring invaluable experience to any team's pitching staff.