Chicago Cubs and 5 MLB Teams Already Regretting Their Trade Deadline Moves
It's only been two weeks since the July 31 trade deadline, so it's important not to jump to too many conclusions based on such a short period of time.
At the same time, you can pretty quickly see the impact major additions—such as Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies or Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners—have on their new clubs.
On the flip side of that, there can sometimes be a lull from teams who didn't make a big trade. Also, some additions get out of the gates slowly. In other cases, it becomes clear in a hurry that some teams should have just sold, rather than deluding themselves into thinking they were still in the playoff race.
With all that acknowledged, here are five teams that already regret—or at least should regret—how they acted around the trade deadline.
Chicago Cubs
1 of 5
In fairness to the Cubs, things might look worse than they are for them right now because the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers have opened up a rather large lead in the NL Central based on an unconscious start to August.
But while the Cubs are still at the top of the NL wild-card race, the additions president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made before the trade deadline felt underwhelming for a team with World Series aspirations, and nothing that's happened since has changed that perception.
They seemed like a team that needed another starter capable of taking the ball in a postseason game. Instead, they traded for RHP Michael Soroka, who landed on the injured list with a strained shoulder after pitching just two frames for them.
In the bullpen, Taylor Rogers has been a nice addition, but Andrew Kittredge has a 10.80 ERA in his first four appearances with the Cubs.
Perhaps even more concerning is that Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting .215 with a .668 OPS since the All-Star break, while Kyle Tucker is batting .212 with a .669 OPS.
It's unclear if PCA and/or Tucker would be performing better if the Cubs had made a major trade or two, but they haven't gotten the post-trade deadline jolt some teams have, and it leaves you to wonder whether they are truly a World Series contender.
Tampa Bay Rays
2 of 5
On one hand, it's nice to see a team that doesn't spend a ton of money buy when they're on the outside looking in postseason-wise.
On the other hand, the fact that the Rays currently have a 5.1 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to Baseball Reference, makes you wonder about the wisdom of how president of baseball operations Erik Neander operated before July 31.
Reliever Griffin Jax has allowed four earned runs in his first five appearances with the Rays. He's not a rental, as he's under control through the 2027 season and has a history that suggests he'll get back on track in the bullpen.
Heck, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune noted "some Twins players suspect the Rays will try to convert Jax to a starter this offseason." This move could work out well for the Rays in the long run.
But they gave up a controllable arm in Taj Bradley for Jax, and it's entirely possible they'll flip him again before he reaches free agency after the 2027 season. So, nothing against Jax, but the Rays still feel like a bit of a peculiar fit for him considering they'll likely be at home in October.
Elsewhere, closer Pete Fairbanks, first baseman Yandy Díaz and second baseman Brandon Lowe are pieces the Rays held onto that they could have gotten nice returns for if they had sold them.
Los Angeles Angels
3 of 5
The Angels are currently six games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League, and three teams that are on the outside looking in are above them. They also have a minus-66 run differential.
Obviously, the Halos want to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2014. They want to post their first winning record since 2015. And that's probably why general manager Perry Minasian—likely at the urging of owner Arte Moreno—didn't sell before the trade deadline.
But sometimes you have to be honest with yourself, and while the Angels have plenty of thump in their lineup, they don't have close to enough pitching—starting or relieving—to make the postseason. The modest additions of Luis García and Andrew Chafin to the bullpen probably won't even be enough for L.A. to finish with a winning record.
As much as it would have been a tough pill to swallow, the best long-term move for the Angels would have been to take advantage of what was a weak market for outfielders and trade Taylor Ward, who is having a career year with 28 home runs and 89 RBI. He could still be traded in the winter, but the 31-year-old will be entering a contract year, so his value won't be as high.
There's also a case to be made that the Angels should have sold high on Jo Adell.
The former first-round pick is still only 26 and has three years of arbitration eligibility remaining, but he finally appeared to be turning the corner, and a team or two at least probably would have paid a premium for his upside and controllability in such a limited outfield market.
But the Angels held onto Adell, and after he hit .243 with an .800 OPS in the first half, he's gone ice-cold with a .178 batting average and .624 OPS since the All-Star break.
Perhaps the Angels will still go on a run, but that seems unlikely, and missing the playoffs was pretty predictable at the trade deadline.
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Detroit Tigers
4 of 5
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris pushed back against the idea of the team having a limited window to win a World Series after the trade deadline, calling it an "illusion."
But Tarik Skubal won last year's AL Cy Young Award, and is currently the favorite to repeat. He can become a free agent after 2026, and it's unclear if the Tigers will retain him. Even if they do, it's not guaranteed that he will be as dominant (and healthy) as he's been since July 2023, when he emerged as baseball's best pitcher.
So, while a relatively young Tigers team might seem to be World Series contenders for years to come, this felt like a year to pounce, particularly considering how weak the AL is compared to the NL.
To the credit of the Tigers, they did acquire reliever Kyle Finnegan from the Washington Nationals, and he's converted on all three of his first save opportunities. He was a more modest addition when compared to some of the relievers dealt at this deadline, but so far has pitched well for the Tigers. And in Detroit's defense, the division-rival Twins probably wouldn't have been inclined to trade Duran or Jax to them.
But since an improbable All-Star Game appearance, Javier Báez is hitting .222 with a .556 OPS. Zach McKinstry has provided offensive value, but defensive metrics suggest he's more valuable at a position other than third base. This was a team that could have used another right-handed bat in the infield, ideally a veteran to go with what is still a very young team. A reunion with Eugenio Suárez made a ton of sense, but didn't ultimately come to fruition. (To be fair, Suárez has struggled since getting traded back to the Seattle Mariners.)
Detroit did add a veteran to its starting rotation in the form of Charlie Morton. However, the 41-year-old has a 6.10 ERA across his first two starts after reuniting with manager A.J. Hinch.
Chris Paddack was also added to the rotation, and he has a 3.45 ERA in three games with the Tigers. However, his 4.64 FIP over that period is a red flag.
Detroit will likely win the AL Central, but not making a major move or two might be the difference in winning a playoff series or three in October.
Atlanta Braves
5 of 5
It's been a nightmarish season for the Braves, a team that looked like a World Series contender coming into the season and instead finds itself in fourth place in the NL East, behind even the Miami Marlins.
The Braves mostly stood pat at the trade deadline, which was a confusing strategy from president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. No one was suggesting they trade Ronald Acuña Jr. or Chris Sale. Even Ozzie Albies is more of an offseason change-of-scenery candidate.
But why did the Braves hold onto Marcell Ozuna? He's in a walk year and 34 years old. Unless they intend to re-sign the DH in the offseason, he seems like someone who could have helped a contending team, particularly without a ton of power bats available.
Ozuna could have blocked any trade because he has 10-and-5 rights, but considering his playing time was scaled back in mid-July, it's hard to think the three-time All-Star wouldn't have welcomed a trade.
In any event, he has rebounded from a disappointing first half that saw him post a .762 OPS, and now has a .963 OPS since the All-Star break. That it's coming for a team with no shot at the playoffs in a contract year feels like a waste.
Raisel Iglesias and Aaron Bummer have both underwhelmed this season, but they seem like two more pieces that a team with no path to the postseason probably should have moved.
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