MLB Power Rankings: Which teams made the right moves at the trade deadline?

5) MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona said it wanted to strength the back end of its bullpen and got the closer they wanted in Paul Sewald, plus new right-handed reliever Peter Strzelecki is heading to Triple-A and will be ready as a reinforcement when needed. Tommy Pham coming over from the Mets brings depth for the Diamondbacks as does utility infielder Jace Peterson from Oakland. With Arizona stumbling in recent games, can a fresh influx of talent turn things around?

4) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres

A.J. Preller had us all guessing up until the final hours of the MLB trade deadline before he finally pulled off deals to land Scott Barlow from the Kansas City Royals and Rich Hill and Ji-man Choi from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hill could be an answer for San Diego’s back end of the rotation and, if Choi can add some offensive pop at designated hitter, Pittsburgh could solve a pair of Padres problems. Still, this talented team needs to play up to its potential or all of the trades Preller could have made wouldn’t have mattered.

3) MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves

Baseball’s best team got better in the bullpen with Brad Hand and Pierce Johnson coming over in separate deals from the Colorado Rockies. With A.J. Minter being activated, Atlanta’s bullpen is looking stout heading into the postseason. With a wide lead in the NL East, the Braves can focus on health and finding the right combination in the late innings with their new bullpen pieces. Atlanta is well positioned to return to the Fall Classic.

2) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels

If the Angels were trying to show Shohei Ohtani they were serious about winning, they did just that by transforming their roster, both at the plate and on the mound. From Lucas Giolito to Randal Grichuk, there are plenty of new faces for manager Phil Nevin. All seven players acquired by the Angels are free agents at the end of the season, proving that Los Angeles is in win-now mode. Will we actually see Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani in the postseason?

1) MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers

Wow, will this race in the American League West be fun to watch over the next two months. Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery transform a Rangers rotation that already had its strengths (and injury concerns as well) while Austin Hedges could provide some insurance with Jonah Heim’s injury. Giving up Luisangel Acuña was a big ask, but the Rangers feel like the time is now. Getting Scherzer for next season as well is a big plus (as is having the Mets pay a considerable amount of the future Hall of Famer’s salary).