Minnesota Twins Embrace Their Buyer Status At MLB Trading Deadline

The August 2 MLB trading deadline has come and gone, and it was one of the craziest ever. The Juan Soto deal between the Nationals and Padres is the obvious headliner – he may be the biggest, youngest star EVER dealt at the deadline

The net is are full of trade deadline review articles these days, and most seem to identify the “winners” as the clubs who picked up the biggest names, and the “losers” as the ones who dealt them. It’s not that simple.

This week, I’m taking a look at all 30 clubs’ deadline efforts through a somewhat different lens. Let’s split up the buyers, sellers and do-little-to-nothings and rank them within those groups. As we’ll see, it’s possible to buy or sell well……and even possible to do both at the same time. Today, we explore the American League. Yesterday, it was the NL.

BUYERS

BIG IMPROVEMENTS WHILE PROTECTING THE FARM: The Minnesota Twins added the 2nd-best starter dealt by the Cincinnati Reds in Tyler Mahle, but they accomplished that and greatly enhanced their pen with the additions of Jorge Lopez (from the Orioles) and Michael Fulmer (from the Tigers) while keeping the top of their farm intact. They moved some quantity to do so, with the best prospects dealt (infielders Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand and pitcher Steve Hajjar) going to Cincy in the Mahle deal.

QUIET, STRATEGIC UPGRADES: The Houston Astros were never in on the deadline’s big names, but they quietly upgraded their already very strong club. They moved CF Jose Siri, betting that his gaudy fielding metrics would be overrated by the market, lengthening their lineup by acquiring Trey Mancini from the Orioles in a three-team deal that also involved the Rays. They also upgraded the catching position by acquiring Christian Vazquez from the Red Sox, though IF Emmanuel Valdez, an emerging bat, was lost in that deal. They also made a challenge trade with the Braves, sending starter Jake Odorizzi to Atlanta for lefty short reliever Will Smith.

BIG IMPROVEMENTS, BUT MOVING THE FARM: Yes, the Seattle Mariners did well to bring ace starter Luis Castillo over from Cincinnati, but they paid heavily to do so. One can argue that they gave up almost as much as the San Diego Padres did for Juan Soto. Shortstops Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo were the prime chips yielded, and pitching prospects Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore were valuable as well. The club also added around the edges, bringing backup catcher Curt Casali, infielder Jake Lamb and pitching reclamation project Matthew Boyd aboard.

LOTS OF MOVING PARTS, BUT HOW MUCH OF AN UPGRADE?: The New York Yankees started their work early, bringing LF Andrew Benintendi aboard from Kansas City for reasonable prospect cost well in advance of the deadline. He essentially takes Joey Gallo’s spot, as he was sent to the Dodgers for solid pitching prospect Clayton Beeter. Their big deadline day move was for Athletics’ starter Frankie Montas, and while the cost wasn’t prohibitive (starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk was the best of four prospects moved), one can argue that the A’s righty is little or no better than southpaw Jordan Montgomery, moved to the Cards for defense-first CF Harrison Bader. Relievers Lou Trivino (from the A’s) and Scott Effross (from the Cubs) fortify the pen.

DOING IT THEIR WAY: The Tampa Bay Rays added a couple of interesting names to their outfield mix. David Peralta (from the Diamondbacks) brings some pop, while Jose Siri (from the Astros) brings his glove. Fan favorite Brett Phillips and righty pitching prospect Seth Johnson were the most interesting players moved; both are now Orioles.

BIT OF A LETDOWN: The Toronto Blue Jays were rumored to be in on a number of the deadline’s bigger fish, but when the bell rang Royals’ IF/OF Whit Merrifield, struggling through a subpar season, was the name acquisition. They did fill in around the edges of their pitching staff by adding Mitchell White (from the Dodgers) to the rotation and Anthony Bass and Zach Pop (from the Marlins) to the pen. IF Alex DeJesus is an interesting bat added from the Dodgers, while IF Jordan Groshans was dispatched to Miami.

BUYING AND SELLING

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE: Are they contenders or not? The Boston Red Sox moved C Christian Vazquez to the Astros, a clear seller’s move, but in the next breath added veterans Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer to the lineup. Now, they did take Hosmer on at the league minimum salary, and he does represent an upgrade from the flotsam they’ve been running out there at 1B, so it’s a defensible move. IF Valdez, over from the Astros in the Vazquez deal, is the most interesting prospect acquired.

DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

I MEAN ACTUALLY NOTHING: The Cleveland Guardians are somehow squarely in the postseason mix, but did zilch to help their cause at the deadline. They did move C Sandy Leon to the Twins for reliever Ian Hamilton in a minor league deal.

HE’S CHICAGO’S PROBLEM NOW: Newly acquired Chicago White Sox’ reliever Jake Diekman has good stuff, but watching him pitch can be torture. He changed his Sox from Red to White, with C Reese McGuire headed to Boston in return.

SELLERS

TRYING TO TURN THE PAGE: The Los Angeles Angels subtracted multiple pieces from their disappointing squad, sending Noah Syndergaard and Brandon Marsh to the Phillies in two separate deals and closer Raisel Iglesias to the Braves. They cut some salary (a bunch in Iglesias’ case) and added a couple interesting pieces in C Logan O’Hoppe (from the Phils) and starting pitcher Tucker Davidson (from the Braves). Honestly, someone has to sit atop this disappointing sellers’ list.

NOTHING LEFT TO SELL: With the trade of Montas and Trivino to the Yankees’, the Oakland Athletics’ cupboard is officially bare. They got a respectable return in the deal, with starters Waldichuk and JP Sears both likely to get near-term looks in the Oakland rotation.

QUANTITY OVER QUALITY: The Kansas City Royals moved both Benintendi (to the Yankees) and Merrifield (to the Blue Jays) for multi-prospect packages, with pitcher Beck Way and infield Samad Taylor the most interesting players received in return.

SELLING DESPITE THE STANDINGS: The Baltimore Orioles would seem to be at least on the fringes of the AL Wild Card race, but that didn’t stop their braintrust from moving Mancini (to Houston) and Lopez (to Minnesota) at the deadline. The returns were mainly quantity over quality, though pitcher Seth Johnson could turn out to be a gem.

ONE MINOR SALE: The Texas Rangers weren’t particularly active at the break, sending reliever Matt Bush to the Brewers for a pair of fringe prospects, infielder Mark Mathias and lefty pitcher Antoine Kelly.

TWO MINOR SALES: The Detroit Tigers made two minor moves at the break, sending OF Robbie Grossman to the Braves for lefty pitcher Kris Anglin, and reliever Michael Fulmer to the Twins for righty pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long.