Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi made sure his team stayed in contention by acquiring Manny Machado and Brian Dozier.
The trade deadline has come and gone. Here are our winners and losers.
Winners
Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers were the big winners at the trade deadline landing Manny Machado and Brian Dozier. The veteran middle infielders fortify the Dodgers line up and their middle infield defense.
Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies added more pop to their line up with the additions of Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilson Ramos. Cabrera is versatile in that he can play three of the four infield positions. Acquiring Ramos was an upgrade at catcher and prevented the Nationals and Braves from getting him.
Baltimore Orioles: It was time for a tear down and a rebuild in Baltimore and baseball head honcho Dan Duquette did exactly that trading away six core players and getting back 15 players. Of those 15 players, only Jonathan Villar is the only major leaguer currently.
Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays have some how found a way to be competitive this season despite the fact that they’ve gutted their roster. They have added several prospects throughout the season in trades and made their biggest deal yet yesterday trading Chris Archer to the Pirates for Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow and a player to be named later. They traded for Tommy Pham earlier in the day as well. The Rays have revamped their roster and set themselves up nicely for the future.
Chicago Cubs: The Cubs added the best available starter on the market in veteran Cole Hamels and they fortified their bullpen with Brandon Kintzler and Jessie Chavez. It was all about adding starting pitching and bullpen help. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer did that.
Boston Red Sox: The acquisition of Nathan Eovaldi might be the best pitching pick up of the deadline. When he’s on, Eovaldi is filthy. Adding a veteran like Ian Kinsler to address the team’s second base woes was also a solid addition. Not adding a reliever could be a problem.
Atlanta Braves: GM Alex Anthopoulos went all in acquiring outfielder Adam Duvall and pitchers Kevin Gausman and Darren O’Day. He did it without giving up any of his top flight prospects. The Gausman pick up was great because he is a controllable starter.
Cincinnati Reds: The Reds were able to flip a power hitter who strikes out a ton in Adam Duvall for three quality young players in pitchers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and outfielder Preston Tucker.
Losers
New York Yankees: Sure adding the second best starter on the market in J.A Happ was significant but Happ and the recently acquired Lance Lynn are both past their primes and won’t make much of an impact down the stretch.
Milwaukee Brewers: On paper, adding Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop will fortify a struggling line up. In reality, the Brewers will have a hard time figuring out where to play these guys in their infield. Do they move Schoop to short and play Travis Shaw at second? It will be a tough dilemma for manager Craig Counsell to figure out. Not adding a starting pitcher is confusing to me.
Colorado Rockies: You have to wonder if the Rockies want to stay in contention when their only move was trading for a reliever. They already spent $100 million on their bullpen last winter. Why not add a catcher or a first baseman? It makes no sense?
Houston Astros: Adding set up man Ryan Pressly and closer Roberto Osuna should help on the field but the Astros are getting croaked publicly for the Osuna trade.
Pittsburgh Pirates: I like Chris Archer as number two or three starter. I am not sure he’s an ace and other than the fact that he’s under control for three years, I don’t see how this trade benefits Pittsburgh long term? They traded away one controllable starter in Gerit Cole this past winter only to acquire another one now. Odd. I know they are contending for a playoff spot but it’s weird.
Seattle Mariners: Cameron Maybin and relievers Zach Duke, Adam Warren and Sam Tuivailala all address needs but the Mariners needed to add a starting pitcher and they didn’t.
Team will to add during the waiver period later on this month. It will be interesting to see who adds based on where they are in the standings.