Smartest MLB Trade Deadline Acquisitions: 5 Most Impactful Deals
Grant White
Host · Writer
Jason Adam Leads Padres Bullpen
The San Diego Padres were busy at the deadline, doing whatever it takes to assert themselves as National League contenders. Their bullpen underwent a significant transformation, none of which couldn't have happened without Jason Adam.
The right-handed reliever has been sensational in San Diego. Adam has a game-changing 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and 13.9 K/9 rate with the Padres.
We can't discount the other upgrades to the Padres' bullpen, but Adam's arrival has allowed everyone to slot into a more natural order.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Orioles Acquire Zach Eflin From Rays
AL East teams were among the busiest ahead of this year's MLB trade deadline, with every team making late-season adjustments for a potential playoff run. Not all the trades were impactful, but the Baltimore Orioles acquisition of Zach Eflin was a catalyst for their starting rotation.
Since joining the O's, Eflin has reached the ceiling he failed to scratch with the Tampa Bay Rays. The tall right-hander is a perfect 4-0 in Baltimore, posting a paltry 2.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Predictably, there's also been a sharp increase in his strikeout metrics, with Eflin's K/9 rate jumping to 8.9, up from 7.1 with the Rays.
The Orioles are stuck in a dogfight with the New York Yankees for top spot in the AL East. If not for Eflin, Baltimore would have conceded that battle, focusing on staying in the AL wild-card race.
Josh Bell Transforms D-Backs' Order
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a crown to defend, and Josh Bell is doing his part to fend off challengers. The switch-hitting slugger has re-kindled his Silver Slugger form with his new team, transforming the Diamondbacks lineup.
Bell is punishing the baseball in a D-Backs uniform. The designated hitter/first baseman has a robust .469 slugging percentage with Arizona, up over 70 points from the .394 mark Bell put up with the Miami Marlins. Naturally, that correlates with improved run production, with Bell driving in 11 and coming around to score 14 more from the heart of the Diamondbacks lineup.
Arizona desperately needed a player of Bell's ilk in the middle of their lineup. Now that he's there, the rest of the D-Backs batters can slide into their natural roles with the team, setting them up for another deep playoff run.
Three-Team Blockbuster
The three-way mega-deal between the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago White Sox worked out for everyone involved (except Miguel Vargas).
The Dodgers have deployed Tommy Edman as their everyday centerfielder, working him into the infield as necessary. Michael Kopech has been a staple of the Dodgers' bullpen, keeping things locked down to the tune of a 0.79 ERA and 0.44 WHIP since landing in SoCal.
Likewise, Erick Fedde has been a regular in the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation, albeit with mixed results. Fedde's posted an above-average 4.23 ERA, taking just one win in five starts with his new team. Tommy Pham is up to his usual antics, delivering clutch hits and helping the Cardinals stay in the mix in the NL wild-card race.
While Vargas has become a meme, pondering what led to his trade from inside the Chicago White Sox dugout, virtually every other player in this trade is making an impact with their new squad.
Astros Rescue Yusei Kikuchi From Blue Jays
As we are finding out, something is going on behind the scenes in Toronto that impacts players' ability to perform north of the border. Thankfully, those concerns are a thing of the past for Yusei Kikuchi, who immediately recaptured his All-Star form as soon as he left town.
Kikuchi has delivered Cy Young-caliber stuff since joining the Houston Astros. The southpaw has a minuscule 2.89 ERA with the Astros, limiting opponents to just 1.00 walks and hits per inning pitched with an 11.3 K/9 rate.
Before the deadline, the Astros were battling for a wild card in a crowded American League race. Since landing Kikuchi, they have usurped the Seattle Mariners for the AL West Division lead and are on their way to their eighth straight postseason berth.
Jason Adam Leads Padres Bullpen
The San Diego Padres were busy at the deadline, doing whatever it takes to assert themselves as National League contenders. Their bullpen underwent a significant transformation, none of which couldn't have happened without Jason Adam.
The right-handed reliever has been sensational in San Diego. Adam has a game-changing 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and 13.9 K/9 rate with the Padres.
We can't discount the other upgrades to the Padres' bullpen, but Adam's arrival has allowed everyone to slot into a more natural order.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Orioles Acquire Zach Eflin From Rays
AL East teams were among the busiest ahead of this year's MLB trade deadline, with every team making late-season adjustments for a potential playoff run. Not all the trades were impactful, but the Baltimore Orioles acquisition of Zach Eflin was a catalyst for their starting rotation.
Since joining the O's, Eflin has reached the ceiling he failed to scratch with the Tampa Bay Rays. The tall right-hander is a perfect 4-0 in Baltimore, posting a paltry 2.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Predictably, there's also been a sharp increase in his strikeout metrics, with Eflin's K/9 rate jumping to 8.9, up from 7.1 with the Rays.
The Orioles are stuck in a dogfight with the New York Yankees for top spot in the AL East. If not for Eflin, Baltimore would have conceded that battle, focusing on staying in the AL wild-card race.
