EAST LANSING- The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and although it wasn’t as hot of a stove as we’ve seen in years past, a ton of impactful players were moved.
Contenders around the league have definitely improved and bolstered their chances at making a run in the postseason.
Let’s take a look at five deals that I viewed as the most impactful made in the last week leading up to the deadline.
1. Dodgers acquire SP Jack Flaherty from Tigers for two prospects
The Tigers were able to capitalize on some value in this deal with the Dodgers as they traded the starter as a rental to Los Angeles.
Flaherty has pitched to a 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts so far this year over the course of 106.2 innings pitched.
Flaherty was likely the best starter in the league to be dealt and will look to bolster a Dodgers rotation that has had a ton of injuries so far this year.
Nonetheless, L.A. is shaping up to have a potential rotation of Glasnow, Yamamoto, Flaherty, and Kershaw come playoff time, a staff that could go toe to toe with any rotation in baseball.
The Dodgers are almost always one of the most active and aggressive teams at the deadline and that is no different this year with the acquisition of Flaherty as their headline deal.
2. Yankees acquire CF/2B Jazz Chisholm, Jr. from Marlins for three prospects
The Yankees added a few things in this deal with the Marlins while only acquiring one player.
Jazz offers versatility to a Yankees lineup that has struggled of late, as they get another lefty bat, a high-level defender that can play many positions, and speed on the base paths that the team has desperately needed.
The Yankees offensive struggles have been ugly for the better part of a month now, but Chisholm has come in and given New York an immediate boost, becoming the first player in franchise history to slug four home runs in his first three games with the team.
Chisholm is still under team control for two years following this season, and should be a great fit for a Yankees team looking to make their offense and defense more multi-faceted.
3. Padres acquire RP Tanner Scott and P Bryan Hoeing from Marlins for P Adam Mazur and three prospects
Tanner Scott is an excellent pickup for the Padres and was one of the most coveted relievers to be moved during the deadline yesterday.
The 2024 All-Star has appeared in forty-four games so far this season out of the bullpen and pitched to an astonishing 1.18 ERA with 53 strikeouts in that time.
The 29-year-old will slot into a Padres bullpen that could use some extra depth, and they hope to make a run towards the playoffs and maybe a division title if they can get hot enough down the stretch.
The Padres took the best reliever off the market, and although they had to pay a price for a guy who will be a free agent at the end of the season, this move absolutely helps them for a push this year.
4. Mariners acquire OF Randy Arozarena from Rays for two prospects and a player to be named later
Randy Arozarena is going to the Mariners for the rest of the season and it is a great pick up for a team that could use a boost in their lineup.
Arozarena was having a down year by his standards with only a .712 OPS over the course of the season with the Rays, but is already making an impact in Seattle going six for sixteen in his first four games including a home run, a double, and four runs batted in.
The Mariners also pick up a guy with a ton of postseason experience in this deal, as Arozarena has eleven career postseason home runs in thirty-three games, and has put up an OPS of 1.104 in those games.
The Mariners are in a tight race with the Astros for the division crown in the A.L. West and this is a move that should help them out a lot down the stretch.
5. Cubs acquire 3B Isaac Paredes from Rays for 3B Christopher Morel, P Hunter Bigge and a prospect
This deal may have been the most intriguing trade overall in this year’s deadline. Many analysts did not have the Cubs buying, especially for one of the best position players on the block in Isaac Paredes.
They’re currently sitting seven games out of a playoff spot, but Paredes is under contract for another three seasons following 2024 which is what Chicago may have been thinking.
The Rays also got a young player in Christoper Morel that they believe could also have an impact for years to come, as he has plenty of years left of team control prior to free agency.
Morel has two home runs already with the Rays and could be a player for them in the near future as they look to retool for the next few seasons. This is an interesting deal on both ends and could end up being a win-win for both sides.
