Aug 30, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after striking out a batter against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
It's been a little more than a month since the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Teams in contention for the playoffs made their final additions on Sunday for the postseason - assuming they get there - with the Phillies adding Tim Mayza to the active roster and signing Walker Buehler to eventually be added in about 10 days.
But the deadline was a big hullaballoo. Many fans wanted the Phillies to do more. There were debates about whether or not to trade top prospects Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller and/or Andrew Painter. There was a belief, from some, that the Phillies didn't do enough.
Bottom line about the Phillies trade deadline:
They were World Series contenders before but it wasn’t “likely”
They’re WS contenders now: best starting rotation & an improved pen
But they didn’t make enough moves to be World Series “favorites.”
And that’s what’s frustrating
We'll have an actual answer to that question some time in the next five-to-nine weeks, depending on how the Phillies finish.
But a month of baseball is a good chunk of time to analyze what took place at the deadline see who has gotten the most bang for their buck.
If you don't count the Atlanta Braves, who were trading for players just to triage their depleted pitching staff, or the Los Angeles Angels, who continue to defy logic with every decision they make, there were 16 teams viewed as contenders who made trades in the two weeks leading up to the July 31 deadline.
I decided to look at those teams and rank them based on the value they have received so far.
Yes, I recognize this is fluid, and any of these players who haven't done much in the first month with their new team can suddenly ramp it up and be a difference-maker in the postseason and it is just as possible that a player who has been on a tear for the past month suddenly goes ice cold and fall off the face of the earth, or gets injured.
So, this ranking is not definitive, but it is indicative of the immediate impact these players have had on their new team.
Next to each team is their record since the deadline, the amount of fWAR the new players have been worth to their team, and the average WAR per player. Also, it should be noted that this only looks at players who were acquired via trade. Therefore, waiver claims and free agent signings are not included in the analysis.
(Note, all statistical references are through games on September 1)
So, without further ado...
16. Chicago Cubs (16-14), -0.4 fWAR, (-0.10 per player)
Added: UTIL Willi Castro, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Michael Soroka, RHP Andrew Kittredge
Verdict: The Cubs were a team that looked like an N.L. favorite before the All-Star break - especially if they could add a starting pitcher at the deadline. They didn't get that starter and none of the guys they've added have been a noticeable plus. Kittredge has been decent out of the pen, but Rogers has a 6.52 ERA since joining the Cubs, Castro has a .404 OPS, and Soroka suffered a shoulder strain two innings into his first outing with Chicago and has been on the I.L. ever since, although he threw a live batting practice on Tuesday. Nothing has worked out for the Cubs to this point, who are basically trying to hold on to home field advantage for the Wild Card Series, likely against the NL West runner-up.
15. Texas Rangers (15-15), -0.1 fWAR, (-0.03)
Added: RHP Merrill Kelly, LHP Daniel Coulombe, RHP Phil Maton
Verdict: The Rangers bet on their lineup to flip the switch after the deadline and traded for a quality starter and a pair of relievers. Of the few starters that were traded, Kelly has been the most effective so far, although Toronto will likely get more out of Shane Bieber. Still, Kelly's made six starts for Texas and has a 3.31 ERA and a 1.019 WHIP, which is pretty good. That said, his plus has far been outweighed by the flat out minuses Coulombe and Maton have been. The Rangers needed to stabilize their bullpen, not have two additions come in to combine for a 6.20 ERA and allow 17 hits, 11 walks and five homers across 20 1/3 innings. It's likely why they haven't been able to make up ground in the Wild Card race.
There’s something about watching Merrill Kelly pitch that scratches my brain the right way… pic.twitter.com/55QfKB8GeM
14. Tampa Bay Rays (14-14), 0.2 fWAR, (0.07)
Added: RHP Griffin Jax, RHP Adrian Houser, C Nick Fortes
Verdict: The Rays looked like a fun story earlier this summer. Not anymore. Jax is a strikeout machine, but when hitters make contact, they tend to do damage. Since arriving in Tampa, Jax has 15 strikeouts in 10 innings. That's the good. The bad is much worse - a 6.30 ERA, a 1.500 WHIP (15 baserunners) and three homers. Houser was added to solidify the rotation and has been below average (ERA+ of 85, which is 15% below league average). He has a 4.85 ERA in five starts. Fortes is a good defensive catcher who can't hit (.156 batting average in 20 games). To stay in the playoff race, Tampa needed to bolster. They didn't. Explains why they are still chasing the Wild Card... although they are in striking distance.
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (15-13), 0.1 fWAR, (0.05)
Added: RHP Brock Stewart, OF Alex Call
Verdict: The Dodgers have been preaching "trust us" that a good chunk of their injured pitchers will be healthy in time for October, so they didn't try to add much. Stewart put on a Dodgers jersey and promptly injured his shoulder after just four appearances. He's been on the I.L. with inflammation, had a setback in his rehab and had another injection. That's not good. Call has proven to be a good fifth outfielder and defensive replacement for the Dodgers, but his 52 plate appearances in August aren't making a difference.
12. New York Mets (12-17), 0.8 fWAR, (0.20)
Added: RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Trevor Rogers, LHP Gregory Soto, OF Cedric Mullins
Verdict: The Mets likely would have been dead last had they not swept the Phillies in New York last week. Still, they have the worst record of all contenders since the deadline and Helsley has been a disaster. In fact, the Phillies were linked to two guys the Mets got - Helsley and Mullins, and opted for Jhoan Duran and Harrison Bader instead. So far, so good for the Phillies. Helsley has a 9.58 ERA and an unconscionable 2.226 WHIP in 13 appearances for the Mets. His ERA+ is 43, meaning he's 57% worse than the league average pitcher. Mullins has been very good defensively, but he's hitting just .198 with one homer and is platooning in centerfield with Tyrone Taylor. Rogers has been OK (2.20 ERA) but he doesn't strike anyone out (4 K's in 16 1/3 innings) and Philadelphia fans know what the Soto experience is like - and Mets fans are finding the same feast or famine and a lot of traffic (1.425 WHIP).
Ya just hate to see it happen to Gregory Soto pic.twitter.com/OLO9Z0oiqP
11. Milwaukee Brewers (21-10), -0.1 fWAR, (-0.05)
Added: RHP Shelby Miller, C Danny Jansen
Verdict: The Brewers have just kept on keeping on even without adding much of anything at the deadline, which is why they get some credit for believing in what they had and not needing to change much. Miller hadn't been much of a help in his 10 outings before Monday (5.59 ERA), and then he felt something pop in his elbow on a pitch to Max Kepler. Not good for your biggest deadline addition. Jansen is a backup catcher doing backup catcher things (.206/.300/.265).
10. Boston Red Sox (18-11), 0.0 fWAR, (0.00)
Added: RHP Dustin May, LHP Steven Matz
Verdict: The Red Sox have been one of baseball's best teams since the deadline. Matz has helped, with a 1.29ERA and a 0.714 WHIP in 14 relief innings. However, his contribution has been offset by May not giving the starting rotation the jolt Boston was hoping for. He's made five starts and is 1-4 with a 5.68 ERA. He's averaging five innings a start and has given up 43 baserunners in 25 1/3 innings.
9. Toronto Blue Jays (15-13), 0.5 fWAR, (0.25)
Added: RHP Shane Bieber, RHP Seranthony Dominguez
Verdict: The Blue Jays are the team most likely to move up this list higher a month or two from now with Bieber back and pitching. He's made two decent starts (1-1, 2.38ERA in 11 1.3 innings) and most impressively has 15 strikeouts and hasn't walked anybody. If he can return to the form he was in before his injury in Cleveland, watch out. This could be the best deadline move. Dominguez is pitching like he did for the Phillies - too many walks, but still has a lot of swing and miss, too. He has a 3.55 ERA in 15 appearances. And now, there's talk of making him replace Jeff Hoffman as the closer in Toronto.
"I do think they could go to Seranthony."@YYZBackstop discusses the possibility of the Jays trying Seranthony Domínguez out at the closer role. pic.twitter.com/tg0IWqcNsG
8. Detroit Tigers (16-13), 0.8 fWAR, (0.16)
Added: RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Kyle Finnegan, RHP Codi Heuer, RHP Rafael Montero, RHP Chris Paddack, RHP Paul Sewald, RHP Randy Dobnak
Verdict: The Tigers loaded up on pitching additions at the deadline and so far they've had varying degrees of success with them. Most impressive so far has been Finnegan. The former Nationals closer and oft-mentioned target for the Phillies, has been lights out in a setup role in Detroit. He's pitched 14 1/3 innings and hasn't allowed a run. In fact, he's only given up three hits and three walks while striking out 19. He's been sensational. Morton has filled the role of No. 5 starter. He's made six starts and he's 2-2. His ERA in Detroit ballooned to 5.81 after getting torched by the Mets on Monday, but before that he was fine. Montero struggled for most of the year with Atlanta, but has been solid in Detroit. In 12 relief innings he's only allowed four hits. He is a bit wild with eight walks, but he's kept his ERA at 3.00, so he's pitched out of trouble. Paddack has struggled mightily. He made six starts for the Tigers and had a 5.40 ERA over 30 innings. He's been moved to the bullpen. Heuer had a cup of coffee with the Tigers, but he and Dobnak are in Triple-A. Sewald could be a big add for them as he's working his way back from a shoulder injury and should be available soon.
7. Houston Astros (14-15), 1.4 fWAR, (0.47)
Added: 3B/SS Carlos Correa, OF Jesus Sanchez, INF Ramon Urias
Verdict: The Astros pitching staff has been terrific. Their offense has not. They needed a jolt, and getting Correa back is a huge help. He's been good, not great (.291/.355/.400; .755 OPS) since his return, but the Astros needed more. Sanchez isn't giving it to them with an OPS+ of 95 (5% below league average). Urias is a nice part-time add though, he's facing mostly lefties and slashing .300/.344/.483 for an .827 OPS in 21 games.
6. San Diego Padres (16-13), 1.3 fWAR, (0.22)
Added: RHP Mason Miller, LHP J.P. Sears, LHP Nestor Cortes, 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn, OF Ramon Laureano, C Freddy Fermin
Verdict: Nobody was as active at the deadline as Padres G.M. A.J. Preller. He operates on a different plane than everyone else. He puts together massive trade packages to try and get as much talent as possible. The thought being, you can't miss on all of them. And so far, he's been right. Laureano has been one of the best pickups at the deadline. He has a .919 OPS in 29 games with the Padres and has more home runs (seven) than any other deadline acquisition except Mike Yastrzemski. He's also hitting .303, so it's not home run or nothing. Mason Miller has also been as advertised, even though he's not closing games. He has a 1.64 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 11 innings. O'Hearn has been OK (.755 OPS) and Cortes has made five solid starts (3.75 ERA). Fermin is a backup catcher, albeit not a very good one defensively - which is usually what you want out of that role, and Sears has made three disappointing starts (5.52 ERA). This is probably the best Padres team in Preller's time, but they haven't really hit their stride yet, and if they're in the Wild Card series, and in Chicago, it could end quickly and make all these roster machinations go to waste.
Ramon Laureano over his last 85 games:
.314 AVG
19 HR
63 RBIpic.twitter.com/Vj6JLWFUvy
5. Seattle Mariners (16-13), 1.0 fWAR, (0.33)
Added: 3B Eugenio Suarez, 1B Josh Naylor, LHP Caleb Ferguson
Verdict: The Mariners went boom or bust at the deadline and added a lot of power. Suarez and Naylor have combined for 11 homers in their month with the team. But the Mariners wanted a little more - especially from Suarez, who has a subpar .696 OPS since rejoining Seattle. Naylor has been better, but even he could give more (.724 OPS), but he's stealing bases, (12 in 33 games) which is nuts considering he's one of the slowest players in the sport. Ferguson is just a mediocre middle reliever (4.50 ERA). Still, it's what the Mariners needed, and if either one goes off, with the rest of the power in that lineup and their good pitching, this is a scary team in October - assuming they get there.
4. Cincinnati Reds (13-16), 1.9 fWAR, (0.63)
Added: RHP Zack Littell, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, UTIL Miguel Andujar
Verdict: The Reds had a very good deadline and all three players added have helped. Shame it hasn't translated to more wins for Terry Francona's bunch. Littell has made five starts and hasn't lost a game. He's only won one, which isn't ideal, but he's keeping the Reds in games he starts (3.90 ERA). Hayes has been so much better offensively in Cincy than he was in Pittsburgh (.274/.343/.453; .795 OPS) and is one of the better defensive third basemen in the game. Andujar has been bonkers at the plate. He's hitting .364 with a 1.016 OPS. Can't blame the additions for the Reds failings. They've been excellent.
3. New York Yankees (17-12), 1.4 fWAR, (0.20)
Added: RHP David Bednar, RHP Camilo Doval, RHP Jake Bird, 3B Ryan McMahon, INF Jose Caballero, OF Austin Slater, UTIL Amed Rosario
Verdict: Look, the Yankees go as Aaron Judge goes. Plain and simple, but they needed to improve defensively and fix their bullpen. They did that. McMahon is an excellent third baseman. He's not hitting, but his defense alone is a massive upgrade at the position. Caballero is better defensively than Anthony Volpe, and there's a bit of a platoon going on now. Caballero has an .808 OPS too, so he deserves his playing time. Rosario and Slater both hit the I.L. soon after arriving in New York. Bednar has been as advertised - a 2.70 ERA and a 0.975 WHIP in 13 1/3 relief innings. He's helped the bullpen a lot. Doval has not. He's been a miss so far (4.76 ERA, 1,765 WHIP in 13 appearances). Bird was torched in three appearances and optioned to the minors.
2. Kanas City Royals (16-12), 1.6 fWAR, (0.40)
Added: OF Mike Yastrzemski, OF Randall Grichuk, 2B Adam Frazier, LHP Bailey Falter
Verdict: The Royals had one of the more underrated deadlines, because they're getting a lot out of two of the four players they acquired. Yastrzemski (whom they picked up for former Phillies reliever Yunior Marte) has produced the highest fWAR of any individual player traded at the deadline (1.2). He has a .976 OPS and is tied with Laureano for most homers by a traded player since the deadline with seven. Frazier has also been a pleasant surprise for the Royals. He's hitting .307 since arriving in Kansas City. Neither Grichuk nor Falter have been a plus (Falter's been terrible with an 11.25 ERA in four appearances) but Yastrzemski and Frazier have been so good that the Royals are back in the thick of the Wild Card race in the AL.
Mike Yastrzemski has been a worthwhile pickup for the #Royals this season.
He has hit four leadoff homers since arriving in Kansas City at the MLB trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/LfHMsZmeu1
1. Philadelphia Phillies (19-11), 1.5 fWAR, (0.75)
Added: RHP Jhoan Duran, OF Harrison Bader, RHP Matt Manning
Verdict: Quality over quantity. That's how Dave Dombrowski operates as President of Baseball Operations. And so far, he's gotten the most quality out of his additions than any team. Duran has made the entire Phillies bullpen better (the arrival of David Robertson and the return of Jose Alvarado has helped too) and while Bader has been a smidge behind Laureano and Yastrzemski in productivity, his slash line of .313/.385/.488 and .872 OPS has vastly improved a well below par Phillies outfield. Manning made his organizational debut for the Phillies with Double-A Reading on Sunday. He's going to be an interesting possibility for the Phillies down the stretch as well.
Five strikeouts over two innings in Matt Manning's Reading debut! pic.twitter.com/cV1wkTROst
The Phillies also have the second-best record behind Milwaukee in the sport since the deadline. Second in record. Third in total fWAR. First in fWAR per player added. It's the best outcome of any team since the deadline. Now they just need to sustain that for two more months.
