MLB Trade Deadline Review: AL West Grades -

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The Major League Baseball trade deadline on Tuesday saw 31 deals made, with clubs getting their last chance to plug holes and improve their chances at making the postseason or to sell and get young prospects from contenders for those on expiring contracts.

In spite of the number of playoff teams being increased this season, the deadline saw teams still in the race for a wildcard spot sticking to their rebuild plan by shipping out key players, while other clubs that should have moved out pending free agents stood pat.

Here is what clubs in the AL West did before last week’s deadline:

Houston Astros

Needs – Outfield, Catcher

Additions – Trey Mancini, Will Smith, Christian Vazquez

Although they did not make a big splash, the Astros were quite effective in addressing their needs prior to the deadline, adding a veteran hitter in Mancini in a three-way trade with Baltimore and Tampa to lengthen their lineup. With Lance McCullers Jr. nearing a return to their rotation, Houston dealt depth starter Jake Odorizzi to Atlanta for bullpen depth in Smith and acquired a backup catcher in Vasquez.

Grade – A

Seattle Mariners

Needs – Pitching

Additions – Luis Castillo, Matthew Boyd, Curt Casali, Jake Lamb

The Mariners need for starting pitching led them to go for the fences at the deadline, sending three of their top prospects to Cincinnati for Castillo, which paid off with an eight-strikeout victory over the Yankees last week. Other than that, Team President Jerry Dipoto made depth adds, bringing in utility man Lamb from the Dodgers, backup catcher Casali, and lefty starter Boyd from San Francisco.

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Grade – A

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Texas Rangers

Moved – Matt Bush

Rangers GM Chris Young was pretty quiet at the deadline, opting not to move starter Martin Perez, and only dealing reliever Bush (45 K’s in 37 IP ) to Milwaukee for two prospects.

Grade – C-

Los Angeles Angels

Moved – Noah Syndergaard, Brandon Marsh, Raisel Iglesias

Well out of the AL playoff race, the Angels chose to sell off pending free agent Syndergaard and defensive center fielder Marsh to Philadelphia in separate deals. The unexpected move was the trade of closer Iglesias (who had 34 saves last season and had recently signed a four-year, $58 million extension) to Atlanta for a modest return, which could be a move to clear salary to extend Shohei Ohtani before next season.

Grade – B-

Oakland A’s

Moved – Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino

The A’s made the expected move of dealing starter Montas along with former closer Trivino to the Yankees for a package of four prospects but did not deal catcher Sean Murphy or outfielder Ramon Laureano (who are under control after this season) in spite of interest. Montas is under contract for 2023, but Oakland GM Billy Beane was still not able to get any of New York’s top-rated prospects in the trade.