Breaking down every deadline trade and what it all means

The MLB Trade Deadline has arrived, and we’re breaking down every deal that happens.

We’ve waited weeks for this moment, building anticipation and anxiety for what might happen. The back and forth of trade rumors have riled up fan bases across baseball but today is the 11th hour when push comes to shove.

Teams will have just hours to make final decisions on potentially franchise-altering deals, either in the short term or long. Will a team make a deal to trade for someone that helps them push towards a World Series this year or sell off a valuable asset to invest in the future?

Not every deal is going to be earth-shattering, as some of the biggest pieces have already moved. Manny Machado, Brad Hand, and J.A. Happ were headliners this deadline and all have been traded. The Chicago Cubs made a deal for Cole Hamels and the Mets are starting to sell off pieces of their failed World Series attempts of the past few seasons.

There are still plenty of names to watch, and teams are starting to get antsy and put themselves in the conversation to make a blockbuster deal. Chris Archer is a name that has increasingly come up as a guy who could get moved, and there’s always the possibility that guys like Jacob deGrom, Brian Dozier, and others are moved.

For what it’s worth, trades can still be made after July 31st. There’s a different protocol, though, that needs to be followed. Up until the deadline passes, anyone can trade anybody anywhere. After the deadline, teams will have to put players through waivers, and can only trade them if they clear. should a team place a claim, which is a strategy to block a trade from happening, that player can’t be moved to any other team except the one that placed the claim.

So if there’s a deal a team wants to be completed, now is the most uncomplicated time to try.

No matter what the deal is if it happens before the 4 pm ET deadline we’re going to have a grade breakdown for it.

Note: This will be updated live with the most recent trade at the top of the post. 

Brewers make a last-minute deal for Jonathan Schoop

Orioles Grade: B-
Brewers Grade: C+

Analysis: Can Jonathan Schoop pitch? Because the Brewers have a desperate need for that instead of trading for an infield bat.

Braves get in on the deadline madness

Braves Grade: B+
Orioles Grade:A-

Analysis: Kevin Gausman wasn’t one of the Orioles stud trade chips, but he’s an upper-tier pitcher that will greatly help the Braves. He fits their rotation and can also come out of the bullpen if needed in October. Gausman is only 27-years old, so he fits the Baby Braves theme that is happening this season.

Landing Darren O’Day was a late development to this deal, and it’s a big one. Atlanta is bolstering its bullpen in a big way and now has a roster that can go on a tear in the NL East moving forward. The capital was there to trade younger players to make a deal like this happen, and while it hurts to move players that could have been a part of the Braves future, there was a little bit of an embarrassment of riches thanks to Atlanta arriving ahead of schedule.

Kudos to the Orioles for selling off their assets, as expected, but doing so in a way that actually gives them hope for the future.

Blue Jays make one more deal before the deadline

Blue Jays Grade: C+
Dodgers Grade: B+

Analysis: Man, the Dodgers went for it at the deadline. It seems like not that long ago we were all ready to write Los Angeles off as busting out a year after making it to the World Series. Now the team is in a position to start running away with the NL West and made moves that fortify its roster in big ways. Manny Machado and Brian Dozier are huge gets to bolster the infield, and Axford is going to make the bullpen even better than it already was. It’s the type of afterthought trade that will come back when we get to October.

Toronto wasn’t ever going to get a huge haul for Axford but moving him and adding another player for the future is a solid move.

Cubs pad bullpen with Brandon Kintzler

Cubs Grade: B
Nationals Grade: C-

Analysis: Washington gets a bogus grade here because it sends a weird mixed message. It’s been an odd few days for the Nationals, who have been shopping Bryce Harper without actually shopping him, looking like sellers while declaring they’re buyers. Trading Kintzler after making a move earlier this year to acquire bullpen help is an odd look for a team that is trying to convince us all its still serious about competing.

Trading Harper was never a real thing, but moving Kintzler for a Triple-A pitcher is sort of waving the white flag. For Chicago, Kintzler is a reliable arm for a bullpen that has long been an issue. It’s not as though the Cubs have a bad bullpen but it’s never one that instills much confidence in big moments. Kintzler embodies that, but he’s also a solid addition that will help down the road in October.

Pirates stun everyone and acquire Chris Archer

Pirates Grade: B
Rays Grade: A-

Analysis: This was a heist by Tampa Bay, trading away Archer for a huge haul that is above and beyond anything we were expecting. For context, the Pirates basically gave away Gerrit Cole to the Astros this winter, but turned around and traded everyone for Archer in July. It makes little sense, even if Archer is an ace that Pittsburgh can build around.

Archer is under contract for another season so this isn’t a rental for the Bucs. He’ll help them try and make a late Wild Card push this season and makes them an attractive destination for free agents in the offseason. It’s still a huge package to send to Tampa for a guy that isn’t a long term option. There’s nothing to say Archer will sign an extension and remain with the Pirates, but the team has a year and change to convince him.

As for Tampa, it’s highway robbery that comes on the heels of a fleecing for Tommy Phan. The Rays put together two fantastic trades to set a foundation for the future, and every fan in Tampa should be pleased with what’s happened today.

Dodgers finally land Brian Dozier

Twins Grade: B
Dodgers Grade: B+

Analysis: Los Angeles hands down won this trade. They’ve been after Brian Dozier for a couple of years now, and finally landed him at less of a cost than it would have been a few years ago. Logan Forsythe is a good player but he’s 31-years old and his money was eating a hole in the books. Devin Smeltzer and Luke Roely are decent prospects but aren’t world beaters.

Dozier comes to the Dodgers in the midst of trying to win the NL West and make it back to the World Series. It also comes on the heels of adding another infielder to the mix following Manny Machado coming over earlier this month. It seemed not that long ago that the Dodgers were out of the mix and would bust out a year after almost beating Houston in the World Series. Now they’ve acquired two big-time infield bats to try and run away with the National League.

Phillies finally make a big trade

Phillies Grade: B+
Rays Grade:TBD

Analysis: We can’t really grade out the Rays since we don’t know the return for Ramos, but the Phillies are big winners. Catchers tend to get underrated on title contenders, but the Phillies are leading the NL East and just landed a stuff behind the plate. Ramos brings with him postseason experience and can help the Philadelphia lineup in big ways.

It’s also a trade for the Phillies, which is in of itself notable. There were rumors of a Manny Machado trade until it didn’t happen, and talks of acquiring Bryce Harper cropped up as well. Ramos isn’t either of those players but he’s a guy that upgrades an already really good team in the National League.

Brad Ziegler returns to Arizona

Diamondbacks Grade: B+
Marlins Grade: B

Analysis: Many expected the Marlins to complete the fire sale they started in the winter, but that hasn’t totally happened. Brad Ziegler has been on the block for a while, and he heads home to the desert to join a World Series race. That’s a major upgrade for Ziegler and his presence boosts the Diamondbacks bullpen as well.

Reports said that Ziegler ideally wanted to get traded to a team in the midwest, but this is a close second best option. He was the closer in Arizona from 2011 until 2016, so this is a return home of sorts for him. The front office and management still thinks highly of him and he has good relationships on the team still, which makes this an even better deal for the D-Backs. Not only are they getting a top closer, but a guy that will fit in and improve team chemistry down the stretch.

Tommy Pham shipped off to Tampa Bay

Rays Grade: B+
Cardinals Grade: C-

Analysis: This is going to be a tough one for Cardinals fans to swallow since Pham was a fan favorite who seemed to embody the ‘Cardinal Way’. He worked for 11 years to get an everyday spot on the St. Louis roster but is now taking his talents to Tampa, where he’ll be a part of a growing young core of players.

Pham isn’t a superstar player, but he’s well above replacement level and can be a leader on a Rays team that right now is in flux. He’s been injured most of this season and has question marks when it comes to whether he’ll be healthy on a consistent basis, but the Rays gave up a couple of middle-of-the-road prospects to land him.

St. Louis not involving Pham in a package for Chris Archer is a bad look. Maybe they know something we don’t about Pham’s long-term health, but they got back two of the Rays Top 50 prospects, so there’s at least some silver lining here. Still, it’s a super light return for a guy that was a productive starter and someone the fans loved — two very essential pieces of The Cardinal Way.

Red Sox acquire Ian Kinsler from Angels

Red Sox Grade: B-
Angels Grade: C+

Analysis: It’s a win-win, even if the Angels are getting the short end of the stick in many ways. Boston is fortifying its offense for a postseason that will be full of top pitching talent, while the Angels are trying to build back up one of the worst farm systems in the Majors.

The downside is that Kinsler is 36-years old and this is a transparent short-term play. Boston isn’t filling an infield need for the future, but the uncertain immediate future of Dustin Pedroia worries the Red Sox enough to have pulled off this deal. Kinsler will fill his role for now, and in a perfect world, Boston will have both for the postseason.

Lance Lynn lands in New York

Twins Grade: B+
Yankees Grade: C+

Analysis: Lance Lynn was a guy the Twins signed this winter in order to make another push towards a postseason berth. That didn’t pan out, and now Minnesota has flipped a player it took a flier on for a pretty decent prospect. Tyler Austin was a white hot prospect a few years ago, but injuries have lowered his stock and caused him to miss the boon New York experienced this year with young talent. Minnesota is in need of a future foundation, and Austin could become the next great first baseman for the team, following Doug Mientkiewicz and Justin Morneau. Luis Rijo is a 19-year old with plenty of room to grow as a dominant arm, one the Twins won’t mind letting blossom on his own.

That’s what the Yankees gave up for Lynn, a guy who was struggling with the Twins this year and wasn’t wanted back in St. Louis after last season. He’s a decent pitching option to throw in the rotation when he’s on his game, but it’s been a while since that’s happened. Maybe this trade to New York, and becoming part of a World Series hunt, will rejuvenate Lynn.

Yankees trade Adam Warren to Seattle

Yankees Grade: $1.25M in International Signing Money
Mariners Grade: B+

Analysis: There’s a decent chance the Yankees see Adam Warren again, only in a Wild Card setting in October. Warren is a very reliable arm for New York, which is why it’s a little stunning they dealt him for what amounts to space on the books. Seattle is sending a PTBNL along with $1.25M in international money, suggesting this is a deal that will help set up a bigger move for New York.

For Seattle, Warren comes over from New York at the same time Zach Duke was acquired from Minnesota. It’s clear the Mariners know they’re in the hunt to make the postseason for the first time since 2001 and want to ensure the bullpen stays fresh. It’s probably not a stretch to think Seattle is looking at the way Oakland’s bullpen is smothering teams and wants to replicate that while maintaining somewhat of a lead int he Wild Card chase.

Astros and Blue Jays swap closers

Astros Grade: B-
Blue Jays Grade: B+

Analysis: It’s a controversial deal, one that seems like a deal with the devil for the Astros. Trading for Osuna isn’t unlike when the Cubs traded for Aroldis Chapman in 2016, sacrificing their soul to win a World Series. History played a factor in that deal, as the Cubs hadn’t won a World Series in 108 years, and it plays a factor here too. Houston is trying to win back-to-back titles for the first time since the Yankees did almost 20 years ago. Giles was a bust for them, even though they paid a high price to get him in order to help win a World Series last year.

Osuna, who is currently suspended for an incident stemming from domestic violence, will help Houston’s bullpen in a big ways when he returns. But it’s quite a price to pay when sacrificing morales to win a trophy.

Twins continue to sell off veterans

Mariners Grade: B
Twins Grade: B-

Analysis: Seattle is in the thick of a Wild Card chase, and is leaning on a team that thought it might be in said chase at the beginning of the season. Minnesota went from worst-to-almost first last season, making the playoffs following a 100-loss season. It looks like it’s headed back the opposite direction and the sell-off in Minnesota continues.

Zach Duke is a journeyman who has been around the league seemingly forever but can be a great piece for Seattle in October. A rare bright spot for the Twins, Duke pads the Mariners bullpen and has experience as a starter, giving the team options down the stretch. Minnesota gets back a guy who was already on Seattle’s 40-man roster (Chase De Jong) and an infielder that could develop in a small ball setting (Ryan Costello).