Carlos Correa, Closers Dominate Wild Baseball Trade Deadline

Forbes

01-08-2025

Prices were high, rentals were prevalent, and the 2025 trade deadline passed with some 60 deals – including unexpected stunners for Carlos Correa, Mason Miller, and the Rogers twins.
When the smoke finally cleared as July disappeared from the calendar, the teams at the top of the payroll charts fattened their outlay, the only team without a pennant increased its chances, and several teams waved the white flag by slashing salaries with a vengeance.
With two months left in the season, here's the early line on winners and losers:
1. New York Yankees – Facing the likely free agent defections of closers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, GM Brian Cashman added Camilo Doval, Jake Bird, and David Bednar to his bullpen, along with third baseman Ryan McMahon, whose sure glove and left-handed bat bring much-needed balance to the lineup. The Yanks also acquired Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario, indicating their intent to boost team speed and oust erratic incumbent shortstop Anthony Volpe. Although the team boosted its already-hefty payroll ($298,886,835, according to Spotrac), New York insured its future by keeping all of its top prospects.
2. Seattle Mariners – In separate swaps with cost-conscious Arizona, the M's bolstered both their infield and their batting order, adding first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez in deals that were days apart. Suarez, who once played for Seattle, returns as a bona fide slugger, on pace for 54 home runs after hitting four in one game for the D'backs. Seattle sacrificed only one of its Top 10 prospects (24-year-old first baseman/DH Tyler Locklear), in exchange for the slugging infielders and relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson, pirated from Pittsburgh.
3. New York Mets – Taking dead aim on their first divisional title since 2015, the Mets parted with some half-dozen prospects to land closer Ryan Helsley from St. Louis, set-up men Gregory Soto from Baltimore and Tyler Rogers from San Francisco, and center-fielder Cedric Mullins, who once had a 30/30 season for Baltimore. Rogers, the lone submariner in the majors, should be at least as entertaining as Timmy Trumpet, who sounds off whenever Edgar Diaz enters the game. Fortunately for Steve Cohen's high-paying club, the pitching Soto does not rake in the same salary as their hitting version, whose 15-year, $760 million deal is a major-league record. Unfortunately, however, all four of their newcomers are prospective free agents this fall.
4. Philadelphia Phillies – With Jose Alvarado suspended for violating baseball's rules against use of artificial substances, the Phils found solid substitutes in David Robertson, signed as a free agent days before the deadline, and Jhoan Duran, a magnificent closer for a cost-cutting club in Minnesota. The Phils also found a center fielder in Harrison Bader, though he'll be a free agent after the season. The big fish the Phils reeled in is the flame-throwing Duran, whose fastball routinely reaches triple digits. He had 2.01 ERA and 16 saves at the time of the trade. Plus he'll anchor the Philly pen through 2027 since he has years remaining on his contract.
5. San Diego Padres – After insisting all month that Mason Miller was not available at any price, the Athletics not only sent him down the coast but sweeted the pot with starter JP Sears. The Friars, who plan to move Miller into their 2026 rotation, also added Nestor Cortes, another starter, and slugging first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, plus role players Ramon Laureano, Freddie Fermin, and Will Wagner – just days after he got a one-day leave from the Blue Jays to witness the Hall of Fame induction of his father Billy. The Padres have never won a World Series but those moves could erase that 56-year-old void – even though it cost them switch-hitting shortstop Leo De Vries, one of the best prospects in the game.
6. Houston Astros – Other than the teams that negotiated the biggest trade of Deadline Day, who knew Carlos Correa was even available? He not only agreed to return to his original team but to slide to third base, where Issac Paredes failed to fill the void created when Alex Bregman signed with Boston as a free agent. Correa brings experience, a great glove, and a solid bat – enough for Houston to remain Best in the West this season. Adding fellow infielder Ramón Urías and outfielder Jesús Sánchez will also help, though the team needed pitching help too.
7. Detroit Tigers – Not content to rest on their laurels in the American League Central, the Tigers added Charlie Morton, an ancient but experienced starting pitcher; Chris Paddack, acquired from the division rival Minnesota Twins; and relief arms Paul Sewald Kyle Finnegan, an erstwhile All-Star with the Washington Nationals. That should be enough to solidify the roster of A.J. Hinch as the team expands the biggest margin of any division leader.
8. Milwaukee Brewers – In a clever financial maneuver, the contending Brewers agreed to cover $2 million of the remaining $7.5 million on the contract of injured Arizona starter Jordan Montgomery if they could also acquire Shelby Miller, a starter-turned-reliever with excellent numbers. They sent a player to be named later to the D'backs in exchange for the pair, both of whom are post-season free agents. Milwaukee also got outfield help in Brandon Lockridge and a veteran catcher in Danny Jansen.
1. Minnesota Twins – Faced with formidable financial worries, the former home of Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Jim Kaat spent the deadline dumping salaries. The Twins kept Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan but sent nearly half of the remaining clubhouse packing in a flurry of swaps, turning veterans into prospects who could quickly become suspects. The Twins traded all five of their best bullpen arms and 38.5 per cent of their active roster. But they're saving the $70 million that remains on Carlos Correa's contract.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks – The National League's version of the stripped-down Twins, the D'backs not only unloaded the slugging Suarez and Naylor but also outfielder Randy Grichuk and veteran pitchers Merrill Kelly, Shelby Miller, and Jordan Montgomery.
3. Atlanta Braves – Left scratching their heads after nobody wanted Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, or Pierce Johnson, all free agents this fall, this once-mighty club made only a couple of small deals, dumping disappointing Rafael Montero on Detroit while landing 38-year-old starter Carlos Carrasco from the Yankees and reliever Tyler Kinney from the Rockies.
4. San Francisco Giants – With future Hall of Famer Buster Posey calling the shots, the Giants essentially waved the white flag over San Francisco Bay. They battered their formidable bullpen, dealing away Camilo Doval (Yankees) and Tyler Rogers (Mets), and also parted with Mike Yastrzemski (Royals). Yet they kept ancient Justin Verlander, who remains in a Quixotic quest for 300 wins, and moody Rafael Devers, bounced from Boston by free agent signee Alex Bregman. The departure of Doval, at 28, is a mystery.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates – A team with few bright lights traded two of them, saving this penny-pinching ballclub even more money. Gone are popular Pittsburgh native David Bednar, a solid southpaw closer, and smooth-fielding third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, among others. But the Bucs kept pending free agents Tommy Pham and Andrew Heaney, both coveted by several suitors, along with the versatile Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
6. Chicago Cubs – Needing a solid starting pitcher, or even two, the contending Cubs punted, adding only left-handed relief pitcher Taylor Rogers, swingman Michael Soroka, and utility infielder Willi Castro. Now they'll focus on keeping All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who otherwise will become the best bat on the free agent market this fall.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers – Already looking over their shoulders at the surging San Diego Chargers (nee Padres), the front-running Dodgers hope to salvage the summer with the return of multiple injured pitchers. They asked about Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, and other veteran starters but decided the price in prospects was too steep. Nor did they deal for reliever Raisel Iglesias, a pending free agent who struggled through an erratic first half. All L.A. had to show for Deadline Day was outfielder Alex Call, acquired from Washington, and reliever Brock Stewart.
8. Boston Red Sox – A former pitcher himself, Boston baseball operations president Craig Breslow knows the value of experienced pitching down the stretch. But Dustin May and Steven Matz, the arms he acquired, seem more like retreads than reinforcements. Not only did the Bosox miss out on Joe Kelly, one of the few men not moved by Minnesota, but also gave up a blue-chip prospect in James Tibbs III, an outfielder obtained from San Francisco in the Rafael Devers deal.