SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball

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Key Trades
SS Ronny Cruz, LF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/christian-franklin/83189">Christian Franklin</a> → WSH for RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/michael-soroka/57959">Michael Soroka</a>
SS Wilfri De La Cruz → BAL for RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/andrew-kittredge/58195">Andrew Kittredge</a>
RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/samuel-armstrong/83826">Sam Armstrong</a>, RHP Ryan Gallagher → MIN for INF/OF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/willi-castro/58055">Willi Castro</a>
OF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/ivan-brethowr/83211">Ivan Brethowr</a> → PIT for LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/taylor-rogers/58524">Taylor Rogers</a>
The <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/depth-chart/chicago-cubs-depth-chart">Chicago Cubs</a> fortified their bullpen with Soroka, Kittredge, and Rogers, but didn’t add a big bat despite leading MLB in offensive fWAR (24.2) and holding the NL’s top Wild Card spot. Soroka’s shoulder injury immediately clouded his impact.
Castro, an All-Star in 2024, has regressed defensively (-6 OAA) and offensively this season. Kittredge has already delivered an immaculate inning, but the offense’s post-deadline wRC+ of 67 hints at the bigger need. If October fizzles, fans will wonder why Chicago didn’t swing bigger.
Thanks to <a href="https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/5-teams-who-will-regret-deadline-decisions-the-most/">Just Baseball</a> for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.

5. Chicago Cubs — Bullpen Boost Without the Bat

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Key Trades
OF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/james-tibbs/83887">James Tibbs III</a>, OF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/zach-ehrhard/84363">Zach Ehrhard</a> → LAD for RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/dustin-may/58684">Dustin May</a>
1B <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/blaze-jordan/83728">Blaze Jordan</a> → STL for LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/steven-matz/58199">Steven Matz</a>
The <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/depth-chart/boston-red-sox-depth-chart">Boston Red Sox</a> improved their pitching staff for a postseason push but missed out on bigger names like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/joseph-ryan/58074">Joe Ryan</a> or <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/sandy-alcantara/58308">Sandy Alcántara</a>. May’s debut in Boston was rocky, while Matz, a pending free agent, has been effective in relief.
The cost? Tibbs, Boston’s No. 5 prospect and centerpiece of the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/rafael-devers/57717">Rafael Devers</a> trade earlier this year. With the 15th-best starter ERA heading into the deadline, adding a frontline arm could have been a series-changer. Instead, Boston settles for incremental upgrades.
Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/picks"> MLB Game Picks</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/player-props">MLB Prop Picks.</a>

4. Boston Red Sox — Good Gets, But Not the Big Swing

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Key Trades
Future considerations → STL for RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/erick-fedde/57946">Erick Fedde</a> + cash
Cash → NYY for RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/carlos-carrasco/58732">Carlos Carrasco</a>
RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/austin-smith/84655">Austin Smith</a> → COL for RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/tyler-kinley/58563">Tyler Kinley</a>
RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/rafael-montero/57582">Rafael Montero</a> → DET for SS <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/james-jarvis/84475">Jim Jarvis</a>
Injury devastation defined the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/depth-chart/atlanta-braves-depth-chart">Atlanta Braves'</a> 2025 season — all five Opening Day starters hit the 60-day IL. Instead of long-term help, the Braves added Fedde (DFA’d by St. Louis) and Carrasco for rotation depth, plus Kinley for the bullpen after sending out Montero.
While innings-eaters make sense for a bruised staff, the lack of future-focused moves suggests they’re banking on a healthy 2026. Fedde and Carrasco’s underwhelming seasons won’t excite fans, and Kinley’s value hinges on a bounce-back away from Coors Field.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/"> SportsGrid</a>.

3. Atlanta Braves — Patchwork for a Sinking Ship

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Key Trades
LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/jacob-eder/57945">Jake Eder</a>, 1B <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/samuel-brown/84169">Sam Brown</a> → WSH for LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/andrew-chafin/58023">Andrew Chafin</a>, RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/luis-garcia/57616">Luis García</a>
OF Wilberson De Pena + Future Considerations → NYY for 3B <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/oswald-peraza/57759">Oswald Peraza</a>
Nine games out of the AL West and 4.5 games back in the Wild Card race at the deadline, the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/depth-chart/los-angeles-angels-depth-chart">Los Angeles Angels</a> added bullpen arms instead of selling veterans like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/tyler-anderson/57607">Tyler Anderson</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/kenley-jansen/57740">Kenley Jansen</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/kyle-hendricks/58275">Kyle Hendricks</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/luis-rengifo/57597">Luis Rengifo</a>. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/joseph-ward/57606">Taylor Ward</a>, under control through 2026, also stayed despite trade speculation.
With playoff odds under 1%, shipping prospects from an already bottom-ranked farm system for short-term bullpen help is hard to justify. Chafin and García bolster MLB’s worst bullpen by fWAR (-0.9 pre-deadline), but it’s an October-long-shot gamble that sacrifices tomorrow for a slim shot today.

2. Los Angeles Angels — Buying in a Lost Season

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Key Trades
3B <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/kebryan-hayes/58135">Ke’Bryan Hayes</a> → CIN for LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/taylor-rogers/58524">Taylor Rogers</a>, SS <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/samuel-stafura/84553">Sammy Stafura</a> + cash
LHP Taylor Rogers → CHC for OF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/ivan-brethowr/83211">Ivan Brethowr</a>
LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/caleb-ferguson/57777">Caleb Ferguson</a> → SEA for RHP Jeter Martinez
RHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/david-bednar/58148">David Bednar</a> → NYY for C <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/rafael-flores/83223">Rafael Flores</a>, C Edgleen Perez, OF <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/brian-sanchez/84888">Brian Sanchez</a>
LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/bailey-falter/58154">Bailey Falter</a> → KC for LHP <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/samuel-sisk/79775">Evan Sisk</a>, 1B <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/callan-moss/84910">Callan Moss</a>
The Pirates moved recognizable names but still left major trade chips untouched. Veterans like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/isiah-kiner-falefa/57683">Isiah Kiner-Falefa</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/thomas-pham/59323">Tommy Pham</a>, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/andrew-mccutchen/58130">Andrew McCutchen</a>, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/andrew-heaney/57659">Andrew Heaney</a> — all set to hit free agency — stayed put.
While <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/depth-chart/pittsburgh-pirates-depth-chart">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> did land prospects ranked No. 7, No. 15, and No. 23 in their system (MLB.com), the decision to trade Hayes — under contract through 2029 — and Bednar, with a year of control left, raises eyebrows. Hayes’ elite glove (16 OAA, 99th percentile) makes the move to division-rival Cincinnati even more baffling. Given their rebuild window around <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/paul-skenes/60045">Paul Skenes</a> and top prospects like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/players/konnor-griffin/83674">Konnor Griffin</a>, this feels like a misstep
For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at <a href="https://www.justbaseball.com/">Just Baseball.</a>

1. Pittsburgh Pirates — Selling Big, But Missing the Mark

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We are breaking down five MLB trade deadline approaches that left fans puzzled, from Pittsburgh’s questionable sell-off to the Cubs’ quiet October prep.

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