Pitching wins championships, and over the years, certain arms have been so dominant that every team in the league dreamed of slotting them into their rotation. Whether it was their velocity, nasty breaking stuff, or icy big-game composure, these pitchers made general managers drool.
Some were intimidating aces who crushed souls in October. Others were workhorses who piled up innings and wins like it was second nature. From flamethrowers to finesse kings, here are 20 pitchers every MLB team desperately wished they had.
20. Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove racked up strikeouts before it was fashionable and won wherever he went. Teams loved his fiery competitiveness just as much as his stuff.
19. Warren Spahn
Spahn made winning look effortless, with a delivery smoother than jazz. Every team wished they had his durability and command on their side.
18. Christy Mathewson
Mathewson brought brains and brilliance to the mound during baseball’s early days. He was the original pitching technician that teams built around.
17. Don Drysdale
Drysdale brought heat and attitude, and he wasn’t afraid to throw inside. Opponents feared him, and GMs loved that edge.
16. Roy Halladay
“Doc” was the definition of a workhorse, chewing up innings like it was a snack. Any team would’ve paid big just for his consistency and command.
15. CC Sabathia
Big arm, big personality, and big-game results—Sabathia was built to lead a rotation. His ability to adjust and grind through seasons made him priceless.
14. Clayton Kershaw
During his prime, Kershaw was untouchable for five months out of the year. Every team wanted to be the one to finally help him seal the October deal.
13. Pedro Martinez
Pedro’s dominance in the steroid era was absurd, and he made hitters look foolish without breaking a sweat. He didn’t just pitch—he humiliated.
12. Bob Gibson
When Gibson took the mound, it wasn’t just a game—it was a duel to the death. Every franchise wanted that kind of fire in their clubhouse.
11. Walter Johnson
Johnson’s fastball was pure intimidation during the dead-ball era. Teams would have sold the farm for a chance to pencil him in every fourth day.
10. Max Scherzer
Scherzer’s intensity, strikeout totals, and postseason fire made him a must-have for any contender. Those eyes weren’t just mismatched—they were locked in.
9. Sandy Koufax
Koufax’s peak was short but devastating—pure pitching poetry. Teams would’ve emptied their farm systems just for a glimpse of that lefty magic.
8. Nolan Ryan
Ryan’s fastball wasn’t just fast—it was legendary. Every GM dreamed of pairing that heater with their team’s logo on the jersey.
7. Randy Johnson
The Big Unit didn’t just throw gas—he scared people while doing it. He was the ultimate weapon every team wished they had in October.
6. Roger Clemens
Say what you want, but Clemens was an absolute machine. Love him or hate him, he gave teams a real shot every fifth day.
5. Justin Verlander
Verlander aged like fine wine and brought elite heat even into his late 30s. Every franchise wanted that bulldog mentality on the mound.
4. Greg Maddux
Maddux didn’t overpower—he outsmarted. He made pitching look like wizardry, and every team wanted a piece of that genius.
3. Mariano Rivera
Technically a closer, but his impact was bigger than most starters. That cutter alone made every manager in baseball jealous.
Read More: Ranking the 19 Most Unhittable Pitchers Ever
2. Tom Seaver
Seaver was the gold standard for pitching professionalism and poise. If you were building a franchise from scratch, he was your ace.
Read More: 10 NFL Coaches We Wish Never Retired
1. Cy Young
The award is named after him for a reason—he was the prototype. Every team wanted his reliability, command, and freakish longevity.
