Henry Roldán
The 2022 MLB Trade Deadline came to an end on Tuesday, August 2, with a slew of moves that sent the Major League Baseball world and the predictions of who could be this season’s champion into turmoil.
With a cooler mind and calmer feelings, here at JefeBet we leave you with a list of the teams that won and lost after the end of the MLB trade market.
MLB Trade Deadline 2022: Winners and Losers
Winning Teams
San Diego Padres
Without a doubt, the big winners of the day were the San Diego Padres, a team that was reinforced with the crown jewel of this trade market in the figure of Dominican outfielder Juan Soto, who arrived from the Nationalsalong with first baseman Josh Bell, for six players.
But that was not the Padres’ only move. On Monday, they bolstered their bullpen with the arrival of stellar closer Josh Hader from the Brewers and closed the day with the acquisition of utilityman Brandon Drury from the Reds.
Houston Astros
Although a little more aggressiveness was expected on their part, the Astros did well in the trade market by adding three experienced players who will strengthen key areas of the team.
We start with Trey Mancini, who arrived from Baltimore to help out at first base. He was followed by the catcher Christian Vásquez (from the Red Sox) and by the reliever, with experience as a closer, Will Smith (from the Atlanta Braves).
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees did their job. They moved to maintain their authority in the American League and acquired two of the best elements available on the market, as well as two arms to reinforce their bullpen after the Michael King’s departure.
New York acquired outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Royals at the same time as the
rotation was strengthened with the acquisition of Frankie Montas. The Athletics also acquired the services of Lou Trivino and the Cubs acquired Scott Effross, one of the best relievers of the season.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins quietly –yet wisely– strengthened their pitching staff, the area where they have been having the most problems this season and where they needed to improve the most in order to maintain their lead in the Central Division of the young circuit.
The rotation added the arm of Tyler Mahle (from the Reds), while Jhoan Durán will now have some help in the bullpen after Jorge López’s arrival (who was the Orioles’ closer), and Michael Fulmer (from Detroit).
Cincinnati Reds
Among the big sellers of the day, the Reds ended up taking home the best reward of the entire market by adding an outstanding group of prospects to their not-so-well-weighted minor league farm.
With Luis Castillo’s, Tyler Mahle’s, Brandon Drury’s, and Tommy Pham’s departures, they added three names to their Top 10, as shortstop Noelvi Marte (Mariners), shortstop Edwin Arroyo (Mariners), and third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Twins).
Losing Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers
Despite their great season in the National League, the Dodgers were one of the big losers in this trade market as they were unable to bolster their pitching staff and bench depth by only acquiring Joey Gallo.
Los Angeles always fought for Juan Soto, who ended up going to their division rival and closest pursuers, the San Diego Padres. San Diego moved around a lot, while the Dodgers appear to be confident in their roster despite the aforementioned problems that could take their toll in the postseason.
Boston Red Sox
With no clear direction in the trade market, the Red Sox once again disappointed with poorly understood moves despite being only two and a half games out of the last American League wild card.
If they wanted to be sellers, they only got out of Christian Vásquez and not of figures like J.D. Martínez or Nathan Eovaldi, who will be free agents at the end of the season. And if they wanted to be buyers, the arrivals of Eric Hosmer and Tommy Pham are far from clear especially after letting Vásquez go and adding no arms to one of the worst collective pitching staffs in the league.
Baltimore Orioles
While the Orioles won for many by bolstering their well-regarded minor league farm, the Baltimore team showed little commitment to compete despite being just two games out of the American wild card.
They sent the heart of their clubhouse to the Astros, first baseman Trey Mancini, and got out their closer Jorge López. While they were not expected to be big buyers, it would at least have been good to think about adding some pieces to continue competing in a campaign with an unexpectedly positive performance.
Colorado Rockies
In all baseball, the Rockies were the only team that did not make a single move, despite being a long way from the postseason and with a pair of pitchers who will be on the free agent list once 2023 ends.
Once again, Colorado’s management showed a lot of problems by not being able to negotiate for starter Chad Kuhl and reliever Carlos Estévez, both highly coveted by several organizations and who could help strengthen one of the weakest minor league systems in MLB.
Chicago Cubs
While names like relievers David Robertson and Mychal Givens ended up leaving the team, to everyone’s surprise neither Willson Contreras nor Ian Happ were traded by Cubs management.
While Happ will not be a free agent until 2024, their failure to move Contreras was a real surprise, as he will be a free agent at the end of this season. In fact, the Venezuelan said goodbye to the Chicago fans as his trade seemed imminent. Now, they could only get a draft pick if they gave him a qualifying offer, he turned it down, and signed with another team.
