We’ve beaten up the disappointing Mets and Yankees enough for one deadline. So it’s time to turn to the trade-deadline winners. And there were quite a few.
1. Rangers: They did almost all their great work before deadline day, highlighted by the trade for Max Scherzer. The acquisitions of Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Montgomery and Scherzer (plus defensive catcher Austin Hedges on D-Day) was an unmatched bonanza that raises a near-great team. Manager Bruce Bochy won three World Series with less, and we won’t be shocked if he makes it four.
2. Marlins: David Robertson is great (even if he did blow one save already). Plus, they upgraded their infield production big-time with the surprise pickups of Jake Burger and Josh Bell (though it was curious to see them go away from their winter strategy to add contact hitters). Nice work, Kim Ng.
3. Angels: Yes, I know they are taking a big gamble thinking they have a chance to re-sign Shohei Ohtani by going for it and emptying their prospect bin for win-now rentals Lucas Giolito, C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk. Many don’t believe the Angels have much chance to re-sign Ohtani, but I’m not so sure why they are so sure. The Angels under Arte Moreno do sign stars (Mike Trout twice, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon, Josh Hamilton, etc.)
4. Astros: They held a big advantage in the Justin Verlander sweepstakes in that they may have been the only team he would have accepted (LA was said to be a maybe). Living in Jupiter and training at the Cressey Institute near Verlander’s West Palm, Fla., spring home gave them an edge, plus he won two rings there and loves catcher Martin Maldonado.
5. Cubs: Jeimer Candelario provides an offensive boost. They have the best run differential in their division and could steal it.
6. Phillies: They wanted a back-end starter and wound up with All-Star Michael Lorenzen. Who couldn’t see them making another postseason run this year?
7. Orioles: They eyed Verlander and Dylan Cease, but Jack Flaherty was a nice consolation prize.
8. Blue Jays: Reliever Jordan Hicks has a chance to make a major impact, and Paul DeJong is nice shortstop insurance even though they received good news on star Bo Bichette.
9. White Sox: Catching prospect Edgar Quero and lefty Ky Bush from the Angels for Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez is a nice return. Righty Nick Nastrini in the Lance Lynn trade is a plus, and lefty Jake Eder for Burger gets especially great reviews. They acted decisively and it paid off.
10. Diamondbacks: In a tough closer market, in which folks correctly figured Josh Hader and David Bednar would stay put, they managed to land Paul Sewald from Seattle. Tommy Pham is a nice right-handed stick, we know.
11. Padres: Selling isn’t in their DNA (though they investigated deals for Hader and Blake Snell). Added needed hitting depth to top-heavy team with Ji-Man Choi and Garrett Cooper.
12. Pirates: Picking up left-handed pitching prospect Jackson Wolf in the deal for Ji-Man Choi and Rich Hill was a coup.
13. Brewers: Carlos Santana and Mark Canha were nice adds on a budget for offense, and Andrew Chafin gives them a needed bullpen lefty.
14. Dodgers: Could have been a grand slam had they gotten Scherzer or Verlander or Eduardo Rodriguez (they tried hard), but added important innings with Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly and Ryan Yarborough.