For an MLB trade deadline that did not feature any likely future Hall of Famers changing teams, this was a fun one based on the sheer volume of activity.
As always, let's zip through the teams that best met their deadline objectives, and those that did the worst. No neutrality here -- every team either came out ahead or it didn't, though the aims of every team varied based on the standings and the need to position for the future.
Let's dig in.
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Biggest winner
Los Angeles Dodgers
It gets a little old to pick the Dodgers as winners in yet another transaction period, but a haul of veterans including Jack Flaherty, Tommy Edman, Amed Rosario, Michael Kopech and Kevin Kiermaier is impressive.
The additions target both the rotation quality and depth while addressing what has been one of the weakest parts of the Dodgers this season -- the bench. Edman and Rosario are both good enough to be regulars and can be deployed all over the field. On top of that, Kopech is still a big arm with untapped potential, who in the Dodgers' pitching program might turn out to be the biggest steal of this lot.
Finally, the Dodgers improved themselves without overdoing it in terms of prospect cost (something you might not be able to say about their division rivals to the south -- we'll get to them). The addition of Kiermaier, who has already announced he will retire after the season, was a sneaky good pickup, as it's not hard to imagine him stealing a playoff game with a late-inning grab in center field.
Biggest loser
Atlanta Braves
There's no doubt the Braves have been hammered by injuries, taking much luster out of a team many saw as baseball's co-behemoth along with the Dodgers before the season. For all their issues, the Braves are still in the mix for the top wild-card spot in the National League. And we've seen Atlanta overcome major injuries in the best way possible, winning it all in 2021 with Ronald Acuna Jr. on the shelf, as he is now.
The Braves needed to add to their rotation, especially given the recent injury concerns around breakout righty Reynaldo Lopez. They needed to shore up the outfield and I'm unconvinced that a Jorge Soler reprise is the answer. Maybe if they had an opening at DH that would work, but with Marcell Ozuna, the Braves have less flexibility at that slot than anyone else except for the Dodgers.
Maybe the Braves just don't see this as their season, or maybe the market didn't break their way. The bottom line is the same either way: The Braves didn't do much to improve themselves, and most of the other leading NL wild-card contenders did. In a race this crowded and this close, that might be the difference.
Other winners
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona deepened its bullpen with the high-impact addition of lefty A.J. Puk and the unsung acquisition of veteran Dylan Floro, who is having a good season. That addressed what had been the Diamondbacks' biggest need ... until Christian Walker hit the IL with a strained oblique. While the Diamondbacks are in solid position to make a run at a wild card, the field is crowded and close. Wasting no time, Mike Hazen pivoted to land Josh Bell from Miami for cash considerations. Bell has had a bad season, but he has come out of the break as one of baseball's hottest hitters. There's no guarantee that will continue, but Bell has been a streaky player in his career, and Arizona's timing with him might be perfect.
Baltimore Orioles
This was the most serious culling of Baltimore's accumulated talent base we've seen yet. No team added as much present value, though that value is spread across eight new Orioles. The pieces were moving so fast it wasn't until after the deadline passed that I began to see the revamped Orioles roster in a holistic way.
I'm seeing a much more dynamic one-to-five rotation, with newcomers Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers joining Grayson Rodriguez, Corbin Burnes and Dean Kremer. I'm seeing a deeper and filthier bullpen with Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto -- a surprising last-minute addition -- now part of the crew behind Craig Kimbrel and Yennier Cano.
And I'm seeing a potential first-class answer to the Orioles' need for a righty bat in Eloy Jimenez. Alas, Baltimore needs to win now and Jimenez has not been a win-now player in 2024. Injuries, as usual, have been a problem, but when he has played, Jimenez has a .642 OPS over 65 games. He hasn't homered since May 14 -- a span of 36 games.
But Jimenez is going from a team that resembles the 1899 Cleveland Spiders to one with legit aspirations of winning the World Series. Perhaps the change will spark something.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds did the bare minimum, dealing walk-year players Austin Slater, Frankie Montas and Lucas Sims. But they did well to pluck the DFA'd Ty France from Seattle, and rather than targeting low-level prospects, they picked up Jakob Junis and Joey Wiemer, who can help right away and beyond. (Junis has a mutual option for 2025.)
Colorado Rockies
Plucking a quality pitching prospect in Bradley Blalock was a nice get for a reliever (Nick Mears). I don't know. Maybe I'm just tired of hammering on the Rockies all the time.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals are baseball's surprise team, and as August nears, they have shown no signs of a collapse. They had clear weaknesses, and the Royals' front office did a fine job in addressing most of those weaknesses in a responsible way.
To do so, they did have to dip into a system that wasn't that deep to begin with. Mason Barnett (traded to Oakland for Lucas Erceg) and Cayden Wallace (dealt to Washington for Hunter Harvey) could end up being two of the better prospects moved at the deadline. Few in Kansas City are complaining because the Royals have a real shot at October baseball, and the fans there have responded as they always do when the Royals win -- with abounding enthusiasm.
The bullpen needed help, full stop, but in Erceg and Harvey, the Royals added two hard throwers who can reach triple digits, which they had been completely lacking. Erceg can close and Kansas City needed a ninth-inning hammer in the worst way. Michael Lorenzen can help the bullpen as well, or he can take starts down the stretch to refresh a rotation that has been both stable and outstanding.
The other pickup was Paul DeJong, which didn't thrill me at first because it didn't seem right to take playing time away from Bobby Witt Jr. (We joke! We're all having fun here, aren't we?) DeJong offers a different look at third base than Maikel Garcia -- not every day, but as a change of pace. (More power, less speed.) He can also take some reps against lefties at second base in place of Michael Massey.
The Royals could have added to their outfield, a glaring hole early this season, but that need has lessened over the past few weeks thanks to upticks in production from Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe.
Miami Marlins
According to my numbers, only Tampa Bay added more prospect value at the deadline. The collective return for Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tanner Scott, Bryan De La Cruz and the rest is strong in both quantity and quality. The top names are Robby Snelling (from the Padres), Adam Mazur (Padres), Connor Norby (Orioles), Graham Pauley (Padres), Deyvison De Los Santos (Diamondbacks), Garret Forrester (Pirates) and Kyle Stowers (Orioles). The Marlins still need to develop some foundational position talent, but it is a deeper organization today than before the deadline.
New York Mets
The Mets added six veterans by the time the deadline clock struck six, a haul that was spread over three weeks. The six: Jesse Winker, Paul Blackburn, Huascar Brazoban, Tyler Zuber, Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton.
There's not a headliner in the bunch, but it makes a Mets team built on depth that much deeper. After a slow start, David Stearns' approach has been paying off big time over the past few weeks. Whether or not that clinched the decision to hang on to Pete Alonso, we might never know for sure. But the Polar Bear is still around, and the roster around him is better.
New York Yankees
The general reaction to the Yankees' moves is mixed. (Is it ever not?) Sure, they could have done more, but what they did, I really like.
Chisholm is a very good player, who makes the Yankees more athletic without giving anything away in the power category. He does need to put some extra time in learning the caroms off the Green Monster for when the Yankees visit Fenway, but this is a high-impact addition, especially since he plays the infield and the outfield alike.
And while Clay Holmes anxiety created a general demand for a closer, the addition of Mark Leiter Jr. boosts the depth and dominance of the bullpen and his splitter makes him a complementary addition, not just another arm.
Not an A-plus deadline but a solid B.
Philadelphia Phillies
As ever, Dave Dombrowski wasn't shy about dealing from his system to strengthen the 26-man roster. The addition of rental high-leverage reliever Carlos Estevez is a high-impact move that will be on display in October. The Phillies added a righty outfield bat in Austin Hays but didn't really change their overall outlook in that group. It wasn't a home run deadline for Philly, more like a well-struck single.
Pittsburgh Pirates
I was hoping for a head-turning splash. Luis Robert Jr.! Cody Bellinger! The ghost of Honus Wagner! But for a team that is so often an afterthought this time of the year, I'll take the additions of Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan De La Cruz and look forward to a second-half run on the strength of that exciting rotation. The Pirates didn't dip too deeply into their prospect base and you could argue they could have pushed the envelope a little more. The best prospect they dealt was arguably Quinn Priester and they traded him for ... another prospect (Nick Yorke).
San Diego Padres
A.J. Preller has traded for closers at the deadline before, with Josh Hader leaping to mind. This year, he traded for another one (Scott) and someone who can close if you need it (Jason Adam) and neither one of them is likely going to take the ninth for San Diego, where Robert Suarez does a fine job.
Preller arguably needed to address the rotation more aggressively, though he did scoop up lefty Martin Perez at the last minute. But you can see what he has in mind: a dynamic high-leverage relief trio for the late innings, while Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon can be a dynamic bridge from the starters to the star firemen.
As ever, I like Preller's manic approach to dealing when he thinks he can win. And yet, no team dealt away as much prospect value as Preller. That's not the first time we've been able to say that. That statement refers to this deadline period, but he has been back to his old system-thinning ways since last winter.
The bottom line: If the Padres win it all, no one in San Diego will care.
Seattle Mariners
I'm not privy to the details of Jerry Dipoto's contract but it seems like he might get paid on a per-transaction basis.
It's sometimes hard to tell in which direction Dipoto has taken the Mariners after one of his flurries, but I think Seattle is better heading into the stretch run. Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner are major upgrades for a brutal offense, though there is only so much they can do. There might be even more impact in the additions of relievers Yimi Garcia and, to a lesser extent, JT Chargois. If Seattle keeps playing low-scoring games, those bridge innings between the elite rotation and closer Andres Munoz are precious. Seattle has more and better options now for those frames.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals' decision to deal Dylan Carlson is a bit of a head-slapper, if only because it brings to mind past decisions to trade internally developed players such as Tommy Pham, Arozarena and Adolis Garcia. And to send him to Tampa Bay seems to be inviting trouble -- who among you would be shocked to see Carlson representing the Rays in next year's All-Star Game? Still, maybe Carlson needed the change of scenery.
The Cardinals made out like bandits in the three-way trade with the Dodgers and White Sox, bringing back Pham and Erick Fedde, the top player moved at the deadline based on 2024 metrics. Those additions alone put St. Louis in the winner category.
Tampa Bay Rays
I almost never classify subtracting teams that are in the chase, however tenuously, as winners. But the Rays acquired so many solid prospects and so many of the kind of underachieving/overlooked types they get so much out of, that it's hard to argue with the results. No team added as much in prospects, both in total value and in sheer quantity.
But they also added players such as Dylan Carlson and Christopher Morel, young vets early in their service time who might well flourish as so many Rays acquisitions do. It has been a subpar year in Tampa Bay, but the Rays could be back in a big way in 2025. And not for nothing, the final hurdle to the team's long-sought stadium project appeared to be cleared on Tuesday, right about the time the trading window was almost closed.
I seriously considered naming the Rays the "biggest winner," but I'm averse to doing that for a team not aimed at the current pennant race. But this was a tremendous deadline period for the club.
Texas Rangers
A quiet deadline for the defending champs, who are intent to get better on the strength of a thinning injured list. Michael Lorenzen was dealt for a possibly useful lefty prospect in Walter Pennington. Texas upgraded at backup catcher, bringing in Carson Kelly from Detroit. The biggest impact was the trade for lefty Andrew Chafin, who immediately becomes Bruce Bochy's best southpaw out of the bullpen.
Toronto Blue Jays
By my measures, the team that added the third-most prospect value at the deadline. The Blue Jays accomplished this largely on the strength of dealing five walk-year players, along with Kiner-Falefa and Nate Pearson. They held onto core players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Kevin Gausman. Maybe the Blue Jays should have reset, but I like the approach to reposition for another run in the near term. Plus, some of the incoming prospects, such as Jonatan Clase, Joey Loperfido and Jake Bloss, can help sooner than later.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals mostly dealt from organizational surplus as they look to keep turning their roster over to younger players. It's becoming an exciting time in D.C. and the system is even deeper after the prospects they brought in, led by Cayden Wallace, Alex Clemmey and Jose Tena. The next contending Nationals team is almost upon us.
Other losers
Boston Red Sox
I could have gone either way with the Red Sox. They did address needs, getting a rental player to upgrade behind the plate (Danny Jansen). They added a pair of relievers who ought to bolster their depth (Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims) but might be higher up the leverage tree than they'd be on another team. Boston also added a starter in James Paxton. They land in this category because, as a collection, it's hard to see how this deadline haul does much to move the needle. Plus, other wild-card contenders -- Kansas City, Seattle, New York -- did more.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were not adding, not really subtracting; not giving up on 2024 exactly, but were definitely focused on 2025 and beyond. Isaac Paredes is a quality player, but if Morel puts up more WAR in the next two years, I wouldn't be stunned. Leiter Jr. is an impact reliever traded with some controllable seasons left. We'll see how it works out, but it feels the overall effect is neither fish nor fowl.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox offloaded some quality talent in Kopech, Jimenez, Pham, Fedde, DeJong and Banks, weakening the baseline of a team already on pace for 121 losses. They could have done a lot better in the Kopech/Fedde deal. Beyond that, they ended up having little choice but to hold onto emergent ace Garrett Crochet. Blame who you want -- the player, the agent, the team -- but there is no way that situation should have come to a head just as the deadline was heating up. This is shaping up as the worst season in White Sox history, and that's saying something for a franchise that once had most of its stars banned from baseball in one fell swoop.
Cleveland Guardians
I never like the Guardians' deadlines, and admittedly this year's was better than most. Lane Thomas was a solid get, an underrated righty swinger who deepens the lineup.
The Guardians could have used some dynamism in their rotation, given that they are in first place and have a real shot at the American League pennant. Alex Cobb has had some fine moments as a big leaguer but he has pitched zero innings this season because of shoulder trouble. He should be ready for action soon, but this is not the kind of dynamism I had in mind.
The Guardians added these two players, one of whom I am unconvinced will help, and yet they sent away a pretty good chunk of prospect value, a group led by Clemmey and Tena.
Detroit Tigers
Not big losers, but I felt like the collective return the Tigers got for Chafin, Kelly and even Flaherty was a little light. Detroit seems very close to having a breakout season before long, but it feels like I've been writing this for a few years. Anyway, dealing Flaherty and his expiring deal was probably the top to-do item at the deadline and they got that done.
Houston Astros
Yusei Kikuchi might help the rotation and Caleb Ferguson has pitched in some big games, but this is not the kind of deadline you expect from a proud team with a shrinking contention window. There's also a good chance the Astros overpaid in prospect value to land Kikuchi, a pure rental player. And on top of all that, Houston did nothing to address its first base situation, with Brent Rooker sitting tight in Oakland and Guerrero still in Toronto.
Los Angeles Angels
Every time I write about the Angels, I write that they need to reset in a committed way. That's my take and I'm standing by it until the day Mike Trout retires with one postseason appearance. The Angels dealt relievers Luis Garcia and Carlos Estevez, who are both on expiring contracts. The return was fine for two rental relievers.
The Angels should have offloaded a lot more and missed a chance to leverage Tyler Anderson's excellent 2024 season and beyond-this-season control into a needed talent infusion. They could have done similar things with Luis Rengifo and Taylor Ward. They did not. And so it goes.
Milwaukee Brewers
This is a soft categorization because the mild deadline doesn't really hinder the Brewers' chances that much. Going back to the trade earlier this month for Aaron Civale, Milwaukee ended up adding two members to its rotation, with Frankie Montas coming on board this week. Montas hasn't had a great year, though, and his career has been a rollercoaster. Milwaukee does a great job with other teams' pitchers, but the Brewers were rumored to be in the mix for higher-profile types such as Fedde, and this feels like a slight letdown.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins have been tight with their money since the winter, with television-related revenue uncertainty a culprit. But the fans in the Twin Cities are fantastic, and with Minnesota in excellent playoff position, they deserve a team more willing to set aside short-sighted economic anxieties. I am always irked by teams that don't seize right-now opportunities. Minnesota did pick up reliever Trevor Richards very late in the trade window. That basically deserves a shrug emoji.
Oakland Athletics
The A's did what the A's do at the deadline, except they didn't trade Rooker, who was believed to be one of the best hitters on the market. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported during the lead-up to the deadline that Oakland was reluctant to move him. I like how Rooker has developed, but he turns 30 in November and I just don't see a lot of 172 OPS+ seasons in his future. On the bright side, the Athletics have had some refreshingly competitive stretches this season and maybe the front office sees them as being close to turning a corner.
San Francisco Giants
Frankly, it just looks like the deadline approach of a team with a lot less revenue. Even if that perception is off, the Giants did little to help themselves on the field this season or going forward.