MLB Trade Deadline Review

 MLB Trade Deadline in Review

Another year, another MLB trade deadline has come and gone. Despite some massive names like Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani being floated for weeks leading up to the August 2nd cutoff, it was a fairly tame set of developments. Until the final day itself...then shit hit the fan. What a deadline! We've done the leg work in laying out a lot of the moves we saw and our thoughts on the impact they'll have on both teams involved.

7/22/22: 1B/DH Daniel Vogelbach from Pittsburgh to New York Mets for rookie RHP Colin Holderman

With a pretty unexciting move to kick things off, we have the Mets trading with the perennially selling Pirates. This particular transaction sent all-world athlete Daniel Vogelbach to Queens in exchange for rookie bullpen arm Colin Holderman. New York hopes Vogelbach brings a little pop to their lineup, even though his .235 average isn't pretty. 

In 17.2 innings this season, Holderman has been strong in relief with a WHIP and K/inning right around one. He's got decent upside for the Pirates, in a trade that should actually help both teams this year.

7/27/22: OF Andrew Benintendi from Kansas City to New York Yankees for LHP T.J. Sikemma (#19 NYY Prospect), RHP Beck Way (#21 NYY prospect) and RHP Chandler Champlain

A bigger name on the move to New York, with the Yankees acquiring outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Royals. With a robust batting average of .311, the biggest limitation to their expected return was his expiring contract. Kansas City did well to get two top 21 prospects from the Yankees, plus Chandler Champlain on top of it. Not bad for a sign and trade. Benintendi should help slot immediately into an outfield featuring Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo that could really use an OBP boost as they push toward October.

Photo by Kevin Sousa- USA Today Sports

7/28/22: OF Tyler Naquin and LHP Phillip Diehl from Cincinnati to New York Mets for RHP Jose Acuna and IF/OF Hector Rodriguez

Another move by the Mets here, this time adding a left handed project in Phillip Diehl and a workable lefty outfielder in Tyler Naquin. None of these names are moving any needles, but they do help provide depth to a team that's faltered a little after a red hot start. 

Acuna and Rodriguez aren't currently names that will knock anyone's socks off, but each have played well early in their careers. Acuna has four decent pitches and is sporting a WHIP of one and almost 1.5 strikeouts per inning. Rodriguez hit .356 in Florida rookie ball once coming over from the Mets' international complex. At 19 and 18 years old, respectively, there's still plenty of time for development.

7/29/22: RHP Luis Castillo from Cincinnati to Seattle for SS Noelvi Marte (#17 MLB prospect, #1 SEA prospect), Edwin Arroyo (#3 SEA prospect), RHP Levi Stoudt and RHP Andrew Moore

Splash! Finally, the first monster trade we've been waiting for. With Luis Castillo under control through next season, the Reds were able to get a respectable haul for the righty. Noelvi Marte, slashing .275/15/55 in high A this year, is an awesome shortstop prospect. Cincinnati could reasonably expect to see him up by this time next season. Edwin Arroyo is a bit further down the farm, but jumps immediately to #6 in the Cincy farm. 

Photo by Brad Penner- USA Today Sports

The Mariners hope that Castillo is the final piece in their surge for a wildcard berth. Boasting a 2.86 ERA and a WHIP just above one in the very hitter friendly Great American Ballpark, the cavernous T-Mobile Park (Always Safeco in my heart...) should only strengthen those numbers. He joins a rotation featuring Robby Ray and Logan Gilbert, forming a tough trio for any team to encounter come October.

7/30/22: OF David Peralta from Arizona to Tampa Bay for C Christian Cerda

Back to the depth trades we go! Left-handed outfielder David Peralta, hitting .248 with twelve dingers this season in Arizona, was a good value and necessary trade for Tampa. Having recently lost Manuel Margot and Kevin Kiermaier to the injuries for undetermined periods of time, the Rays had to add some outfield help.

Christian Cerda will be very much a project for the Diamondbacks, being assigned to their rookie team on Monday. But a .315 batting average and pretty clean play behind the plate thus far in his career are positive signs for the 19 year old from the Bronx.

8/1/22: RHP Josh Hader from Milwaukee to San Diego for LHP Robert Gasser (#7 SD prospect), Esteury Ruiz (#28 SD prospect), RHP Dinelson Lamet and LHP Taylor Rogers

A really nice haul here for Milwaukee for a player on an expiring deal. While this move may come off as odd from one contender to another, the Brewers had a terrible farm system. This deal will have a slight negative impact on the major league club this year, but should be fruitful 2023 and beyond. Gasser was a post-second round competitive balance pick by the Padres in 2021 with a 3.76 career ERA in 24 minor league starts. He projects to be a solid back of the rotation guy. Esteury Ruiz is an absolute menace on the base paths, leading all of the minors with 60 stolen bases. 

San Diego will benefit from an elite reliever on their push for the playoffs. Joining a middle of the pack bullpen, Hader's 4.24 ERA and league-leading 29 saves will immediately hop into the closer role. Paired with a strong starting rotation, the Padres will have no shortage of arms this fall.

8/1/22: 1B/OF Trey Mancini from Baltimore to Houston for RHP Seth Johnson (#6 TB prospect) and RHP Chayce McDermott (#12 HOU prospect)

We knew it was coming, but it doesn't take away the sting. Trey Mancini was a beloved leader for the Baltimore Orioles, traits he'll undoubtedly take with him to Houston. His positional flexibility and solid hitting will fit right in with the AL West leading Astros.

All considered, this was an unexpectedly great return for Baltimore. Seth Johnson needs Tommy John surgery which is discouraging, but was the #6 prospect in a perpetually strong Tampa farm. There have to be quality traits there. The fact that they also swung a top twelve pitching prospect from Houston in McDermott only enhances this haul. Emotions aside, this puts two new pitchers into the Orioles' top 30 prospects, in what should be their last season as sellers for a while. 

8/1/22: RHP Frankie Montas and CL Lou Trivino from Oakland to New York Yankees for LHP Ken Waldischuk (#5 NYY prospect), RHP Louis Medina (#10 NYY prospect), LHP J.P. Sears (#17 NYY prospect), and 2B Cooper Bowman (#21 NYY prospect)

Boom! Splash trade number two. The Athletics got a strong, pitcher-heavy package here from the Bronx Bombers, landing four top-21 prospects for their ace. With several trades this offseason indicating that this was a rebuilding year, trading away Montas and Trivino seems to complete the fire sale. Adding four new players to their top thirty sets up them for a good run in 2-3 years. The ole Oakland rinse and repeat method with talented players.

Frankie and Lou sound like New Yorkers, and will fit right in with the Yankees. The addition of Trivino gives them another solid relief arm to complement Aroldis Chapman and Clay Holmes. Montas will fortify an already dominant pitching staff into arguably the best in baseball. With an eleven game lead over Toronto, the AL East is already seemingly well in hand for New York. But with their eyes set on the franchise's 28th World Series, their roster is in as good a position as ever to accomplish the task.

 

8/1/22: C Christian Vasquez from Boston to Houston for IF/OF Enmanuel Valdez (#12 HOU prospect) and OF Wilyer Abreu (#21 HOU prospect)

To me, trading only Vasquez is a sign that Boston doesn't expect to compete this year, but doesn't feel like going through a complete tear down either. By still retaining core pieces like Xander Boegarts and Rafael Devers, this trade allows the Red Sox to stock their farm for the price of their longtime catcher. Valdez is hitting a line of .327/21/77 between AA and AAA, so he projects to the major league roster soon. Abreu is a left handed batter and versatile outfield prospect.

The Astros get back the 31 year old Christian Vasquez, hitting .281 in 85 games this season for the Sox. He will absolutely be an upgrade behind the plate and in the lineup for Houston, who did pay a respectable price for this impending free agent. If they can seal the deal though with another ring, it'll all be worth it.

8/1/22: OF Robbie Grossman from Detroit to Atlanta for LHP Kris Anglin

Not much to see here. Atlanta needed some outfield depth and traded for a cheap, switch hitting player to fill that need. Don't expect Grossman to be Mr. October, but he's a major league talent who'll be useful for the Braves as they try to catch the Mets. Detroit gets a lottery ticket in lefty Kris Anglin, currently in his second professional season.

8/1/22: RHP Jake Odorizzi from Houston to Atlanta for LHP Will Smith

Two contenders trading again here, with Houston and Atlanta swapping pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Will Smith. This trade was an easy match, with both ten year veterans filling needs for their new teams. Odorizzi has been a steady starter this season, averaging five innings per start. He'll slot into the Braves rotation quickly.

Relief pitcher Will Smith improves the Astros' bullpen right away. The lefty hasn't been his best this season, with a 4.38 ERA and 1.51 WHIP , but he's still made 41 appearances and been effective overall. This seems to be a fair swap that helps both sides.

8/2/22: OF Juan Soto and 1B Josh Bell from Washington to San Diego for SS CJ Abrams, LHP McKenzie Gore, 1B Luke Voit, OF Robert Hassell (#21 overall), OF James Wood (#88 overall) and RHP Jarlin Susana (#14 on SD farm)

If the Luis Castillo or Montas trades were a splash, then this is a tidal wave. One of the craziest trades in my recent memory, the Nationals went from an awful major league team with a terrible farm to...a worse major league team with a ton of hope for the near future. 

While Soto's average may be down this year, his OBP and power have stayed pretty par for the course. The combination of power and plate discipline is really something to behold. The trio of him, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado will be must watch TV out in San Diego. Throw in first baseman Josh Bell, ripping a modest .301/14/57, and this is as impactful an immediate return as a team could wish, especially a team with as many offensive deficiencies as the Padres had.

I've talked a lot of shit on the Nationals farm, so I'll give them credit where it's due in this case. What an insane return. Abrams is having a tough rookie season, but he's a highly touted prospect who's expected to figure it out sooner then later, and McKenzie Gore is firmly in the NL Rookie of the Year race. They'll help the team out short-term.

Outfielders Robert Hassell and James Wood are two projected stars. Hassell recently started for the NL in the MiLB Future's All-Star Game, going 1-2 with an RBI. He'll likely be up no later then this time next season. Wood is a little further behind, but equally as exciting. The 6'7" 19-year old has shown great power and contact ability in his 295 career at bats- with 13 home runs and a .336 average. RHP Jarlin Susana is an enticing and young international prospect. He's got a 4:1 K:BB ratio and is allowing a .155 BAA in eight appearances in rookie ball this season. Washington hopes he progresses into a big league starter, but that wouldn't be until at least 2025.

The Soto divorce was sad but ultimately inevitable. However, it netted the Nats two high ceiling, MLB rookies and three prospects now in their organization's top-8. Blockbuster, good work Mike Rizzo.

8/2/2022: CL Jorge Lopez from Baltimore to Minnesota for LHP Cade Povich (#24 MIN prospect), RHP Yennier Cano, RHP Juan Nunez and LHP Juan Rojas 

Given the return Josh Hader got for Milwaukee, there is reason for some in Baltimore to be disappointed with the return on this trade. Without the bona fide track record of Hader's though, GM Mike Elias was only able to get so much back for the All-Star closer. The four prospects will add depth and quality to a stacked farm system lacking quantity at pitcher. Lefty Cade Povich is the gem of this trade, a four pitch starter with a career 4.06 ERA and 1.4 K/inning. 

The Twins get one of the most productive closers from the first half of this year in Jorge Lopez. The recently converted closer has been superb, recording 19 saves and only allowing hitters a .174 BAA. Minnesota needed help on all pitching fronts and this move helps shore up the back end of the bullpen for the next two and a half seasons.

8/2/2022: CL David Robertson from Chicago Cubs to Philadelphia for RHP Ben Brown (#26 PHI prospect)

As the Cubs managed to be unwilling to moving their star catcher Willson Contreras at the deadline (what an insult to the man), they were able to move their closer David Robertson to the Phillies. Robertson has been a staple for the Chicago bullpen this year, with 14 saves and a 2.23 ERA. Adding him to the back end of a bullpen already featuring Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand should really help Philadelphia close out games.

The Cubs got back Philly's #26 prospect overall, righty Ben Brown. The rule 5 guy has only ascended to A+ ball up to this point in his career, but he is currently having his best statistical season. Maybe some potential in this return, but I'm not holding my breath.

8/2/2022: RHP Tyler Mahle from Cincinnati to Minnesota for 2B Spencer Steer (#7 MIN prospect) and 1B/3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (#23 MIN prospect)

Minnesota added their relief pitcher then went and got a starter. With one year left of arbitration eligibility, Tyler Mahle will be a nice piece of the Twins' rotation for the next season and a half at least. Getting out of the hitter-friendly Reds' park should definitely help his ERA rebound back to the sub-4 levels we're used to seeing.

Steer and Encarnacion-Strand were two fast risers on the Minnesota farm. Steer has had solid power translate up with him through his three minor league seasons. I expect him to be on the Opening Day roster for Cincinnati next season. Christian Encarnacion-Strand has literally exploded onto the minors this year, with an eye popping .302/25/85 line, mostly at A+ ball. In just his first full season, CES is a guy to keep an eye on.

8/2/2022: RHP Noah Syndergaard from the Los Angeles Angels to Philadelphia for OF Mickey Moniak and OF Jadiel Sanchez

Just two months ago it seemed like the Angels would be buying at this deadline. Not the case unfortunately for LA, as they've fallen off quickly since the middle of May. While they didn't move Ohtani, they did part ways with start Noah Syndergaard. Thor was having a solid season for the Halos, going 5-8 with a 3.38 ERA as he bounced back from only having two starts in two seasons. He should be a welcome addition in the Phillies' rotation.

Former #1 pick Mickey Moniak can't fare worse on the major league level playing across the country. He's only batting .129 through his first 105 plate appearance, so hopefully a change of scenery will help him get his career rolling. Sanchez falls into the 29th spot in the Angels top 30 prospects. The 21 year old has been slow to progress through the low levels of the minor leagues so far, but has some interesting traits. We won't see him anywhere near the majors until at least 2025.

The craziest part of this trade deadline is that I didn't even really get into some of the other impactful names that ended up being moved. Such is life as a father, time is precious. But shoutout to players like Whit Merrifield, Eric Hosmer, Brandon Marsh and Rasiel Iglesias who will be rocking new uniforms today. We'll be remembering this 2022 MLB deadline as one of the wildest of our lifetimes.

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@Choppinglines

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