MLB Trade Deadline Losers

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe (L) celebrates win over the Kansas City Royals with Randy Arozarena in a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla., on May 26, 2024. (Mike Carlson/AP Photo)

While some teams did very well before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline on Tuesday evening, others struggled to accomplish what they hoped or needed to.

Every team in the league made at least one trade before the deadline—some more than others. And somehow, not a single Top 100 prospect on Baseball America’s rankings was traded.

This year’s trade deadline shaped up to be a fantastic sellers’ market, especially for teams with bullpen arms. In many instances, the prices paid for decent and impactful relievers were ridiculous, likely influenced by some of the bigger starting pitchers who could have moved but ultimately did not get dealt.

For these teams, the opportunity to make the right move(s) didn’t materialize. And their fans have been left wondering what if and what should have been.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox fire sale was necessary and obvious; they’re chasing history with the worst record in the majors. However, their ability to make the trade deadline impactful was seriously handicapped by their two best trade pieces, which effectively killed their own trade value.

Garret Crochet made it clear that he wouldn’t pitch in the postseason if the team that acquired him didn’t sign him to an extension first, and he wouldn’t come out of the bullpen either. The American League leader in strikeouts surprised even his own general manager by going public with that demand. He’s still in Chicago, while many of his teammates are not.

Their other trade chip, Luis Robert, has been ice cold. Over his past 15 days, Robert is 8 for 46 with 25 strikeouts. It’s hard to trade a player, even with his ability.

The Sox did get busy, but they didn’t make trades to change the negative vibes around their club. They started that process on July 29 with a massive three-team deal that saw Chicago send reliever Michael Kopech to the Dodgers and starter Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham to the Cardinals. The White Sox return: infield prospects Miguel Vargas, Jaral Perez, and Alexander Albertus.

Vargas, 24, appeared in 71 games for the Dodgers this season, and his glove is a concern. Perez was the Dodgers’ No. 17 prospect, and Albertus was the Dodgers’ No. 23 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s rankings. Perez and Albertus are both 19. Considering the market for relievers, this feels like a massive underpay just for Kopech. When you consider they got nothing from St. Louis for a decent starter and a starting outfielder, their big trade was a bad one.

On Tuesday, the Sox sold hard. They sent oft-injured outfielder Eloy Jiménez to Baltimore. Their leader in home runs, Paul DeJong, was traded across the diamond to the team the Sox were playing on deadline day, Kansas City. Reliever Tanner Banks was sent to Philly, and the Sox also unloaded outfielders Corey Julks and Robbie Grossman. None of the moves moved the needle for a team chasing bad history.

Tampa Bay Rays

Technically, the Rays are not out of the playoff race. But you wouldn’t know that based on how they handled the days before the trade deadline. They kicked off the big trades on Friday with a stunner, sending outfielder Randy Arozarena to Seattle for a pair of prospects.

The Rays sent Zach Eflin to Baltimore for three prospects, two of who—infielder Mac Horvath and RHP Jackson Baumeister—ranked among the Orioles’ top 20 prospects on the MLB Pipeline. And they sent reliever Jason Adam to San Diego for three good prospects: Dylan Lesko, Homer Bush Jr., and J.D. Gonzalez.

Tampa then traded Isaac Paredes to the Chicago Cubs for a package that might help their major league roster now more than some of the other assets they acquired. Christopher Morel, a big-hit, no-glove “third baseman” with super-high offensive potential, went to Tampa with a couple of pitching prospects for Tampa’s all-star third baseman.

Shortstop/outfielder Amed Rosario also went to the Dodgers on Monday night. If we go back to the start of July and include the trades of Aaron Civale to Milwaukee and Phil Maton to the Mets, the Rays removed seven players from their major league roster in roughly four weeks.

Did Tampa stockpile more future assets? Yes. Some have mentioned this is a “typical” asset management masterclass from Tampa’s front office at the deadline. But, at some point, when does a team stop trading away established players for prospects? This deadline was a big reset from the Rays, which is unfortunate for their fans (who are being asked to buy into yet another stadium proposal).

Toronto Blue Jays

Remember when the Blue Jays were what the Orioles are now? The young, hot team that was having fun and hitting bombs? With Baltimore sprinting to the top of the division and the Yankees and Red Sox not going away, the underwhelming Jays decided to sell at the deadline.

Toronto traded away relievers Yimi García (to Seattle) and Nate Pearson (to the Cubs), catcher Danny Jansen (to Boston), and corner infielder Justin Turner (also to Seattle in a second trade). Perhaps the best return on a trade was receiving right-hander Jake Bloss from the Astros for left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi on July 29.

On July 29, there were more sales from Toronto, with Cavan Biggio, Trevor Richards, and Kevin Kiermaier also leaving town.

Did the Blue Jays add to their pipeline? Yes. Did they do so on the same level as the Rays? No. Are they closer to competing for an American League East crown? No. And their short-term future is in more question with the selling taking place.

New York Yankees

The Yankees made six separate deals, starting with the acquisition of Jazz Chisholm from Miami. He’s been incredible since jumping into the lineup; he became the first player in Yankees history to hit four home runs in his first three games with the organization on July 30. But the fact there’s now apparently a positional issue with Gleyber Torres not wanting to move to third base means his bat helps, but there are still issues.

Now we’ll have to wait and see if JD Davis, who the Yankees acquired from Oakland, is the answer at third. He wasn’t on the other side of New York City.

The Yankees also needed to bolster their pitching and didn’t do enough. They were able to add relievers Mark Leiter, Jr. from the Cubs, Enyel De Los Santos from the Padres, and Kelly Austin from the Astros, but their rotation needed a shot in the arm and didn’t get one.