It has been a week since the MLB trade deadline, and the playoff race is heating up. Several teams made huge strides showing they are all in for this year’s playoff race, while others were forced to sell and gear up for the future.
Here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from this year’s deadline.
Winners
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays showed they mean business this offseason when they acquired Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin, but they have shown they are thinking the big picture with trading for David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the deadline.
Toronto enters a big weekend series with the first place New York Yankees, but can gain some ground as they are only four games back. In the Wild Card race, the Jays hold the second place spot with a game and a half lead.
They needed an ace in their rotation and got just that in Price. He is a veteran in the league with much postseason experience that he can bring to this roster. In his first start with the Jays, Price went eight innings allowing three hits, one earned run, all while striking out 11.
Tulowitzki is a huge addition to an already intimidating lineup. Not to mention he puts on a stellar defensive show, and the Jays now have Donaldson and Tulo occupying the left side of the infield; pretty impressive. In nine games with the Jays, Tulo has 10 hits, two homeruns and five RBI.
The Jays also added Mark Lowe, LaTroy Hawkins, and Ben Revere.
Toronto is the biggest winner of the trade deadline, as they have loaded up on talent. Their lineup is one of the best in the league, they added an experienced ace, and they have their eyes set on a serious playoff run. Although they aren’t in first place, if the season were to end today they would be in the playoffs, and they have plenty of time to catch up to the Yankees as they have already gained ground since the deadline.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals look to repeat as the American League champs in 2015. They already lead the AL Central by nine and a half games, but went out and made a few top acquisitions before the deadline; Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds and Ben Zobrist from the Oakland A’s.
Cueto has made two starts for the Royals. In 13 innings, he has allowed five earned runs, and struck out nine. Cueto is one of the top pitchers in the league, and is a great asset for this team’s playoff run.
The Royals also acquired utility man Zobrist, who can play either in the infield or the outfield. Zobrist also has some pop at the plate and is a solid offensive acquisition. In seven games with the Royals, he has already hit three homeruns.
KC set out to prove that 2014 wasn’t a fluke and they continue to do just that. They are dominating a disappointing AL Central division, but are loading up for October with World Series hopes.
Houston Astros
The Astros are one of baseball’s biggest surprises this season. They lead the AL West by two and a half games with sights set on October baseball. Houston made the first splash at the trade deadline by acquiring Scott Kazmir from the Oakland A’s. The former All Star is a great addition to an already impressive rotation.
Kazmir and Dallas Keuchel will make for a great one-two punch as the season winds down. Not to mention they are both in the top three when it comes to ERA leaders.
Kazmir has started three games for the Astros, and has allowed only one earned run and struck out 11.
The Astros also added Carlos Gomez, who is a solid outfield addition with some pop at the plate.
The AL West looks to be a two team race as the season winds down between the Astros and the Angels. The ‘stros currently lead the division, and have made some solid moves to put them in a position to finish out the season on top. They have an impressive rotation led by Kazmir and Keuchel for if and when they reach the postseason.
Losers
New York Yankees
The Yankees lead the AL East, but the Blue Jays are right on their heels and made some serious moves to better their roster for October baseball. The Yankees have surprised this year, with the impressive play of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira; their offense is carrying the starting pitching, the bullpen is lights out with Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, but the rotation could have used reinforcements.
CC Sabathia is struggling this year, they placed Michael Pineda on the disabled list, and their ace is Masahiro Tanaka who has a history of injury.
Many expected them to make a run for Cueto, Price, or Cole Hamels, but they weren’t willing to give up too much, so they stood pat.
Their biggest acquisition was Dustin Ackley, who has already been placed on the disabled list.
The Yankees could have greatly improved their rotation by adding an ace, but were unable to do so at the deadline. With the way the AL East is shaping up, and with the Blue Jays recent additions, this is set to be an interesting last two months of the season.
San Diego Padres
The Padres brought in a lot of players this offseason with hopes of making the playoffs; so far it hasn’t worked in their favor.
They are currently 10 and a half games out of the NL West and eight and a half games behind in the Wild Card race.
Several teams showed interest in players like Justin Upton, Tyson Ross, and Andrew Cashner, but the Padres have decided to keep their roster in tact with continued hopes of a playoff push.
It has been a disappointing season for the Padres, and rather than trade some players who may not return next year, like Upton, to further build for the future, they continue to have interest in this season which is quickly winding down.