The MLB trade deadline has come and gone and now we exam what the AL contenders did to improve their World Series chances.
The MLB trade deadline saw a large number of significant player movement and teams like the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and Washington Nationals nearly empty their roster of every player on expiring contracts. In the American League, not only did the division-leading Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros plug some holes, but clubs like the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Oakland A’s made big moves to help address major flaws that have caused them to lag behind in the race for a postseason berth.
Here is a look at what clubs acquired prior to the July 30th deadline and whether they adequately addressed their areas of need:
Boston Red Sox
Acquired reliever Hansel Robles from the Minnesota Twins for RHP Alex Scherff and outfielder/DH Kyle Schwarber from the Washington Nationals for RHP Aldo Ramirez.
Analysis – The Red Sox have been able to rely on a powerhouse offense to cover up a mediocre rotation and did not dip into the high-priced starters market with ace Chris Sale expected to return down the stretch.
GM Chaim Bloom chose instead to add an experienced arm in the bullpen in Robles and a big left-handed bat in Schwarber (currently on the IL), giving up a 23-year-old Double-A reliever in Scherff and the 20-year-old Ramirez, who was ranked 19th on Boston’s prospect list by MLB.com.
Chicago White Sox
Acquired relievers Ryan Tepera and Craig Kimbrel from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Bailey Horn, Codi Heuer, and second baseman Nick Madrigal, and second baseman Cesar Hernandez from the Cleveland Indians for LHP Konnor Pilkington.
Analysis – The Pale Hose appears to be going all-in, adding another top closer and set up man to their bullpen in Kimbrel and Tepera and veteran Gold-Glove infielder Hernandez, but at a heavy cost. Heuer is 25 and posted a 1.52 ERA last season before struggling this year, while Madrigal is a franchise foundation piece that hit .340 in an abbreviated 2020 as a rookie and .305 this year before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury.
Houston Astros
Acquired reliever Yimi Garcia from the Miami Marlins for RHP Austin Pruitt and RF Bryan De La Cruz and relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero from the Seattle Mariners for RHP Joe Smith and 3B Abraham Toro.
Analysis – Houston appears to have been limited to improving their bullpen without exceeding MLB’s $210 million luxury tax, with Smith’s $4 million salary going to the Mariners and Garcia, Graveman and Montero totaling $5.4 million.
Tampa Bay Rays
Acquired reliever Shawn Armstrong from the Baltimore Orioles for cash, reliever DJ Johnson and outfielder Jordan Luplow from the Cleveland Indians for RHP Peyton Battenfield, third baseman Austin Shenton and RHP JT Chargois for reliever Diego Castillo, catcher Matt Dyer and RHP Tommy Hunter from the New York Mets for starter Rich Hill and DH Nelson Cruz from the Minnesota Twins for RHP Drew Strotman and RHP Joe Ryan.
Analysis – The Rays uncharacteristically added the pricy Cruz (making $13 million this season), but more traditionally shuffled players in and out by adding relievers Armstrong and Johnson and a platoon outfielder in Luplow, but shipping out Hill to the Mets, Castillo to Seattle, and Olympian Ryan to the Twins.
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New York Yankees
Acquired outfielder Joey Gallo and reliever Joely Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers for second basemen Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith, Trevor Hauver and pitcher Glenn Otto, first baseman Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs for RHP Alexander Vizcaino and CF Kevin Alcantara, pitcher Andrew Heaney, and cash from the Los Angeles Angels for RHP Elvis Peguero and RHP Janson Junk and a player to be named later from the Cincinnati Reds for relievers Justin Wilson and Luis Cessa.
Analysis – It’s a miracle how the Yankees were able to add a pair of big left-handed power hitters to the middle of their lineup and an arm to their rotation without adding anything to their payroll or giving up one of their organization’s top prospects.
New York GM Brian Cashman gave up four prospects in the deal to get Gallo (who has another year left on his current contract), their #9 and #12 ranked prospects in Vizcaino and Alcantara for Rizzo, and a 25-year-old AA pitcher (Junk) and high-A reliever (Peguero) for Heaney, with the Rangers, Cubs, and Angels retaining all of the salaries to prevent the Yankees from going over the luxury tax.
Oakland A’s
Acquired infielder Josh Harrison, C Yan Gomes and cash from the Washington Nationals for catcher Drew Millas, RHP Richard Guasch and RHP Seth Shuman, and outfielder Starling Marte from the Miami Marlins for pitcher Jesus Luzardo.
Analysis – Another example of going all-in. A’s GM Billy Beane swaps a highly-regarded 23-year-old pitcher in Luzardo for a quality rental outfielder in Marte, and a trio in A-ball for veteran infield and catching help.
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Seattle Mariners
Acquired reliever Diego Castillo from the Tampa Bay Rays for third baseman Austin Shenton and RHP JT Chargois, starter Tyler Anderson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Carter Bins and RHP Joaquin Tejada, and reliever Joe Smith and third baseman Abraham Toro to the Houston Astros for relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero.
Analysis – The Mariners did not do anything close to what the A’s, Yankees, and Blue Jays did for their playoff hopes, reshuffling the deckchairs in their bullpen by moving Graveman and Montero out and Castillo and Smith in, and adding a bottom-of-the rotation arm in Anderson.
Toronto Blue Jays
Acquired starter Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Austin Martin and pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, reliever Joakim Soria from the Arizona Diamondbacks for two players to be named later and reliever Brad Hand from the Washington Nationals for catcher Riley Adams.
Analysis – The Blue Jays boast one of the most powerful lineups in MLB, but could not seriously challenge for a playoff spot without a significant upgrade to their pitching staff. Berrios (7-5, 3.48 ERA in 121 IP) could end up being the second-best starter in the Toronto rotation next to Hyun-Jin Ryu and he is under contract through next season. The addition of veteran arms Hand and Soria can only help a sorely lacking bullpen.