Some of the moves made at this year’s trade deadline will turn out to mean nothing, while others may be the difference between winning a division crown or scrapping for a wild card spot. It’s still too early to determine winners/losers, but let’s take a look at who on paper made the best moves.
San Diego Padres
No team in the major leagues made more noise at the deadline than the San Diego Padres, something that has rang true the last several trade deadlines. The Padres understand that in order to knock off a juggernaut like the Los Angeles Dodgers, you have to stockpile talent in a similar fashion.
Acquiring a generational talent like Juan Soto along with a lights out closer in Josh Hader would be enough for most squads, but the Padres wanted more. Along with Soto, San Diego scooped up switch hitting first baseman Josh Bell. On Tuesday we spoke about how Bell could find himself on a playoff contender after the break, and here we are.
Two of our young MLB bros were a part of this deal, as shortstop C.J. Abrams and outfielder James Wood will make their way to Washington to join starting pitcher Josiah Gray as a part of the Nationals core of young talent.
The Padres welcome Juan Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego.
(MLB x @Sorare) https://t.co/bOc4X013dg
— MLB (@MLB) August 3, 2022
New York Yankees
Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have done the bulk of the heavy lifting for the Bronx Bombers this year, even with Stanton’s recent trip to the IL. Brian Cashman may have slipped up this offseason when he didn’t extend Judge, but he was on point at the deadline.
The Yankees acquired starter Frankie Montas, relievers Lou Trivino and Scott Efforts along with former Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi from KC and look poised to make a World Series Run. Every pitcher the Yanks traded for is under team control, which means that if they can resign Judge in the offseason there will be plenty of help in every aspect already with the team.
It’s officially the World Series or bust in the Bronx, a feeling they haven’t had in awhile.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins are trying to hold off both Cleveland and Chicago, so standing pat simply wasn’t an option for Byron Buxton’s squad. The Twins acquired one of the best closers in the game this season when they plucked Jorge Lopez from the Orioles, and then added even more pitching by acquiring Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle before the deadline passed.
Buxton and the Twins will have their hands full down to close the season, but the fact that Minnesota was the most active team in the division should give them plenty of confidence headed into the home stretch.
Walks, and wild pitches, will haunt. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/qjQ3BsKUp3
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 3, 2022
Houston Astros
After losing the World Series AND superstar shortstop Carlos Correa, there were some around baseball who wondered just what Dusty Baker’s ballclub would look like going forward. Fast forward to the midpoint of the season and Baker’s boys look poised at another World Series run.
Like most great front offices, the Astros braintrust saw this and decided to stockpile more weapons as we head into the playoff push. They acquired Trey Mancini from the forever rebuilding Baltimore Orioles and Christian Vazquez from the Red Sox, two players who project to contribute immediately for the Stros.
Recent Comments