Like last year, I have my trade deadline custom posts split into three categories. The first was last night, the usual Top 10 list. The second is this one, the honorable mentions, all the moves I thought were decent but didn't make the Top 10. And then tomorrow, I have a whole post planned out on the trade deadline deals that confused the hell out of me.
But for now, your standard honorable mentions. I'll go over why these deals work, and why they didn't make the Top 10:
Why it works: Lopez is a versatile utility infielder with some contact perks, Hearn was somebody the Braves didn't especially need.
Why it didn't make the list: If Lopez had gone to a team that really needed immediate infield help, I would have considered this. As it stands, the Braves got Nicky Lopez to be a backup middle infielder, and hold up Vaughn Grissom and Brayden Shewmake, who are perfectly good homegrown middle infield options. This is a flex move, and those don't always work for me.
Why it works: Peterson, a lot like Lopez honestly, is meant to be a depth option, and while things weren't working in Oakland as a starter, I think calling on him as a backup corner infielder, especially in the wake of Longoria's injury [who'd have guessed?] is a better use of his talents.
Why it didn't make the list: The D-Backs had better moves, and this is an insurance re-supplying more than anything.
Why it works: God forbid somebody else gets hurt, Yarbrough can jump in and start. If they're overstocked, Yarbrough's an excellent long relief man and can ensure that the other guys don't waste innings. Insanely useful piece, and kept out of the hands of Tampa.
Why it doesn't make the list: This is a depth move more than anything, and it doesn't have as much of an exclamation point as other Dodger moves.
Why it works: The Braves get another strong bullpen option in hand, and the Rockies keep most of the other bullpen guys who've made things work this year, including Justin Lawrence and Brent Suter
Why it didn't make the list: Hand's season is very okay, and he's not the closer he was with San Diego or Cleveland.
Why it works: Barlow, even if he hasn't been as sharp this year, is a fantastic relief asset, throws hard, and gets the job done. Have him set up Josh Hader and you've got two fearsome guys with long hair coming at you, nobody wants to face that. Also good insurance if Hader ever leaves.
Why it didn't make the list: Mostly Barlow's lackluster 2023 performance, plus it's a bullpen-boosting move. The Padres made lots of little moves this deadline, and while they were all kinda impressive, they were mostly to fix small issues rather than adding big pieces like last year.
Why it works: We already know Graveman works well in Houston, this just brings him back there and helps out an already-strong bullpen. Lee I thought was gonna be traded LAST deadline, and the fact that Yainer Diaz lapped him in the depth chart is pretty damning, so hopefully he has more opportunity going forward in Chicago.
Why it didn't make the list: This maybe would have been higher up if the White Sox didn't still have Yasmani Grandal and Seby Zavala. So now it's a third string catcher for one team becoming a third string catcher for another team. Also, bullpen wasn't a GRAVE need for the Astros, it was just something they could use a power-up for. It's not like the Marlins or Braves, who NEEDED another big piece like that.
-Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi to the Padres, Alfonso Rivas and prospects to the Pirates.
Why it works: The Padres right now are front loaded. The stars are doing well, the depth isn't working. Hill slides into the back half of the rotation in Wacha's absence, Choi gives them another option at 1B/DH, and allows Cronenworth to be used in positions he's better suited towards.
Why it didn't make the list: There's a Whose Line is it Anyway where one of the other performers jumps on Ryan Stiles' back in mid-scene and he's not at all prepared for it. Colin Mochrie has to race in and go 'COME ON, HE'S OVER FORTY'. And that's what's been bellowing in my head every time someone deals for Rich Hill at the deadline. Yes, he's still a solid innings-eater and consistent presence, but he's 43 and if the season comes down to a 43-year-old, it's gonna be your fault for dealing for him. I kinda want him to succeed anyway, but it's odd that the Padres are banking on him. Also, Choi doesn't slide as easily into this lineup considering another move the Padres made.
Why it works: Hicks is one of the hardest-throwing, and deadliest, relievers in the game, this has been something of a return to form for him after many injury-plagued seasons, it gets him out of St. Louis and onto a team I like better [right now], and aids Toronto's bullpen, which is getting roughed up at the current moment.
Why it didn't make the list: We are 5 seasons into Hicks' career and we're looking at three injury-halted campaigns, one year he skipped due to the pandemic, and aside from this year, only one other full season. That is not a great sample size to base on somebody you're referring to as the kill switch your team has needed. I saw a lot of Jays media people going 'OH MY GOD THIS IS HUGE' as if they're neglecting to remember even last season, where Hicks was injured for one half of the year and had a 4.84 ERA for the other half. That's not to say he won't be great, as he could and probably will, but it's a lot of smoke for somebody who's never sustained consistent health in the majors.
-Tommy Pham to the Diamondbacks, prospect to the Mets
-Enrique Hernandez to the Dodgers, prospects to the Red Sox
-Justin Verlander to the Astros, prospects to the Mets
Why it works: The D-Backs have too many question marks in the outfield, too many guys that haven't performed to standard in there, even with Thomas coming around and Carroll likely on his way to greatness. Pham's a good outfield bat and gives them someone who's more versatile back there.
Why it didn't make the list: We really need to stop pretending that Tommy Pham is still a crucial piece after he dropped off a cliff upon leaving Tampa. Pham had a 6.5 WAR with the Rays, and has a 3.0 WAR since, with 1.3 coming this season alone. He just hasn't been the same as a hitter since being traded to San Diego, and while this has been a better season for Pham, I don't get the number of pundits touting him as a crucial deadline need when he's clearly not the player he once was.
-Carlos Santana to the Brewers, prospect to the Pirates
-Jordan Montgomery & Chris Stratton to the Rangers, prospects to the Cardinals
Why it works: With Rowdy Tellez hurt, the Brewers need help at 1st base, and seeing how Luis Urias wasn't enough for them, and Owen Miller was better as a middle infield replacement, they went with Slamtana. Even if he's past 35, he's capable of great things, and was having a great season for the Pirates. The Brewers needed more surefire solutions, as too many guys they put a lot of energy towards have let them down this year. Santana also boosts the team's value in power hitting.
Why it didn't make the list: As I said, he's over 35, is only a temporary piece, and while the Mariners did enjoy having him for the stretch, he still struggled to hit over .200, which is where I worry he'll go to with Milwaukee, even if he has done a ton better this year. Also, kind of a dick move to leave the Pirates without any 1st baseman. Connor Joe it is, I guess...
Why it Works: Montgomery is a solid low-rotation arm in need of a better team, Stratton gives the Rangers excellent bullpen help, and it makes the Bader deal even more of a surprise win for Cashman.
Why it didn't make the list: It comes off as a bit excessive if Scherzer's also joining this rotation. So now you run the risk of Dane Dunning being pushed to relief again, even if it will likely be someone like Andrew Heaney. And since this was all just a response to Eovaldi's injury, how overstuffed is this rotation gonna look once he comes back? The Rangers began this year with a mega-rotation, and it confuses me that this wasn't enough for them, even if deGrom's injury did take them back for a split second. Stratton's probably the more rational need for this team, as getting Montgomery is kind of just a flex move.
-Jake Burger to the Marlins, prospect to the White Sox
Why it works: The Marlins weren't happy with Jean Segura at third, hence a deal I'll be getting to in another post, and the White Sox for some reason made Burger available. Burger came into his own with the Sox this year, is an excellent power bat and a great clutch hitter. The Marlins already have a ton of pure contact guys, Burger and another guy they got yesterday gives them more pure power options.
Why it didn't make the list: This was essentially #12 on the list. Mostly the shock that the White Sox would part with someone as new to the team as Burger, as well as the swapping of power-hitting corners the Marlins did yesterday, kept me from completely loving this move, but it could definitely prove me wrong.
Why it works: Obviously we know that Kiké does well in LA, and that the middle infield of the Dodgers really needed help, so this works on a ton of levels. Since returning to Chavez Ravine, Hernandez has been hitting like a pro and reminding the fans why they loved him in the first place.
Why it didn't make the list: Like another reunion, it didn't wow me. It made too much sense. Like, of course they'd bring Kiké back. Why wouldn't they?
...speaking of,
Why it works: I don't even think I really need to fill this category. Y'all saw what JV did in Houston, and y'all saw what was going on in Queens.
Why it didn't make the list: Because this was the single most boring place for Verlander to end up. I was hearing stuff like Texas, Baltimore, San Diego, guys like that. And the guys who ended up winning were the people who JUST HAD HIM LAST YEAR. And makes sense, yeah, of course JV would wanna go back to Houston, he won his rings there, he won two Cy Youngs there, but like...did they really need him? If they went to October with a rotation of Valdez-Javier-Brown-Bielak-France, that still would have been great. They didn't NEED Verlander, they just needed to have him, y'know? Where else would he go? It's that smug, arrogant sort of stuff that makes me continue to despise this Astros team. You didn't need him, but you just couldn't go on without him. Enough of that.
As salty as I was in this post, there's deals from this deadline that made me even saltier, or even more confused. Those will be in a post tomorrow.
That Pham is a really sweet card. He's been hitting well lately; I could see it lasting the rest of the year, but probably not beyond that.
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