MLB Power Rankings 2012: Where Teams Stand Following Trade Deadline

As the non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone, it would be an overstatement to say the entire landscape of Major League Baseball has changed for the remainder of 2012. 

However, you would not be wrong to say that a lot of what happened July 31—and a few days before—made some of the division races far more intriguing now than they were at the end of last week. 

Here is a look at the teams who helped themselves the most, as well as a full look at our updated power rankings after the deadline. 

Los Angeles Angels

Notable Acquisition: Zack Greinke from Milwaukee for Jean Segura, John Hellweg and Ariel Pena

The Angels made their splash on July 27, but it was unquestionably the most significant move any team made. 

Greinke is a true top-of-the-rotation starter who will make a huge difference over the final two months of the season and, in particular, a short playoff series. 

The top of the Angels' starting rotation looks a lot more formidable now, with Greinke, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson leading the charge. If they can get Dan Haren back to his old self, they will be very scary in a short series. 

Of course, they have to get to the postseason first. Given the problems the Rangers have in the rotation—even with the addition of regression candidate Ryan Dempster—the Angels could easily end up winning the American League West, which is what they acquired Greinke to help them do. 

San Francisco Giants

Notable Acquisition: Hunter Pence from Philadelphia for Tommy Joseph, Nate Schierholtz and Seth Rosin

Pence is going to get a lot more attention because of his name than anything else. The Giants did need to make an upgrade to their offense, which is something we say every year at this time, but I am not sure how much better they will be. 

His numbers in 2011 (.314/.370/.502) were inflated thanks to an unsustainable .361 batting average on balls in play. He has good power, though it was elevated by playing in smaller parks like Citizens Bank and Minute Maid. 

Moving to San Francisco is going to eat away some of his home run power. Plus, the fact that Pence is a poor defender moving to a place with a big outfield is going to further decrease his value. 

I am obviously not that high on the move, though I do think it will help them enough to fight the Dodgers off in the National League West. 

Pittsburgh Pirates

Notable Acquisitions: Travis Snider from Toronto for Brad Lincoln; Gaby Sanchez and Kyle Kaminska from Miami for Gorkys Hernandez and a draft pick

Despite not making a move for one major impact player, I like what the Pirates did a lot more this year than when they acquired Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick. 

Snider seemed to fall out of favor in Toronto, as the Blue Jays promoted Anthony Gose ahead of him when Jose Bautista was placed on the disabled list, even though Snider was hitting .335/.423/.598 in Triple A. (To be fair, Las Vegas and the PCL are very hitter-friendly.)

At just 24 years old, Snider still has some of the upside that made him one of the better prospects in the Blue Jays' farm system. He has good power when he makes contact, which has been a problem in the 243 big league games he has played—251 strikeouts in 839 at-bats. 

Sanchez was a very good buy-low first baseman for the Pirates to go after. He has a good track record of producing at Triple A, including a .302/.431/.491 line in 34 games this year. The Marlins gave up on him after he hit .202/.250/.306 in 55 games this season. 

The Pirates took a chance on two young, controllable players who still have some upside attached to them. That is exactly the approach they needed to take based on where they are right now. 

I won't call them a playoff lock, but they should break that streak of 19 straight losing seasons. 

MLB POWER RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF JULY 30
1. New York Yankees
2. Texas Rangers
3. Washington Nationals
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Atlanta Braves
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
7. Los Angeles Angels
8. San Francisco Giants
9. Chicago White Sox
10. Detroit Tigers
11. Tampa Bay Rays
12. Oakland A's
13. St. Louis Cardinals
14. Los Angeles Dodgers
15. Baltimore Orioles
16. Arizona Diamondbacks
17. Toronto Blue Jays
18. Boston Red Sox
19. New York Mets
20. Cleveland Indians
21. Miami Marlins
22. Seattle Mariners
23. Minnesota Twins
24. Philadelphia Phillies
25. Milwaukee Brewers
26. San Diego Padres
27. Chicago Cubs
28. Kansas City Royals
29. Houston Astros
30. Colorado Rockies

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