Obviously I put a lot of time into finalizing the Top 10 list from yesterday, but there were a ton of deadline deals that came down the pipe that I still wanted to acknowledge, even if they were smaller. I mean, there were a lot of big moves involving relievers, most of which dropped yesterday, and I'm not including all of those. I don't think going '[LOUD TRUMPET FANFRE] LUCAS ERCEG' is a thrilling move. Moving relievers is just moving relievers sometimes, unless they're renowned, consistently good relievers. Like, if somebody's having a decent 2024 in middle relief, I don't need 10 minutes devoted to it on ESPN.
So here are some of the moves that I thought were interesting that just didn't quite crack the list. In descending order from moderately amusing to genuinely close to making the list.
Why it Works: The Giants are still technically in the race, they're not moving too many key pieces and they kept Snell, so Canha is a pretty subtle replacement for Soler. He's versatile with good power perks.
Why it Didn't Make the List: Canha had a strong start but has mellowed into a year that isn't necessarily peak Canha. So there's no reassurance that he'll be too helpful.
Why it Works: deJong is honestly an upgrade from Adam Frazier in terms of a veteran utility man to back up Garcia and Massey. He's clearly not Cardinals caliber anymore but he's a good extra guy to have around. Plus, they traded for him during a White Sox-Royals series so it was easy for him to report.
Why it Didn't Make the List: Very much a supplemental move, for security. The Royals season may not completely come down to deJong, I think. But he'll help.
Why it works: Chafin joins Kirby Yates and David Robertson as veteran options for a Rangers team that's doing some smart things to prepare for a run. He's also still very durable and a great guy to have around.
Why it didn't make the list: Chafin has pretty much become a staple of the trade deadline. You know he's gonna move, it's just never certain where. He could have joined any team and it's make the same impact.
Why it works: Puk is a very solid relief piece, and could become a fan favorite in Arizona.
Why it didn't make the list: First of all, Puk's in the middle of a down year where he didn't work as a starter, he got hurt, and he just sort of flew by in relief again. But most crucially, this is what the D-Backs think Deyvison de los Santos is worth. I genuinely think this guy is gonna become a huge power player in the leagues very soon, and if the Guardians were foolish enough to return him to Phoenix, I figured the D-Backs would make them regret it. But no. de los Santos had a huge spring for the Guardians, he's hit THIRTY HOME RUNS IN THE MINORS THIS YEAR, and now he's waiting in Jacksonville for the moment where a replacement player in Miami passes out. The Marlins got a lot of cool pieces this deadline, people like Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers, Adam Mazur and Graham Pauley, but de los Santos may be the most important one, and I don't know if he was worth A.J. Puk.
-Carson Kelly to the Rangers, 2 prospects to the Tigers
-Martin Perez to the Padres, prospect to the Pirates
Why it Works: Kelly is a very sturdy backup catching option, and could be a better version of what Austin Hedges was last year. Heim is still very much the plan, but Kelly is a very nice backup option, in that he was feasibly starting in Detroit. Perhaps a bit cruel to snag him, but...they still have Jake Rogers, so they'll be fine.
Why it didn't make the list: It's a backup acquisition, so it's more bolstering than truly upgrading.
-Hunter Harvey to the Royals, prospect to the Nationals
-Amed Rosario to the Dodgers [again], prospect to the Rays
Why it Works: Well, the Royals get bullpen help, they got one of the biggest relief pieces early and the Nats kept Finnegan. Win for pretty much all involved parties. The Royals made a lot of wise, if not entirely flashy, moves this deadline and Harvey is a very good one, as he's already boosted the bullpen's appeal.
Why it Didn't Make the List: There were bigger relief moves. Plus, Harvey's already given the Royals some injury worries in his 4 games there.
Why it Works: There weren't many true 'reruns' this deadline, but this was the biggest one. Rosario was a huge boost for the Dodgers last year, and since Hernandez isn't cutting it, they're trying Rosario again too. It's clear that the coaches know how to get the contact stuff out of Rosario, and hopefully they'll do so in a way where he doesn't have to play the field very often.
Why it didn't make the list: Aforementioned defensive woes. Also, assuming this goes as well as it did in 2023, Rosario may play a similar role in LA as he did last year.
Why it works: This is the second straight year of the Pirates and Padres make a move at the deadline, and this one is for a more flattering reason. The Pirates' rotation is filling up, and Perez is looking like more of a budgetary liability, as well as a space-blocker for younger arms. So the Padres gladly took him on, along with the contract, as a depth starter to round out the year. It's a load lightening move, similar to Lorenzen heading to KC, that helps both parties.
Why it didn't make the list: Perez is not as strong as he was in Texas honestly, and isn't exactly gonna run the Padres' rotation.
-Justin Turner to the Mariners, prospect to the Blue Jays
-Josh Bell to the Diamondbacks, $$ Cash Money to the Marlins
-Lane Thomas to the Guardians, Jose Tena and 2 prospects to the Nationals
-Austin Hays to the Phillies, Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache to the Orioles
Why it works: Veteran power bat to the Mariners, just what they need right now [cause the ones they have aren't working]. Not as flashy as Arozarena, but very wise, as Turner, while 39, is still capable of some cool moments at the plate. He's already off to a nice start in Seattle as well.
Why it didn't make the list: Turner is 39. Also because the Jays were clearly just trying to clear the DH space so a native son could make the team in August.
Why it works: Sometimes timing is everything. The second it was announced that Christian Walker was hitting the IL, the D-Backs got to work and pulled a deal for Josh Bell without losing any prospects. Very simply, 'we need a power hitting 1B, you need to keep your prospects, let's do this.' So now Bell, who's honestly perfect for the D-Backs, gets to power hit for a contender and hopefully come back into his own.
Why it didn't make the list: It's a replacement/DH addition, it's not gonna do as much work for the D-Backs as Marte and Gallen will.
-James Paxton back to the Red Sox, prospect to the Dodgers
-Jesse Winker to the Mets, prospect to the Nationals
-Eloy Jimenez to the Orioles, prospect to the White Sox
Why it works: The Dodgers really shouldn't have DFA'd Paxton, so the Red Sox called their bluff and got a starting weapon they know works in Boston. Paxton gives a veteran presence in a primarily young rotation, and returns to an environment he's succeeded in.
Why it didn't make the list: The Sox were teasing they'd be making a big starting pitching addition, and in the wake of the deadline it became clear that this was all they could do. Also, Paxton's first start back didn't especially go very well.
-Kevin Kiermaier to the Dodgers, Ryan Yarbrough [back] to the Rays
Why it works: Between Kiermaier, Jason Heyward, James Outman and Andy Pages, the Dodgers could be gearing up for an incredible defensive outfield. Yes, Teoscar Hernandez also exists, but Kiermaier is a boost at CF, and can help the younger guys come into their own.
Why it didn't make the list: Kiermaier's past his prime, he's mostly gonna be a depth piece, and the Dodgers were probably the most boring team to get him.
Why it Works: Winker gives Mets another lineup boost, and strengthens even the lower half. The Mets are somehow becoming better and better as the season goes on, and Winker could be a big piece of that.
Why it didn't make the list: Winker is very much one of those players who cannot succeed everywhere. We've seen several cities that Winker just doesn't work in. The Mets could very well be a winning organization for Winker, but it's not immediately evident whether or not he'll continue his Nats pace or revert to Seattle numbers.
Why it Works: Jimenez, at his best, can be a killer lineup piece, and is a powerful addition to a team that already has outrageous power numbers. Also, been a while since he's played for a true competitor.
Why it didn't make the list: The only real place I can see Jimenez feasibly playing is DH, and that's already pretty well covered by Ryan O'Hearn. If anything, Jimenez will be a depth piece that'll have to fight for at-bats, which...he was already kind of sleepwalking through in Chicago. So this...could work, or it could fail.
-Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Pirates, prospect to the Blue Jays
-Paul Blackburn to the Mets, prospect to the A's
Why it Works: We have learned...the hard way, I'd say, that Isiah Kiner-Falefa works best in small markets. He really worked out in Toronto, and Pittsburgh is honestly perfect for him. They need more refined infield pieces and he'll pop right in and start doing great contact work.
Why it Didn't Make the List: I thought De La Cruz was the bigger eyebrow raiser, and I'm also slightly concerned by A.) the injury he's coming back from and B.) Kiner-Falefa's Jekyll-and-Hyde quality.
Why it works: It was bound to happen eventually, and it's honestly wild that Blackburn is the highest profile Oakland A to get dealt this year. When he's healthy he's an excellent asset, and he looked sharp enough in his first game back the other night. He'll be a very nice addition to a scrappy but tough rotation that includes Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, David Peterson and Luis Severino.
Why it didn't make the list: Mostly the injury concern honestly. There were other larger rotation additions that I think deserved inclusion more.
Why it works: The Guardians didn't do too much this deadline, but this was a really smart move. Thomas is a very versatile OF piece with excellent power perks, and he's a great addition to a very contact-friendly lineup. He was getting kinda buried in Washington and will likely do a ton better in Cleveland.
Why it didn't make the list: Thomas' 2024 numbers to date haven't distilled as much confidence as I'd like, even if I know he's capable of great things.
Why it Works: Hays has already been very heroic in Philly, and has fulfilled his end of the bargain as a talented, defensively-exceptional outfielder with some excellent offensive moments. He is a definite upgrade from many of our DH-lite outfielders of the moment, and Hays-Marsh-Castellanos is a very good combination in my opinion. Also all he cost were a couple people that weren't doing anything for us.
Why it didn't make the list: If anyone could make the Phils regret trading him the second he gets away from the pitching coaches, it is Seranthony Dominguez. I also worry about Hays' down season after his breakthrough 2023. Hays may not be a starring guy, and may just be a depth addition, even if he's been a definite upgrade so far.
Why this works- it actually helps both teams. Montas gives the Brewers a SP boost for 2024, Wiemer could be great for the Reds going forward as he had no room in Milwaukee, and Junis is an excellent replacement for someone like Lucas Sims. Both teams immediately benefit, and the Reds now have room for returning young starters.
Why it didn't make the list: Because the Reds...kinda win? This allows them to do more going forward, vs. Montas just rounding out 2024 pretty much with the Brewers. It helps the Reds more than the Brewers, even if the Brewers do go far with Montas this year. Also, Montas clearly isn't as good as he was pre-Yankees, and even if he's been unhittable in parts he's still evened his ERA, so there's enough of a reason for the Reds to deal him.
Tomorrow, expect a post about the deals that didn't make much sense to me.
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