The July 31 MLB trade deadline is right around the corner. While plenty of trades are likely to go down in the coming days, some prominent deals have already been completed (looking at you Manny Machado and Zach Britton trades).
Here are the winners and losers so far.
Winners
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have already moved two players (J.A. Happ and Seung-hwan Oh) and they could deal more (Josh Donaldson, Curtis Granderson, Marco Estrada, Aaron Loup, Tyler Clippard and John Axford) before the month is out.
Toronto did well to get two MLB-ready, controllable pieces in Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney for a few months of J.A. Happ.
They also snagged a pair of prospects in Chad Spanberger and Forrest Wall for Oh.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in Triple-A, and Bo Bichette might not be far behind.
The future is coming quickly north of the border, as the duo eventually join Drury, Teoscar Hernandez, Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, McKinney and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in forming part of Toronto’s next winning core.
Chicago White Sox
Chicago continues to master the art of the trade deadline. At least in their role as sellers.
Whether they can begin to put the pieces together at the Major League level in the next few years is another story entirely, but from a selling standpoint, the Sox have done well so far.
After essentially acquiring Joakim Soria and Luis Avilan for 25-year-old Triple-A infielder Jake Peter in a three-team trade with the Royals and Dodgers over the winter, Chicago flipped Soria for two prospects, one of whom is former first-round pick Kodi Medeiros, who was taken 12th overall in 2014.
Medeiros was selected out of high school and owns a 3.14 ERA, a 1.306 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine frames in 103.1 innings in his first taste of action at Double-A this season.
It wouldn’t be a shock to see the White Sox flip Avilan for future pieces in the coming days.
Oakland Athletics
The A’s acquisition of Jeurys Familia from the Mets resembled something close to highway robbery. Familia essentially replaced Santiago Casilla in a strong bullpen that also features Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino, Yusmeiro Petit and Emilio Pagan.
Seattle should be hearing the proverbial footsteps right about now.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays moved out veteran rentals Nathan Eovaldi and Johnny Venters, as well as versatile hurler Matt Andriese.
In the process, they picked up another young, controllable rotation option in Jalen Beeks as well as catcher Michael Perez, Brian Shaffer and international bonus money.
Perez’ arrival is of particular not because it gives Tampa Bay a young catcher to plug into the team for the foreseeable future in the event that Wilson Ramos is moved.
Single-A backstop Ronaldo Hernandez could very well be the future of the position, but he’s a way off.
Outside of Ramos, the Rays have been using a variety of different veteran, short-term catchers over the past few seasons, including Jesus Sucre, Curt Casali, Bobby Wilson and Derek Norris.
Perez at least provides some long-term stability, as well as upside.
San Diego Padres/Cleveland
San Diego got another building block to pair with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias, while Cleveland effectively required cost-efficient replacements for Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.
Cleveland’s early-July acquisition of James Hoyt from Houston shouldn’t be discounted either. While an under the radar move, Hoyt is adept at missing bats. He could play a part in the Majors at some point this season.
Losers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Anaheim are now burdened with not only trying to win during Mike Trout’s prime, but now also Shohei Ohtani’s prime.
Nice problem to have, I know.
But the pressure is still there all the same.
Francisco Arcia’s early production has been nice, but the departure of defensive ace Martin Maldonado in a trade to the Astros creates another potential need for the Angels heading into the offseason.
The Halos don’t look like they’re going to rebuild any time soon and will enter 2019 trying to play catch up with both the Astros and Mariners with needs at second base and catcher.
There is also a need for reinforcements in the bullpen, where the patch-work tactic that worked so well in 2017 (fifth in fWAR) hasn’t exactly gotten off the ground this season (26th in fWAR).
A starting rotation that has been besieged by long-term injuries could do with some shoring up as well.
So, all and all, losing Maldonado presents more problems than solution for 2019.
Milwaukee Brewers
Maldonado’s former employers surrendered Brett Phillips and Jorge Lopez to acquire Mike Moustakas.
The fit is a bit strange, what with Travis Shaw sliding to second base and Moustakas taking over at third.
The now ex-Royal is a solid player, but he doesn’t draw many walks and isn’t the elite defender he was earlier his career.
His power will fit in just fine in Milwaukee, but if the Travis Shaw experiment doesn’t work out at second base, sacrificing two useful MLB players in Phillips and Lopez could be a high price to pay.
Agree with the winners and losers? Is a team missing?
Drop a line on either Twitter (here or here) or in the comment section with your thoughts.
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