MLB Trade Deadline Winners and Losers: Padres, Mets Win Big While Dodgers, Cubs Strike Out
Here are the 12 biggest winners and losers on MLB's deadline day.
Winner: San Diego Padres
San Diego general manager A.J. Preller was busy wheeling-and-dealing ahead of the deadline. In several deals, they acquired elite closer Mason Miller and starter J.P. Sears from the Athletics, All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn and outfielder Ramon Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles, catcher Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals, infielder Will Wagner from the Toronto Blue Jays and pitcher Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers. They also kept ace Dylan Cease and two-time All-Star reliever Robert Suarez. The Padres have gone all-in with their sights set on toppling the Dodgers.
Loser: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers watched National League rivals Padres, Phillies and Mets significantly improve their clubs for a postseason run, while Los Angeles made only minor moves for relief pitcher Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call. Instead of parting with prospect capital for the likes of Miller, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Ryan Helsley and David Bednar to fix their beleaguered bullpen, the Dodgers are counting on high-priced free agents Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to right the ship despite their own disappointing seasons. Los Angeles still holds a three-game lead over the Padres in the NL West, but cracks are showing in the armor.
Winner: Houston Astros
In one of the more shocking moves in recent memory, Carlos Correa is returning to Houston where he spent the first seven seasons of his career, making two All-Star teams and helping capture the scandal-plagued 2017 World Series championship. He wasn't the same player with the Minnesota Twins due to injuries, but now comes back home to play third base while Isaac Paredes deals with a severe hamstring injury. The Astros also acquired outfielder Jesus Sanchez from the Miami Marlins.
Loser: Byron Buxton
Healthy for the first time in years, Byron Buxton made the second All-Star team of his career and declared he would be a Twin for life. But Minnesota decided to ship out 11 of his teammates from the big league roster as they entered full rebuild mode. If Buxton was willing to waive his no-trade clause, he would've had plenty of suitors and a chance at his first World Series. One has to wonder if he's having buyer's remorse about staying with the Twins.
Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies had two main objectives this deadline: acquire a high-leverage reliever with swing-and-miss stuff and a right-handed hitting outfielder with some pop. They accomplished both in separate deals with the Twins, landing closer Jhoan Duran and center fielder Harrison Bader. Duran solidifies a beleaguered bullpen that won't have to deploy Jordan Romano and his 6.81 ERA in critical situations, giving them another flamethrower since Jose Alvarado will be prohibited from pitching in the postseason. As for Bader, he provides the right-handed outfield bat Philadelphia desperately needed, eliminating reliance on light-hitting Johan Rojas and the disappointing Max Kepler.
Loser: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs needed a top-end starter to pair with Shota Imanaga for their postseason push, but failed to acquire one, instead settling for Michael Soroka and his 4.87 ERA from the Washington Nationals. They wouldn't part with prospects for starters like Cease, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Mitch Keller and Sandy Alcantara. Chicago's rotation ranks 17th in ERA (4.05) and 19th in opponent batting average (.250). The offense will simply need to outslug opponents down the stretch and in October after the front office failed to adequately upgrade the pitching staff.
Winner: New York Mets
The Mets made their stellar bullpen even more dominant with acquisitions of Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley, forming a superb late-inning trio alongside Edwin Diaz. They also fixed their offensive void in center field, landing Cedric Mullins and his 15 home runs. The Mets will be incredibly dangerous come October.
Loser: Chicago White Sox
Does anyone know what the Chicago White Sox were thinking? Several playoff contenders were willing to deal for Luis Robert Jr., but the White Sox apparently set such a high price tag that those teams backed off. Because of that inflated asking price, the Phillies (Bader), Mets (Mullins) and Padres (O'Hearn) went in different directions as Chicago played themselves. Robert has struggled immensely since his 2023 All-Star campaign and carries a $20 million club option for next season. It's hard to imagine the White Sox picking up that option given Robert's production, but then again, it's the White Sox — they could find themselves in the same situation next deadline.
Winner: New York Yankees
The Yankees needed to fix their bullpen, and that's exactly what general manager Brian Cashman accomplished, acquiring two-time All-Star closer David Bednar and relievers Jake Bird and Camilo Doval. New York's bullpen ranked 21st in ERA (4.19) and 16th in WHIP (1.30), but that should change with these new arms aboard. With Bednar joining Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, the Yankees now have three elite late-inning options. Cashman also upgraded at third base, trading for slick-fielding Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. McMahon has posted five seasons with 20-plus home runs but has never finished a year with an OPS+ above 100.
Loser: Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Paul Skenes appears stuck in baseball purgatory as long as he remains with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh parted with Bednar and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes in a surprising deal with National League Central rival Cincinnati Reds. But they kept their biggest trade chip in Keller, which would've brought a substantial return. The moves they made don't improve their 2026 outlook and simply continue the never-ending rebuild under owner Bob Nutting.
Winner: Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners desperately needed offensive upgrades at first and third base, and they delivered with Josh Naylor and two-time All-Star Eugenio Suarez, who was the best hitter remaining at the deadline. Suarez (36 home runs) and Cal Raleigh (41 home runs) will form a potent power duo while Naylor adds his .798 OPS to help lengthen a lineup already featuring Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena. The Mariners have a rotation that can carry them to the World Series and now possess the offensive firepower to match.
Loser: Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox added Steven Matz and injury-plagued Dustin May to their pitching staff after missing out on Merrill Kelly, who landed with the Texas Rangers. They also held onto outfielder Jarren Duran despite interest from contending teams and reliever Aroldis Chapman, who becomes a free agent after this season. Boston currently holds the second Wild Card spot but didn't do enough to significantly improve their postseason chances or build for the future.
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