MLB Trade Deadline recap

Major League Baseball’s Trade Deadline is one of its most important in-season dates, as teams had until Tuesday at 6 p.m. EST to either buy or sell assets to improve their futures.

The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline saw tons of speculation about where certain players would wind up, with varying results.

Some teams picked up big names to help them win a World Series, while others bought low, sold their cores or stood pat.

Big names in big places

The New York Yankees had major issues in their lineup outside of their two MVP candidates, outfielders Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.

To reinforce the lineup, they acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr., a 2022 All-Star, from the Miami Marlins on Saturday for three prospects.

If the early returns indicate anything, Chisholm has fit excellently with the Yankees, hitting four home runs in his first three games in pinstripes while learning to play third base, arguably the Yankees’ biggest position of need in 2024.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers have had major issues in their starting rotation, with Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, among others, currently on the injured list and Bobby Miller down in Triple-A.

Jack Flaherty, who has pitched the best season of his career since 2019 when he finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting, is the newest addition to the Dodgers.

The Dodgers acquired Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday for two prospects.

After seeing the Houston Astros catch up to them in the AL West race, the Seattle Mariners felt the need to acquire some bats to support an offense that has scored the third-fewest runs in MLB this season.

Seattle picked up 2023 All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays and designated hitter/infielder Justin Turner from the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday and Monday, respectively.

On Tuesday, All-Star Tanner Scott, arguably the best reliever on the market, was traded from the Marlins to the San Diego Padres, who also acquired Jason Adam, another reliever, from the Rays on Sunday.

The Padres are in the mosh pit of the NL wild-card race, and they’re hoping they can win more one-run games, in which they’re 12-12 in 2024, with these moves.

Under-the-radar buyers

The Baltimore Orioles have dealt with injuries to their starting rotation in 2024, and they acquired Zach Eflin from the Rays and Trevor Rogers from the Marlins, two players with below-average ERAs, for support on Friday and Tuesday, respectively.

On Tuesday, the Orioles also acquired designated hitter Eloy Jiménez from the Chicago White Sox to add to their excellent hitting core.

The Cleveland Guardians aren’t known for making big deadline moves when they’re competitive, but they made a pair of moves to strengthen areas where they’ve struggled in 2024.

On Monday and Tuesday, outfielder Lane Thomas and starting pitcher Alex Cobb were acquired from the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants, respectively.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, another team in the muddled NL wild-card hunt, brought in outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Blue Jays.

The St. Louis Cardinals, also part of the NL wild-card race, brought back outfielder Tommy Pham, who started his career in St. Louis, along with starting pitcher Erick Fedde, both from the White Sox, as part of a three-team trade with the Dodgers.

The Kansas City Royals sought pitching help at this deadline, as they acquired starter Michael Lorenzen from the Texas Rangers on Monday, and then reliever Lucas Erceg from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Royals acquired infield depth with shortstop Paul DeJong from an AL Central foe in the White Sox.

The Atlanta Braves, amid their injury-riddled season, brought back 2023 All-Star designated hitter Jorge Soler, who won World Series MVP in 2021 with the Braves, and relief pitcher Luke Jackson from the Giants on Monday.

The New York Mets got outfielder Jesse Winker from the Nationals on Sunday along with some pitching help with starter Paul Blackburn from the Athletics on Tuesday and relievers Ryne Stanek and Huascar Brazobán from the Mariners and Marlins on Friday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t do much this deadline but acquired starting pitcher Frankie Montas from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks landed first baseman Josh Bell from the Marlins and relief pitcher Dylan Floro from the Nationals.

In and out

The Rays were the epitome of in-and-out this deadline, as they sold Arozarena, Eflin and Adam along with shortstop Amed Rosario, who was sent to the Dodgers on Monday but made a pair of trades involving major league players.

Tampa Bay traded infielders with the Chicago Cubs, selling Isaac Paredes for Christopher Morel and two prospects on Monday, then trading relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong for outfielder Dylan Carlson of the Cardinals on Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired an offense-first outfielder, as they got Austin Hays from the Orioles for relief pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache on Friday.

Fire sales

The White Sox dealt Jiménez, Fedde, Pham and DeJong and sold relief pitchers Michael Kopech and Tanner Banks to the Dodgers and Phillies on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Blue Jays traded starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros on Monday to go with selling away Kiner-Falefa and Turner.

Toronto also traded relief pitchers Yimi García and Trevor Richards to the Mariners and Minnesota Twins on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, along with outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Along with Flaherty, the Tigers traded outfielder Mark Canha to the Giants on Tuesday and catcher Carson Kelly and relief pitcher Andrew Chafin to the Rangers on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Marlins’ most intriguing prospects acquired in their fire sale include second baseman Connor Norby from the Orioles, whom they acquired for Rogers, and third baseman Deyvison De Los Santos from the Diamondbacks, whom they got for relief pitcher A.J. Puk on Thursday.

Standing pat

Outside of dealing relief pitcher Luís Garcia and Carlos Estévez to the Boston Red Sox and Phillies, respectively, the Los Angeles Angels did nothing at the deadline.

The Angels held on to two-time All-Star starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, infielder Luis Rengifo and outfielder Taylor Ward, their two other possible trade assets.

The Colorado Rockies only traded relief pitcher Jalen Beeks to the Pirates, but they did nothing otherwise.

All-Star third baseman Ryan McMahon, second baseman Brendan Rodgers, 2023 All-Star catcher Elias Díaz and starting pitcher Cal Quantrill are players of note who could have gotten a return for the Rockies.

The Athletics held on to their two big-name players, 2023 All-Star outfielder and designated hitter Brent Rooker and All-Star relief pitcher Mason Miller.

Amid their teardown, the White Sox kept 2023 All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and All-Star starting pitcher Garrett Crochet, arguably the biggest name on the trade block.

Crochet reportedly wanted a contract extension before pitching in the postseason, which may be why teams wanted to be careful with him.

Another big-name starting pitcher, Tarik Skubal of the Tigers, was not traded.

The Blue Jays had players with multiple years of control like four-time All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and starting pitcher Kevin Gausman who weren’t dealt.

With all these moves, the stage is set for the season’s last two months.

Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.