We’ve beaten up the disappointing Mets and Yankees enough for one deadline. So it’s time to show to the trade-deadline winners. And there have been quite just a few.
1. Rangers: They did just about all their great work before deadline day, highlighted by the trade for Max Scherzer. The acquisitions of Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Montgomery and Scherzer (plus defensive catcher Austin Hedges on D-Day) was an unmatched bonanza that raises a near-great team. Manager Bruce Bochy won three World Series with less, and we won’t be shocked if he makes it 4.
2. Marlins: David Robertson is great (even when he did blow one save already). Plus, they upgraded their infield production big-time with the surprise pickups of Jake Burger and Josh Bell (though it was curious to see them go away from their winter technique to add contact hitters). Nice work, Kim Ng.
3. Angels: Yes, I do know they’re taking an enormous gamble considering they’ve a probability to re-sign Shohei Ohtani by going for it and emptying their prospect bin for win-now rentals Lucas Giolito, C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk. Many don’t consider the Angels have much probability to re-sign Ohtani, but I’m not so sure why they’re so sure. The Angels under Arte Moreno do sign stars (Mike Trout twice, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon, Josh Hamilton, etc.)
4. Astros: They held an enormous advantage within the Justin Verlander sweepstakes in that they could have been the one team he would have accepted (LA was said to be a possibly). Living in Jupiter and training on the Cressey Institute near Verlander’s West Palm, Fla., spring home gave them an edge, plus he won two rings there and loves catcher Martin Maldonado.
5. Cubs: Jeimer Candelario provides an offensive boost. They’ve the perfect run differential of their division and will steal it.
6. Phillies: They wanted a back-end starter and wound up with All-Star Michael Lorenzen. Who couldn’t see them making one other postseason run this yr?
7. Orioles: They eyed Verlander and Dylan Stop, but Jack Flaherty was a pleasant consolation prize.
8. Blue Jays: Reliever Jordan Hicks has a probability to make a serious impact, and Paul DeJong is sweet shortstop insurance although they received excellent news on star Bo Bichette.
9. White Sox: Catching prospect Edgar Quero and lefty Ky Bush from the Angels for Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez is a pleasant return. Righty Nick Nastrini within the Lance Lynn trade is a plus, and lefty Jake Eder for Burger gets especially great reviews. They acted decisively and it paid off.
10. Diamondbacks: In a tricky closer market, during which folks appropriately figured Josh Hader and David Bednar would stay put, they managed to land Paul Sewald from Seattle. Tommy Pham is a pleasant right-handed stick, we all know.
11. Padres: Selling isn’t of their DNA (though they investigated deals for Hader and Blake Snell). Added needed hitting depth to top-heavy team with Ji-Man Choi and Garrett Cooper.
12. Pirates: Picking up left-handed pitching prospect Jackson Wolf within the deal for Ji-Man Choi and Wealthy Hill was a coup.
13. Brewers: Carlos Santana and Mark Canha were nice adds on a budget for offense, and Andrew Chafin gives them a needed bullpen lefty.
14. Dodgers: Might have been a grand slam had they gotten Scherzer or Verlander or Eduardo Rodriguez (they tried hard), but added essential innings with Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly and Ryan Yarborough.
