MLB Trade Deadline Has Passed: Look Back At Impact Moves

In what was one of the craziest deadlines in history, it seems as if every potential contender not only added a player but an impact player. In fact, there were 10 All-Stars from this year that were traded.

With so much movement, let’s take a look at some of those most impactful moves for contenders as the regular season comes down to its final stretch.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers receive: Max Scherzer, Trea Turner

Nationals receive: Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Gerardo Carillo, Donovan Casey

The Dodgers have already been one of the best teams on both offense and defense. They currently rank third in runs per game (5.13 runs) and first in team ERA (3.20). As good as those numbers are, they just got better.

On the pitching side, the Dodgers picked up another ace to go along with Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. This season, Max Scherzer is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and has 147 strikeouts in just 111 innings pitched.

Offensively, they also picked up one of the best middle infielders in the game. Normally a shortstop, Trea Turner will shift to second for the remainder of the year as Corey Seager mans short. This season, Turner is hitting .322/.369/.521 with 18 home runs, 49 runs batted in, 66 runs, and 21 stolen bases.

The Dodgers entered Friday three games back of the Giants in the N.L. West, but these additions certainly will make the Giants nervous.

San Francisco Giants

Giants receive: Kris Bryant

Cubs receive: Alexander Canario, Caleb Kilian

The Giants knew they needed to make a move to help counter the Scherzer/Turner deal, and they got one of the best available. As time wound down on deadline day, the Giants struck a deal with the Cubs to get Kris Bryant.

Bryant, who is in the final year of his contract, is having a bit of a resurgence as he is hitting .267/358/.503 with 18 home runs, 51 runs batted in, and 58 runs scored.

He will certainly help a San Francisco team that currently ranks eighth in scoring averaging 4.81 runs per game.

Chicago White Sox

White Sox receive: Craig Kimbrel

Cubs receive: Nick Madrigal, Codi Heuer

The White Sox were already one of the best teams in baseball, but they got even better this week. After acquiring reliever Ryan Tepera and second baseman Cesar Hernandez earlier, the White Sox made a huge move on Friday by making their second trade with the Cubs and netting Craig Kimbrel.

It will be interesting to see how Tony La Russa deploys his bullpen as he now has two closers in Kimbrel and Liam Hendricks, two of the best in the game. This season, Kimbrel is 2-3 with 23 saves, a 0.49 ERA, 0.709 WHIP, and has 64 strikeouts in 36.2 innings.

Between Kimbrel, Hendricks, Tepera, Michael Kopech, Aaron Bummer, and Garrett Crochet, the White Sox might have the best bullpen in the majors.

The White Sox currently lead the A.L. Central by nine games over the Indians, but at this point, they are thinking postseason and winning a World Series.

New York Yankees

Yankees receive: Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo

Rangers receive: Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith, Trevor Hauver, Glenn Otto

Cubs receive: Kevin Alcantara, Alexander Vizcaino

The New York Yankees have some work to do if they want to win the division as they sit 7.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox. Still, with the Wild Card also in play, they were very active at the deadline.

To help balance their lineup, the Yankees brought in two big lefties in Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, in two separate deadline deals. On the season, Gallo has 25 home runs and 55 runs batted in, while Anthony Rizzo has 14 home runs and 40 runs batted in.

Surprisingly, the Yankees rank 25th in the majors in scoring, averaging just 4.11 runs per game, so these are huge acquisitions to go along with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and the rest of the lineup.

Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays receive: Jose Berrios

Twins receive: Simeon Woods Richardson, Austin Martin

Aside from Max Scherzer, the best starting pitcher to switch hands this postseason was Jose Berrios. Acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays, Berrios will try to help a Blue Jays team that sits 8.5 games behind the Red Sox fight for either a division or a Wild Card spot.

This season, Berrios is 7-5 with a 3.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and has 126 strikeouts in 121.2 innings.

The Blue Jays rank 12th in team ERA at 4.00, but Berrios will hope to help a rotation that is anchored by Hyun Jin Ryu and Robbie Ray.

Other Notable Acquisitions

• Mets get Javier Baez
• Phillies get Kyle Gibson, Ian Kennedy
• Rays get Nelson Cruz
• Red Sox get Kyle Schwarber
• Braves get Rich Rodriguez, Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario
• A’s get Starling Marte, Andrew Chafin, Yan Gomes, Josh Harrison
• Astros get Kendall Graveman
• Brewers get Eduardo Escobar