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MLB power rankings: Re-calibrating the league after the trade deadline

By Sean Sears

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 21: Kansas City Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield (15) strikes out to end the Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians on July 21, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 21: Kansas City Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield (15) strikes out to end the Major League Baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians on July 21, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

28. Kansas City Royals, 40-70, 4th in the AL Central (ranked 25th last week)

The Royals were attached to a few rumors early Wednesday morning involving 2B Whit Merrifield, but according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, teams couldn’t strike a deal. Kansas City has lost seven of their last 10 games and head into a weekend series with the Twins, with a pitching staff that’s struggling to find success. Newly acquired starter Mike Montgomery has been bad in three starts with a 7.94 ERA, which is more of the same for the Royals who haven’t had many stand-out performances.

But one of the few advantages for a team like the Royals is that they can afford to let players like Montgomery or young starters like Brad Keller and Jakob Junis work through their struggles unlike teams competing for a playoff spot. However, Kansas City did pull the plug on 1B Lucas Duda, who they designated for assignment last weekend. The team announced Monday they were requesting unconditional release waivers for the 33-year-old. The veteran batted .171 in 119 PAs for the Royals and with the team having a few options at 1B in the minors, it made sense to move on from Duda.

27. Miami Marlins, 41-65, last in the NL East (ranked 28th last week)

The Marlins agreed to trade pitchers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Rays in exchange for “opener” Ryan Stanek and OF prospect Jesus Sanchez, per Craig Mish of FNTSY Sports Radio. Anderson was one of the best relievers on the market with a 3.92 ERA and an excellent 14.22 K:9 on the season, helps net the Marlins a controllable starter in Stanek and the Rays No. 4 prospect in Sanchez.

The Marlins also traded righty Zac Gallen to the Diamondbacks for SS Jazz Chisholm, the No. 8 best SS in the minors currently. Miami sells high on Gallen and land a SS in Chisholm who hit 25 HRs in the minors last season, but is batting .204 with nearly 34 percent strikeout rate in Double-A this season. But the Marlins added two prospects in Sanchez and Chisholm who are already a massive upgrade in their farm system and it didn’t cost much to obtain either player. Great deadline for the fish.

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