MLB Trade Deadline Grades and Analysis: Playoff Hunt is On
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
MLB trading season is underway, so here are all the trades and grades as they come in (updated July 31).
Padres Acquire Scott Barlow from Royals
Padres Grade: A-
Royals Grade: B
Scott Barlow isn’t having a great 2023 campaign, but after solid seasons in 2021 and 2022, the Padres bought low on the upside in a better environment. The Padres parted ways with a promising pitching prospect, but because he’s recovering from Tommy John, the gamble of his recovery is better served in the Royals’ system that needs some home runs.
Marlins Acquire Josh Bell from Guardians
Marlins Grade: B+
Guardians Grade: B
The Marlins needed power bats, which Jake Burger will help with, but by acquiring Josh Bell, the Marlins bought low for a potentially high reward. Bell has had a down year in Cleveland with only eleven homers, but he could quickly get hot and become a dangerous slugger down the stretch for the Fins. Parting way with Jean Segura is essentially irrelevant, given his struggles this year, but Kahlil Watson is an enticing prospect for the Guardians to get their hands on.
Padres Acquire Garrett Cooper from Marlins for Ryan Weathers
Padres Grade: B
Marlins Grade: B
Garrett Cooper is a looming free agent having a down season compared to his All-Star campaign last year, making him expendable given the other moves the Marlins made. The Marlins also had to part ways with another low-graded prospect, but to get back Ryan Weathers is a smart move given his upside as a former top prospect who has struggled to cement himself in San Diego.
Orioles Acquire Jack Flaherty from Cardinals
Orioles Grade: A-
Cardinals Grade: B+
As complete as the Orioles are, they desperately needed pitching depth. After being rumored to be linked to every name available, they ended up with Flaherty. He’s having a respectable season with his 4.43 ERA; he has shown ace potential in the past, which makes him an enticing addition to the O’s playoff run. Baltimore gave the Cardinals two prospects, ranked 16th and 18th according to MLB.com, which is irrelevant to the O’s since their farm system is freakishly loaded.
Diamondbacks Acquire Tommy Pham from Mets
D-Backs Grade: A-
Mets Grade: B+
Pham became one of the better available bats in a weak outfielder market. He’ll immediately give Arizona reliable offensive production and a versatile defender for their Wild Card push. The Mets returned Jeremy Rodriguez, who is still very young at 17, but already projects as one of the Mets’ top prospects years down the line.
Rangers Acquire Austin Hedges from Pirates
Rangers Grade: B
Pirates Grade: B
Austin Hedges won’t see much time behind Jon Heim in Texas, but the Rangers could have used an upgrade at backup catcher, which Hedges will provide with his strong defense. The Pirates get back additional bonus pool money which you can decipher.
Marlins Acquire Jake Burger from White Sox
Marlins Grade: B+
White Sox Grade: A
The Marlins needed additional bats and added power. Burger has had a strong season for the White Sox, slugging 25 long balls that will immediately impact Miami in their hunt for the playoffs. Giving up their fourth-best prospect in Jake Eder stings, but you must give something to get something.
Diamondbacks, Brewers Swap Relievers
D-Backs Grade: B+
Brewers Grade: B-
Arizona and Milwaukee exchanged relievers, with Andrew Chafin heading to Milwaukee and Peter Strzelecki going to Arizona. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen has held them back a ton over this recent trade, so after they acquired Sewald, it makes sense to attempt to change the mood by bringing in another new face. Each reliever has an ERA in the 4.00 range, but Arizona has the most to gain in the long run.
Phillies Acquire Michael Lorenzen from Tigers
Phillies Grade: A
Tigers Grade: A-
Michael Lorenzen has been undervalued on the trade market, as the All-Star starter had a 1.14 ERA in July. The Phillies could use the pitching depth, and they only sacrificed their fifth-best prospect, according to MLB.com in second baseman Hao-Yu Lee, who doesn’t necessarily have a future in the organization with Trea Turner and Bryson Stott expected to hold down the infield for the years to come.
Astros Re-Acquire Justin Verlander from Mets
Astros Grade: A
Mets Grade: A+
Verlander is returning to Houston after winning the World Series with the Astros nine months ago. Verlander has seemingly turned it on lately, sporting a 1.45 ERA over his last seven starts. Nothing has been working for the Mets, so cutting bait with a heavy prospect return is a massive victory. Smart for Steve Cohen to recognize the failure fully and regroup for next season.
Scherzer, Verlander, and the Mets’ High-Priced Missteps
Blue Jays Acquire Paul DeJong from Cardinals
Blue Jays Grade: B
Cardinals Grade: A
This trade is unfortunate, with shortstop becoming a pressing need in Toronto with Bo Bichette feared to have suffered a long-term injury. Dejong is the best available shortstop on the market, making it a win for them, but at an understandable cost of prospects due to necessity. Good on St. Louis to recognize the Jays’ need and capitalize.
Padres Acquire Hill, Choi from Pirates
Pirates Grade: B+
I don’t understand the Padres’ tactics at all. They could have sold Hader, Snell, and even Soto for an absolute war chest of prospects but instead have become buyers as they are still five games out from the final Wild Card spot. Then, you buy a 44-year-old pitcher in Rich Hill and a horrible hitter in Ji-Man Choi. Good for Pittsburgh to get some prospects in return, but San Diego never should have made this deal.
Braves Acquire Brad Hand from the Rockies
Braves Grade: B
Rockies Grade: B
Atlanta has been searching for bullpen depth and opted for Brad Hand from Colorado. Hand has been around the block quite a few years, so buying him for a low value, given his struggles this season, is smart with the hope that getting him out of the altitude could warrant a resurgence.
Diamondbacks Acquire Jace Peterson from A’s
D-Backs Grade: B-
A’s Grade: B
Like the rest of the team, Peterson has had a pretty mediocre season in Oakland but could be a valuable utility man on a team with playoff aspirations. Regardless, he doesn’t move the needle much. Oakland gets back a longshot prospect, a lottery ticket for an organization that could use as many as possible.
Reds Acquire Sam Moll from A’s
Reds Grade: B
A’s Grade: B
The Reds desperately need pitching reinforcements in the bullpen and the starting rotation. Moll isn’t going to be a difference-maker in Cincinnati, but he should be competent enough to eat innings and not be a complete liability, something they need. The A’s return another lottery ticket as a prospect.
Giants Acquire Pollock, Mathias from Mariners
Giants Grade: D+
Mariners Grade: B
AJ Pollock has struggled mightily in Seattle this year, and Mark Mathias has already been sent to triple-A. Pollock will be a veteran depth piece for San Fran, but nothing more than that. The Mariners offloaded contracts to clear money down the line, maybe a winter pursuit of Ohtani?
Cubs Acquire Jose Cuas from Royals
Cubs Grade: B
Royals Grade: B
The Cubs brought Cuas in from Kansas City to be another piece in the bullpen that could use an uplift. Cuas doesn’t necessarily fit that mold with his 4.54 ERA this year, but hopefully, he can bolster himself in a place where he has a better chance to succeed. Chicago parted ways with Nelson Velazquez, who has struggled to cement himself on the Cubs big league club. A change of scenery is what the Royals are buying.
Cubs Acquire Jeimier Candelario from Nationals
Cubs Grade: B+
Nationals Grade: A-
Well, the Cubs are buyers. Candelario was one of, if not the best, position players currently available on the market, and the Cubs see the postseason within their grasp and are going for it. He’ll bolster their offense and offer consistency at the hot corner defensively. As an impending free agent, good for the Nats to sell high for a strong prospect return for someone who doesn’t fit their long-term plans.
Brewers Acquire Mark Canha from Mets
Brewers Grade: B+
Mets Grade: B
The Brewers need offense, especially a right-handed bat that can play in the outfield. Essentially, Canha is as average as it comes in terms of offensive players in baseball, but for this Brewers team, he’ll be one of the better bats in the lineup. Canha wasn’t going to be in Queens next year, all but likely, so getting a minimal prospect return is better than nothing for a team not making the postseason.
Diamondbacks Acquire Paul Sewald from Mariners
D-Backs Grade: A
Mariners Grade: A
Arizona has been searching for someone to solidify the back end of their bullpen, and Sewald will be that guy immediately. With his 2.93 ERA, he’ll be the D-Backs’ best option to be the closer as they try to regain some traction in the NL Wild Card race. They sported a deep bullpen for Seattle, so selling high on a looming free agent is a home run. A win-win for both sides.
Rays Acquire Aaron Civale from Guardians
Rays Grade: A
Guardians Grade: B
Despite only being a half-game back from the Twins in the AL Central, the Guardians traded away their most reliable starter, Aaron Civale, in a somewhat surprising move. His 2.34 ERA through 12 starts will give Tampa Bay an excellent starter to add to their rotation as they hope to reclaim the AL East throne. Cleveland returned MLB.com’s 37th-ranked prospect in baseball in Kyle Manzardo, who they reportedly coveted. Still, it’s a bit surprising to see the Guardians lessen their postseason chances when so close to their division crown, but good for them to recognize that continuing to build for the future is the smarter route for them.
Angels Acquire CJ Cron, Randal Grichuk from Rockies
Angels Grade: B+… for now
Rockies Grade: B
The Angels continue their spending spree, acquiring two bats from Colorado who have already spent time in the Angels organization. With Cron and Grichuk hitting free agency this winter, this is an all-in move that will improve their lineup to bolster their postseason chances. Again, with all Angels trades, the deal is a wait-and-see until they make the playoffs. If Cron and Grichuk help with that and Ohtani remains an Angel next year, this deal is a win regardless of who they give up.
Braves Acquire Nicky Lopez from Royals
Braves Grade: C
Royals Grade: C
This grade doesn’t move the needle much at all. Lopez will provide Atlanta with a defensive-minded infielder, but he won’t be much of a hitter with his .210 batting average this season. Atlanta dealt away Taylor Hearn to Kansas City, giving them an arm to eat innings up but nothing more.
Rangers Acquire Montgomery, Stratton from Cardinals
Rangers Grade: A
Cardinals Grade: A-
After already acquiring Max Scherzer, the Rangers weren’t content and went back out and brought in Jordan Montgomery to further bolster their starting rotation. Montgomery has had a 2.37 ERA over his last ten starts with the Cardinals, who will hit free agency this summer. Texas also added Chris Stratton, a serviceable reliever to add to the Ranger’s bullpen mix. The Rangers have pushed all their chips in, and it’s hard to see any other playoff contender capable of matching their starting rotation.
Blue Jays Acquire Jordan Hicks from Cardinals
Blue Jays Grade: C+
Cardinals Grade: A-
The Cardinals fire sale made this trade expected. Hicks, a 103 mph flamethrower, garnered much attention on the market mainly due to a strong July, where he put up a 2.16 ERA. For the Blue Jays, though, they sacrificed a lot by giving up one of their better prospects for a reliever who has struggled with command and consistency throughout his MLB career despite his high ceiling. By comparison, the Marlins gave up less for a more sure thing in David Robertson. The Blue Jays needed to take a massive swing in a tightly compacted AL Wild Card hunt, but I’m not sure this is the safest option.
Rangers Acquire Max Scherzer from Mets
Mets Grade: A
Rangers Grade: A-
Max Scherzer isn’t having the best year by any means, but he’s still a multiple-time Cy Young Award winner and one of the best pitchers of the 21st century. It wasn’t working in Queens, so for the Mets to ship him to Texas for a top-50 prospect in baseball is as good as it gets. Yes, the Mets sent a lot of money to the Rangers to finalize the deal, but if Steve Cohen doesn’t care about money, we shouldn’t. Adding Scherzer to a stellar rotation for the Rangers will alleviate a ton of pressure off of him being “the guy," hopefully allowing him to get back to his ways more consistently. Win-win for all sides.
Astros Acquire Kendall Graveman from White Sox
Astros Grade: A-
White Sox Grade: A-
This is a win-win for both sides. Houston acquired Graveman, one of the better relievers in baseball, and should immediately slot in as the setup man for Ryan Pressly. In return, the Astros parted ways for one of their better prospects, but they aren’t too worried about prospects when they’re in win-now mode.
Dodgers Acquire Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from White Sox
Dodgers Grade: B-
White Sox: A
To start, Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly are not having good seasons. Lynn has an ERA north of 6.00, but hopefully, a change of scenery and better pieces around him will help him be a competent backend starter. Kelly’s not done well out of the bullpen but has been a Dodger and done well there. The White Sox got back promising prospects for guys that didn’t project into the team’s future, so it’s great to see them embracing the tank.
Marlins Acquire David Robertson from Mets
Marlins Grade: A–
Mets Grade: B+
The Marlins found themselves in the NL wild card hunt and needed bullpen reinforcements to stay in the race. David Robertson was one of the best options on the market with a 2.05 ERA which will solidify the Marlins’ back end from the jump. They had to part ways with two prospects, but that’s the cost of doing business for a strong rental at the deadline. Good on the Mets for making a smart move instead of convincing themselves they could make the postseason.
Brewers Acquire Carlos Santana from Pirates
Brewers Grade: B
Pirates Grade: B+
The Brewers’ offense has not been good enough, and Santana offers them a potential boost, despite having a down season. He’s highly versatile in the field, making it a logical move to improve their offense. In return, Pittsburgh gets a promising 18-year-old prospect who still has a long way to go, but getting anything for Santana is a plus.
Angels Acquire Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez from White Sox
Angels Grade: B+… for now
White Sox: B+
The Angels declared themselves as trade deadline buyers in an attempt to make a playoff run to salvage Shohei Ohtani’s future with the franchise, hopefully. Lucas Giolito will bolster their rotation in the short term, and Lopez will be a body in the rotation, but it’s all for nothing if they miss the playoffs. Parting ways with two of their top prospects is steep, so good on the White Sox for capitalizing, but the Angels won’t care about prospects if Ohtani returns.
Dodgers Acquire Amed Rosario from Guardians for Noah Syndergaard
Dodgers Grade: A-
Guardians Grade: C-
The Dodgers filled a need at shortstop with a low-risk, high-reward option with Amed Rosario, who may not be a great player, but only shedding Noah Syndergaard to get him a home run. Thor doesn’t have it anymore and becomes a liability for the Dodgers. It’s a long shot that he turns it around in Cleveland.
Trade Deadline Preview: Philadelphia Phillies | Los Angeles Angels | San Diego Padres | Los Angeles Dodgers | New York Yankees | Baltimore Orioles | Texas Rangers | Atlanta Braves | Milwaukee Brewers | Cincinnati Reds
Marlins Acquire Jorge Lopez from Twins for Dylan Floro
Marlins Grade: B+
Twins Grade: C+
The Marlins needed to bolster their bullpen and parted ways with Dylan Floro, who wasn’t providing much as a reliever. They acquired Jorge Lopez, who has struggled in Minnesota since arriving after a few promising years. A low-risk, high-reward for the Marlins if a change of scenery helps Lopez turn it around.
Dodgers Acquire IF/OF Kike Hernandez from Boston
Dodgers Grade: B
Red Sox Grade: B
This trade doesn’t move the needle much. Hernandez returns to Los Angeles for another stint in the Dodger blue after being expendable in Boston amid his down season. Still, he gives the Dodgers a versatile veteran presence who has familiarity within the locker room.
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