The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and for better or for worse, teams are mostly set for the stretch run. Today, we’ll look at some trade deadline winners & losers.
Some teams “won” the trade deadline by addressing glaring needs and loading up for a playoff run. Some teams “lost” the deadline by not adding enough or in the right places, or by doing not much of anything at all.
Notable Moves: +Kevin Gausman, +Clay Holmes, +Ryan Zeferjahn
The Cubs had some glaring needs in their pitching ranks, and they were aggressive in addressing those holes. Their arms have been plagued by injury all year, as the IL has claimed stars Justin Steele, Daniel Palencia, and Cade Horton among others. They took advantage of some notable sellers, acquiring Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor from the Mets and Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels. They also got veteran Kevin Gausman from Toronto. Holmes and Gausman will both bring a good amount of experience to the depleted starting rotation in the friendly confines. Their other trades were mostly depth, but it can never hurt to have too many pitchers, especially with how the season has gone so far.
Notable Moves: +Foster Griffin, +Jo Adell, +Nathaniel Lowe
The Guardians surprised many by being relatively aggressive at the deadline. They added, not just to positions of need, but to positions of strength. Cleveland is known for being a pitching and defense-first team without a ton of offensive prowess. That has been very true this year, especially with some down years from stars Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan. They added a lot of power in Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe, who can add pop to that lineup. They also made a shocking move for Foster Griffin, which adds to a definite strength for the Guardians, as they are fifth in the league in starting pitcher ERA.
Notable Moves: +Tarik Skubal, +Kris Bubic, +Ben Rortvedt
The Dodgers got Tarik Skubal. Anyone who landed Skubal this deadline without significantly overpaying was going to be looked at as a winner, and that is even more so now that he is going to the West Coast juggernaut. Notably, the Dodgers are seen as the frontrunner to sign Skubal when he hits free agency this offseason, so he may not even be a true rental for them. The return for Skubal isn’t seen as an overpay either, as the highest prospect the Dodgers let go was Zyhir Hope, their number five prospect. They also added depth in Bubic and Rortvedt, who look to get action in the case of injuries.
Notable Moves: -Jo Adell, -Jose Soriano, -Ryan Zeferjahn
The Angels, unlike the other “winners” from this deadline, didn’t address roster holes; in fact, they didn’t even add. The Angels sold hard, but that is a win for Angels fans, who have been clamoring for a concrete direction for years. After a long stretch of losing, not selling at the deadline, and remaining a bad team with a bottom-tier farm system, it is a breath of fresh air for the Angels to actually get a return for some of their expendable pieces. They added eight prospects to their minor league ranks in their deals, which should help them in the future.
Notable Moves: +Luis Garcia Jr., +Heliot Ramos, -Camilo Doval
The Yankees made some big moves in the trade market, but many are calling them the wrong moves. The Yankees have been a good team this season, but they have a few very notable holes in their team. They have gotten next to no production from the catcher position, where Austin Wells has gotten a lion’s share of the playing time with a .554 OPS. They also have had a shaky bullpen and left side of the infield. The front office decided not to add to any of those positions. Instead, they picked up a 1B/DH in Garcia Jr. and an OF in Ramos. Both of those players will play right now, but may struggle to find consistent playing time once players like Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton are back from injury. The players they acquired are good, yes, but why them and not positions of need?
Notable Moves: +Daulton Varsho, -Spencer Arrighetti
The Astros are currently at the top of a very winnable AL West, but they are also only 3 games over .500. A big issue for the Astros this season has been their pitching staff. They are near the bottom of the league in pitching WAR, and it has cost them games, even when Yordan Alvarez goes ballistic at the plate. They did address a need in centerfield with Daulton Varsho, but it is glaring that they didn’t add any sort of reinforcements to the pitching staff.
Notable Moves: +Lars Nootbaar
Arizona is in almost the exact same position as Houston in terms of what they did at the deadline. While Arizona doesn’t lead their division like Houston, they are in the thick of the wild-card race. Like Houston, they have had a pretty good offensive season that has been marred by a pitching staff that has been inconsistent at best due to injury and underperformance. They also decided to go out and get an outfielder instead of any pitching help. A head-scratcher for another team that seems to be a couple of arms away from contention. Perhaps the Diamondbacks are banking on staying afloat until guys like Corbin Burnes and Justin Martinez are back from injury.
Notable Moves: -Nathaniel Lowe, -Caleb Ferguson
The Reds decided to mostly stand pat at the trade deadline, despite being several games back of a playoff spot with multiple players on expiring contracts. In a pitching-needy trade market, the Reds opted to hold onto players like Brady Singer and Brock Burke. They also refused to move Tyler Stephenson despite a lot of teams needing catching help. It is unclear what exactly went into the decision to barely sell, but it is a surprise given the Reds’ place in the standings and roster.
Check out our MLB page for more stories like this!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
