MLB · 2 hours ago

MLB Trade Deadline Biggest Losers: 5 Teams That Failed to Make a Mark

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

You Tell Us! Which Team had the Worst MLB Trade Deadline?
Step into the Dugout: Debate the Deadline Losers

We’ve officially laid out the five biggest front-office missteps of the trade deadline, but baseball is all about the debate!

The Skubal Sweepstakes: Did the Tigers make a massive mistake trading Tarik Skubal while just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot?

The Milwaukee Whiff: Will the Brewers regret missing out on all four top starting pitchers when October arrives?

The Marlins Paradox: Why do the Marlins continue to trade away core contributors under multi-year team control?

Sound off in the comments with your hot takes and biggest deadline missteps!
MLB Trade Deadline Losers
Folds, Whiffs, and White Flags: 5 Biggest Losers of the MLB Trade Deadline

While a handful of World Series contenders went all-in to bolster their rosters for an October run, other front offices completely dropped the ball. Whether it was sitting on their hands during a high-stakes arm race, waving the white flag way too early in a winnable playoff chase, or puzzlingly selling off core pieces while right in the thick of a postseason berth, several teams left their fanbases scratching their heads when the deadline clock hit zero.

We ran a full diagnostic audit on the trade block fallout to isolate the front offices that failed to deliver when the heat was on.

Grab a cold drink and clear your whiteboards; here are the 5 biggest losers of the MLB trade deadline.
5. Houston Astros
2.5-Game Lead Atop AL West

The Astros go into play holding a tight 2.5-game lead in the AL West. Knowing that, you'd think this one-time juggernaut would make some serious noise at the deadline. Instead, they traded away from a position of dire need by shipping starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti to the Blue Jays. Not only is Arrighetti a solid young pitcher, but he's also under team control for three more years. Houston brought back elite defense in center field with Daulton Varsho, but Varsho hardly helps the offense and certainly doesn't address their thinnest area on the mound. This comes just weeks after the 'Stros also moved starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Sure, McCullers wasn't dealing by any means, but this really thins out your pitching depth. For a team that's been in the World Series picture for most of the past decade, pulling off just one trade when you're in the thick of it won't be sending the Astros fanbase into orbit anytime soon.
4. Detroit Tigers
5.5 Games Back of AL Central Lead, 2.5 Games Back of AL Wild Card

The Detroit Tigers may have thrown up the white flag way too prematurely. Sitting just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot, shipping out Tarik Skubal effectively signaled to the rest of the league that they were throwing in the towel. That sends a terrible message to a wide-open AL playoff field that looks completely winnable this year. Did they get enough in return for a back-to-back Cy Young winner from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a massive deal for prospect Zyhir Hope alongside right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith? Time will tell, but I'll go out on a limb right now and say no. Couldn't they have explored a deal like that in the offseason if they were set on moving him? With a winnable division and a wild-card spot well within reach, this was not the time to fold your chips.
3. Atlanta Braves
7.5-Game Lead Atop NL East

Sitting pretty with a comfortable 7.5-game lead atop the NL East, the Braves essentially sat on their hands. Their marquee moves amounted to adding a fourth outfielder in Lane Thomas and plugging the rotation with Tyler Mahle. Mahle is fine and has pitched better of late, but he hardly dings the radar. Granted, the division is nearly wrapped up, but Atlanta could have desperately used one of the big four starting pitchers on the block, all of whom, outside of Freddy Peralta, went to NL competitors, making those potential playoff rivals significantly stronger. Atlanta is still a very good ball club, but they'll probably be wishing they did a whole lot more come playoff time.
2. Miami Marlins
2 Games Back of NL Wild Card Spot

The Marlins are right in the thick of a wild-card race, and what do they do? In typical Miami fashion, they sell! Sitting just two games back of a playoff spot, the Fish decided to cast off one of their best hitters in catcher Liam Hicks. Hicks brings 14 homers and 62 RBIs to the table while locking down one of the most important defensive positions on the diamond, all while remaining under team control for four more years. At some point, you have to ask the hard question: how many times can a franchise just keep hoarding prospect talent without ever trying to win right now?
1. Milwaukee Brewers
5.5-Game Lead Atop NL Central

The Brewers simply did not do enough to go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers, who emerged as the undisputed winners of this deadline by outmaneuvering Milwaukee for Tarik Skubal. Losing out on the two-time AL Cy Young winner is a massive hit for Milwaukee, and one they will likely feel firsthand come postseason time. The secondary rotation targets weren't much better for them, as Kevin Gausman went to division rival Chicago, while Robbie Ray and Freddy Peralta landed with other potential postseason obstacles. Going 0-for-4 on top-tier rotation pieces is a huge whiff for this front office. Sure, they grabbed Codi Heuer, Dustin May, Bo Naylor, JoJo Romero, and Antonio Senzatela, who will certainly help bolster roster depth, but none of them truly move the needle. They needed a splash, and they fell flat.
You Tell Us! Which Team had the Worst MLB Trade Deadline?
Step into the Dugout: Debate the Deadline Losers

We’ve officially laid out the five biggest front-office missteps of the trade deadline, but baseball is all about the debate!

The Skubal Sweepstakes: Did the Tigers make a massive mistake trading Tarik Skubal while just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot?

The Milwaukee Whiff: Will the Brewers regret missing out on all four top starting pitchers when October arrives?

The Marlins Paradox: Why do the Marlins continue to trade away core contributors under multi-year team control?

Sound off in the comments with your hot takes and biggest deadline missteps!
MLB Trade Deadline Losers
Folds, Whiffs, and White Flags: 5 Biggest Losers of the MLB Trade Deadline

While a handful of World Series contenders went all-in to bolster their rosters for an October run, other front offices completely dropped the ball. Whether it was sitting on their hands during a high-stakes arm race, waving the white flag way too early in a winnable playoff chase, or puzzlingly selling off core pieces while right in the thick of a postseason berth, several teams left their fanbases scratching their heads when the deadline clock hit zero.

We ran a full diagnostic audit on the trade block fallout to isolate the front offices that failed to deliver when the heat was on.

Grab a cold drink and clear your whiteboards; here are the 5 biggest losers of the MLB trade deadline.

MLB Trade Deadline Biggest Losers: 5 Teams That Failed to Make a Mark

Step into the Dugout: Debate the Deadline Losers

Folds, Whiffs, and White Flags: 5 Biggest Losers of the MLB Trade Deadline

2.5-Game Lead Atop AL West

5.5 Games Back of AL Central Lead, 2.5 Games Back of AL Wild Card

7.5-Game Lead Atop NL East

2 Games Back of NL Wild Card Spot

5.5-Game Lead Atop NL Central

Step into the Dugout: Debate the Deadline Losers

Folds, Whiffs, and White Flags: 5 Biggest Losers of the MLB Trade Deadline

BETTING NEWS

FUTURES

EDITOR'S PICKS

For the Best of SportsGrid, Grab the App

BETTING NEWS

FUTURES