MLB Power Rankings: From the best to the worst after the MLB trade deadline
By Kevin Henry
MLB Power Rankings: 25. Chicago White Sox
Sorry, you won’t find any Tim Anderson jokes here, but doesn’t the former All-Star infielder starting a fight and then getting sent to the dirt by a punch kind of symbolize Chicago’s 2023 season? Many thought the White Sox might be able to rebound this season, but they’ve been down and out most of the campaign. A free agent in 2024, will this be the biggest memory of Anderson in a White Sox uniform?
MLB Power Rankings: 24. New York Mets
The Mets were sellers at the trade deadline, sending away a pair of veteran pitchers in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander who were supposed to be the arms that led New York back to the postseason in 2023. Oh how things changed. Now the big question becomes will owner Steve Cohen be willing to spend again big this offseason, perhaps even chasing Shohei Ohtani?
MLB Power Rankings: 23. St. Louis Cardinals
Speaking of teams that weren’t expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, the shocking fall for St. Louis this season has been a gut punch for the Best Fans in Baseball. Now the question becomes will they do enough next offseason to rebuild for 2024. Until then, Cardinals fans can only watch as their team continues to stumble through the rest of the schedule. Will Adam Wainwright win his 200th game?
MLB Power Rankings: 22. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates haven’t dropped a series since falling to the Los Angeles Angels on the road between July 21-23. Despite selling off some of their assets at the MLB trade deadline, including sending Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi to the San Diego Padres, the Pirates are holding their own … but a tough stretch awaits this week with the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds visiting PNC Park.
MLB Power Rankings: 21. Los Angeles Angels
Did the Angels make a mistake going for it at the MLB trade deadline? There’s no way to paint a rosy picture after getting swept in a four-game series at home by division rival Seattle, with the Mariners hopping over them in the AL West and Wild Card chase. While the Angels wanted to show Ohtani they could be winners, going 0-for-August isn’t helping in that quest.