MLB Trade Deadline 2026 Live Grades and Reaction for Every Move
The biggest move of the 2026 MLB trade deadline happened on Saturday when the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.
It was up to the other 29 teams to respond accordingly.
With the Skubal domino tipped, things moved fast on deadline day as multiple clubs traded for secondary options to upgrade their starting rotations. The market for bats was significantly thinner, but not without a few notable names on the move.
Here are the live grades and reactions for every notable trade that went down around the trade deadline.
Padres Acquire Casey Mize from Tigers
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To SD: SP Casey Mize, IF Gage Workman
The Robbie Ray trade earlier in the day certainly looks better accompanied by a secondary move for Casey Mize, as the Padres suddenly have a formidable rotation with that tandem joining Michael King at the top.
It has been a career year by all accounts for Mize, as his 2.70 ERA is backed by an even better 2.58 FIP, and he is trending toward a nice payday in free agency this winter. For now, he slots cleanly into San Diego's potential playoff rotation, but it came at a steep price.
Grade: B-
To DET: SP Kash Mayfield (No. 87 on B/R Top 100), SP Jackson Wolf
The No. 25 overall pick in the 2024 draft and the only other Padres prospect on the B/R Top 100 list outside of catcher Ethan Salas, left-hander Kash Mayfield is an extremely steep price for a rental starter.
The 21-year-old has a 3.54 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 62 strikeouts in 53.1 innings at High-A, and he immediately becomes the top pitching prospect in the Tigers system. Mize was a qualifying offer candidate, so it took a prospect of this level for a trade to make sense, and the Tigers found their buyer.
Grade: A
Diamondbacks Acquire Lars Nootbaar from Cardinals
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To ARI: OF Lars Nootbaar
The Diamondbacks outfield has been a revolving door alongside Corbin Carroll this season, and Lars Nootbaar provides an immediate upgrade and additional value with one year of club control remaining.
After missing time early recovering from heel surgery, Nootbaar is hitting a modest .234/.333/.354 in 183 plate appearances. His 108 OPS+ over six seasons and ability to play all three outfield spots gives him a high floor, but it's fair to wonder how much upside he offers.
Grade: B-
To STL: SP Daniel Eagen, RP Sandro Santana, PTBNL
Right-hander Daniel Eagen was the No. 9 prospect on Arizona's top 10 list in B/R's latest update, and with a 6'4" frame and three quality offerings he has a chance to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter with improved command.
Lefty Sandro Santana has a .188 opponents' batting average and 70 strikeouts in 46.1 innings between High-A and Double-A. His slider is a true top-of-the-scale pitch, giving him potential closer upside.
Grade: A
Guardians Acquire Nathaniel Lowe from Reds
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To CLE: 1B Nathaniel Lowe
The Guardians rank near the bottom of the league in batting average (.203, 30th), OPS (.681, 27th) and RBI (51, 26th) by their first basemen this season, so it was an obvious area to upgrade.
Signed to a minor league deal during the offseason, Nathaniel Lowe has a 122 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 37 RBI in 276 plate appearances this season. The former Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner is playing on a one-year, $1.75 million deal.
Grade: A
To CIN: SP Alejandro Rivera
With a 3.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and strong 70-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio, Alejandro Rivera is an intriguing low-level pitching prospect who just recently made his Single-A debut at the age of 19.
Lowe was more or less a freebie off the scrapheap, so turning him into anything was a win for the Reds.
Grade: B
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Twins Acquire Jeff Hoffman from Blue Jays
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To MIN: RP Jeff Hoffman
In the second season of a three-year, $33 million deal, Jeff Hoffman had an up-and-down tenure in Toronto. He tallied 33 saves last season despite a 4.37 ERA, and this year lost the closer's job to Louie Varland before returning to pitching at a high level in a setup role.
He will likely plug into the closer's role for Minnesota, who emerged as a surprise buyer a year after their deadline fire sale. Tommy Nance and A.J. Minter were also added to the relief corps in July.
Grade: B
To TOR: SP Dasan Hill, RP John Klein, 2B Dameury Pena
Left-hander Dasan Hill was trending toward Top 100 prospect lists in his pro debut last season, bumping 99 mph with his fastball while posting a 3.19 ERA, .199 opponents' batting average and 83 strikeouts in 62 innings.
His command has taken a step backward this year at the High-A level, where he has issued 37 walks in 45 innings, but he is still only 20 years with considerable arm talent. An intriguing roll of the dice for the Blue Jays.
John Klein is a big league ready reliever, while Dameury Pena is hitting .300/.373/.362 between Single-A and High-A with a limited defensive profile.
Grade: B+
Pirates Acquire Kirby Yates, Lake Bachar in Deadline Buzzer Beaters
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To PIT: RP Kirby Yates (via LAA), RP Lake Bachar (via MIA)
Kirby Yates (31 G, 3.95 ERA, 11.9 K/9) and Lake Bachar (38 G, 3.84 ERA, 9.4 K/9) both represent solid additions to a Pirates relief corps that comes out the trade deadline with a completely different look.
Yates is an experienced late-inning option, albeit less overpowering two years ago, while Bachar has put together three straight solid seasons and is controllable through 2030.
Grade: B
To LAA: SP Kyle Robinson
To MIA: RP Brandan Bidois, OF Brian Sanchez, SS Hyung Seung Lee
Yates was a rental and Bachar was a low-leverage arm in Miami, so the returns were not going to be earth-shattering for either team.
Outfielder Brian Sanchez was part of the deal that sent David Bednar to the Yankees last summer, and he is best prospect in the package.
Grade: C
Guardians Acquire Foster Griffin from Nationals
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To CLE: SP Foster Griffin
An absolute fleecing by the Guardians to acquire a pitcher who will slot in behind Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee in the starting rotation.
In his return from a stint in Japan, Foster Griffin has posted a 3.06 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 129.1 innings. He relies more on soft contact than overpowering stuff, but still has 116 punchouts and a respectable 4.09 FIP backing his ERA.
Grade: A
To WAS: SP Josh Hartle, OF Nick Mitchell, RP Kendeglys Virguez, RP Will Dion
None of these prospects cracked the top 30 in Baseball America's latest update to Cleveland's organizational top prospect list following the 2026 MLB draft.
The best of the bunch is Josh Hartle, who has a 3.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 93.1 innings at Double-A, and his ceiling is a back-end starter.
A wholly uninspiring return for an All-Star, even if he is a rental, and the Nationals might have been better off just holding him and trying to win a few more games
Grade: F
Brewers Acquire Antonio Senzatela from Rockies
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To MIL: RP Antonio Senzatela
After struggling to a 6.65 ERA in 130 innings of work in 2025, Antonio Senzatela looked like a sunk cost for the Rockies heading into the final season of his five-year, $50.5 million contract.
Instead, he is enjoying a career renaissance in the bullpen, posting a 3.61 ERA in 34 appearances while enjoying a nice uptick in velocity working in shorter stints. His fastball has averaged 97.3 mph, up from 95.0 mph a year ago.
Grade: B+
To COL: RP Mark Manfredi, SS Juan Martinez
With a 3.35 ERA and 13.4 K/9 in 34 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this year, Mark Manfredi is a high-floor lefty reliever who should be able to help out in Colorado in the near future.
Juan Martinez broke through during a second run in the Dominican Summer League last year and hit well in rookie ball to start the season before earning a bump up to Single-A. He's a low-level flier.
Grade: C
Yankees Acquire Heliot Ramos from Giants
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To NYY: OF Heliot Ramos
Heliot Ramos became the first homegrown Giants outfielder since Chili Davis to earn an All-Star selection during a breakout 2024 season, and followed it up with a second straight 20-homer campaign last year.
Getting away from pitcher-friendly Oracle Park could help unlock a bit more of his power, though his 104 OPS+ and nine home runs in 306 plate appearances this year represent a step backward in that department.
In a lot of ways, he represents the best-case scenario for what Jasson Domínguez might now turn into as a defensively-limited power threat with middling on-base skills.
Grade: B
To SF: SP Henry Lalane, SS Kaeden Kent
A towering 6'7" lefty who turned heads in the lower levels of the minors before missing most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons to injury, Henry Lalane has returned strong with a 2.77 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 78 innings this year to reclaim his top prospect status.
Pairing him with Kaeden Kent, who is the son of Hall of Famer Jeff Kent, makes this one of the better prospect hauls of the deadline. Kent, 22, is hitting .302/.359/.433 in 76 games at High-A, and his advanced hit tool gives him a high floor.
Grade: A-
Astros, Blue Jays Swap Daulton Varsho, Spencer Arrighetti
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To HOU: OF Daulton Varsho
After posting a 120 OPS+ with 20 home runs in only 71 games last year, Daulton Varsho has not had the same offensive impact in a contract year.
While he remains a standout defensive center fielder and gives the Astros the left-handed bat they have been seeking, he is hitting just .243/.307/.375 for an 86 OPS+ with seven home runs in 365 plate appearances.
A two-month rental at that level of production for a rotation piece with three years of control remaining looks like a massive overpay.
Grade: C-
To TOR: SP Spencer Arrighetti
Spencer Arrighetti has spent parts of the last three seasons in the Astros rotation, logging a 4.66 ERA with 289 strikeouts in 268.1 innings.
He still needs to take a step forward with his command, but he has the stuff to be a big league starter and has shown flashes of putting it together in the past. All things considered, a great buy-low for the Blue Jays in exchange for a departing free agent who was not going to get a qualifying offer.
Grade: A
Red Sox, Giants Swap Marcelo Mayer, Erik Miller
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To BOS: RP Erik Miller
Working on a 13-inning scoreless streak while working in a high-leverage role, Erik Miller has four saves and 10 holds in 38 appearances while logging a 2.76 ERA and 12.4 K/9 on the year.
He does a great job limiting hard contact and has generated a 54.3 percent whiff rate with his slider. A step forward with his command could be enough to make him an elite-level reliever, and he is controllable through 2029.
Grade: B+
To SF: IF Marcelo Mayer
Ignoring for a moment his top prospect pedigree, Marcelo Mayer has done little to date to suggest he is a future impact player.
In 364 career plate appearances in the big leagues, he has hit .223/.278/.346 for a 76 OPS+, and this year he has some of the worst batted-ball metrics of any hitter in baseball.
He is still only 23 years old, but there's a reason the Red Sox were willing to part with him for a controllable bullpen arm, and in this market Miller might have been able to fetch an even better return.
Grade: C+
Rays Acquire Tyler Wells from Orioles
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To TB: RP Tyler Wells
Tyler Wells started 43 games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons for the Orioles, but battled injuries in the two years that followed before shifting to the bullpen this year.
The new role has suited him perfectly, with a 2.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11 holds in 43 appearances, and his experience as a starter makes him more than just a three-out option. He will be arbitration-eligible for one more year in 2027.
Grade: B
To BAL: SP Michael Forret
The Orioles traded Michael Forret to the Rays in December as part of the package to acquire Shane Baz, so this reunites him with the only organization he had called home prior to this year.
With a 3.29 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 93 innings in the upper levels of the minors, he was one of the better arms in a deep Tampa Bay system. He has yet to eclipse 100 innings in a pro season, but he's only 22 and the tools are there for him to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter.
Grade: B+
Cubs Acquire Clay Holmes, Tyrone Taylor from Mets
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To CHC: SP Clay Holmes, OF Tyrone Taylor
After a successful reliever-turned-closer transition after joining the Mets in 2025, Clay Holmes was off to an even better start this year with a 2.39 ERA in 52.2 innings before he suffered a broken right fibula on a comebacker.
With three rehab starts in the books, he is close to returning, and the Cubs are betting on a return to form as they look to shore up their playoff rotation. Holmes has a $12 million player option for next season that's worth monitoring.
With a 116 OPS+ and 10 home runs, Tyrone Taylor will be a useful bench piece and right-handed hitting complement to Michael Conforto. There's a lot riding on a return to form by Holmes for this trade to not be a significant mistake.
Grade: B-
To NYM: SS Jefferson Rojas
A Top 100 prospect on some lists and a consensus top-three prospect in the Cubs organization, Jefferson Rojas is a 21-year-old shortstop currently starring at the Double-A level.
After holding his own for multiple seasons against older competition, he has finally broken through this year with a .270/.339/.461 line and 15 home runs, and he should fit somewhere on the left side of the infield. For what amounted to two rental pieces, this is a phenomenal return for the Mets.
Grade: A
Cubs Acquire Ryan Zeferjahn from Angels
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To CHC: RP Ryan Zeferjahn
Ryan Zeferjahn has struck out 30.6 percent of the batters he has faced since the start of the 2025 season, good for a top-25 mark among all relievers during that stretch. The accompanying 14.0 percent walk rate is less-than-ideal, but the swing-and-miss stuff is obvious.
He has limited opposing hitters to a .165 batting average this year, and his electric stuff coupled with club control through the 2030 season make him a significant addition to the Cubs relief corps.
Grade: B+
To LAA: C Moisés Ballesteros, RHP Mason McGwire
The Cubs primary designated hitter to open the year, Moises Ballesteros got off to a hot start before struggling to the point of being demoted to Triple-A, and he has hit a lackluster .235/.347/.353 in 145 plate appearances since he was sent down.
That said, he is not far removed from being a consensus Top 100 prospect, and he does not turn 23 years old until November. Even if he ends up being a DH-only player, the offensive upside is enough to make this a great buy-low move for the Angels.
Mason McGwire is the son of legendary slugger Mark McGwire, and he has returned strong this year from an elbow injury with a 3.64 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. With improving command, he looks like a potential back-end starter.
Grade: A
Brewers Acquire Dustin May, JoJo Romero from Cardinals
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To MIL: SP Dustin May, RP JoJo Romero
With eight hits and one earned run allowed in 11 innings over his last two starts, Dustin May is throwing the ball extremely well right now. He has the upside to be a playoff starter for the Brewers, and came at a fraction of the price of Tarik Skubal for an organization that values its prospect pipeline highly.
JoJo Romero now joins Aaron Ashby as the top lefty options in the Milwaukee bullpen, giving the NL Central leaders another late-inning weapon in October.
Grade: A
To STL: OF Alexander Frias, OF Josiah Ragsdale
This is a fantastic return for the Cardinals for a pair of rental arms, and it's not out of the question to think both guys could be part of their top 10 prospect list to begin the 2027 season.
Alexander Frias hit .441/.518/.678 over 32 games in rookie ball to force his way up the ladder to Single-A as an 18-year-old, while Josiah Ragsdale has already reached Double-A and has a 1.022 OPS with 42 extra-base hits and 31 steals in his first full professional season.
Grade: A+
Cubs Acquire Braxton Garrett from Marlins
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To CHC: SP Braxton Garrett
After a since-rebuffed report that the Cubs had acquired Reid Detmers from the Angels, it's hard not to look at this as a disappointing pivot to land the controllable lefty starter they wanted.
A former top-10 pick who had a career year in 2023, Braxton Garrett has a 6.31 ERA in 41.1 innings in the majors over the last three seasons. He has spent the bulk of this year at Triple-A, where he has a 2.90 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 77.1 innings.
He is controllable through 2028, but is he actually an upgrade?
Grade: D
To MIA: 1B Jonathon Long, SP Jace Beck
Not a bad return for selling extremely low on Garrett, especially if the reliever-turned-starter transition continues to go well for Jace Beck.
The 6'9" right-hander has a 3.62 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 74.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this year, and he has 55 punchouts in 33 innings since moving into the rotation in mid-June.
Jonathon Long is a contact-over-power first baseman who has been extremely productive in the minors. With an .818 OPS, 30 doubles and 12 home runs in 99 games at Triple-A, he could see the big leagues later this year.
Grade: B+
Pirates Acquire Luke Weaver from Mets
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To PIT: RP Luke Weaver
The Pirates could have called it a day after adding Camilo Doval in a trade with the Yankees over the weekend, but instead they get one of the top relievers on the market to further bolster their bullpen.
With a 1.84 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 9.2 K/9 in 42 appearances, and experience in the ninth inning, there's a good chance Weaver will slot into the closer's role for Pittsburgh. He is also controllable for another year with a $12.5 million salary for 2027.
Grade: A+
To NYM: SS Sammy Stafura
Originally drafted by the Reds, shortstop Sammy Stafura is on the move at the trade deadline for the second year in a row after he was traded to Pittsburgh in the Ke'Bryan Hayes deal.
The 2023 second-round pick is hitting .301/.365/.656 with 19 home runs and 16 steals in 47 games at High-A this season, and this is a great example of the Mets aiming for quality over quantity with their most valuable bullpen trade chip.
Grade: A
Red Sox Acquire Adley Rutschman from Orioles
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To BOS: C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers
The cornerstone player of Baltimore's rebuilding efforts after going No. 1 overall in the 2019 draft, Adley Rutschman wraps up his Orioles tenure with three All-Star selections and 16.6 WAR over five seasons.
He has one year of club control remaining, and could be an extension candidate for the Red Sox. The question is when he will be ready to contribute to this year's playoff push, as he has been on the injured list since July 18 with wrist inflammation.
He is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon, and it will be years before we know who really won this trade.
Grade: B+
To BAL: RHP Anthony Eyanson (No. 22 on B/R Top 100), SP Kyson Witherspoon (No. 92 on B/R Top 100), OF Enddy Azocar, C Carlos Narváez, PTBNL
First things first, this is an absolute haul, even without Franklin Arias included in the package.
Anthony Eyanson has been the biggest breakout pitching prospect in baseball, Kyson Witherspoon was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 draft and Enddy Azocar was a consensus top 10 prospect in the Boston system.
Still, it hurts an awful lot to trade the team leader and the player who once stood as a beacon of hope for the club's rebuilding efforts to a division rival. That's all that keeps this from being an "A" grade return.
Grade: B
Padres Acquire Robbie Ray from Giants
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To SD: SP Robbie Ray
With a 29.9 percent chance of making the playoffs entering play on Monday, some expected the Padres to be sellers at the deadline, but instead they have added one of the market's top rental starters.
With a 3.08 ERA in 122.2 innings, Ray remains a solid veteran workhorse. The grade here comes more from questioning whether the Padres should be buying at all than any knock on Ray's ability to upgrade their rotation.
Grade: C
To SF: SS Joniel Hernandez, SP Miguel Mendez
Joniel Hernandez and Miguel Mendez checked in as the No. 5 and No. 7 prospects in the San Diego farm system in our most recent update last month, and while it's a thin system, that's still a fantastic get for a two-month rental.
Hernandez, 17, signed for $1.4 million in January as one of the headliners of San Diego's international class. He is hitting .303/.424/.503 with 21 extra-base hits and more walks (32) than strikeouts (31) in the Dominican Summer League.
Mendez, 24, has a terrific fastball/slider combination and has been developed as a starter, but his stuff could play up in a late-inning role if he shifts to the bullpen.
Grade: A
Dodgers Acquire Kris Bubic from Royals
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To LAD: SP Kris Bubic
An All-Star last season before missing most of the second half with a rotator cuff strain, Kris Bubic has not pitched since May 14 as injuries have again kept him sidelined, this time with left shoulder soreness and arm fatigue.
With experience pitching in relief, the best-case scenario here might be squeezing some useful innings out of him as a multi-inning reliever rather than building him back up as a starter. He is on track to return in late August, but suffered a setback last time he started ramping back up in June.
Grade: B
To KC: RP Carlos Duran
With a 3.38 ERA and 12.9 K/9 in 37 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, right-hander Carlos Duran has a big arm and the ability to miss bats.
He also has a 14.3 percent walk rate on the year, and at 25 years old is on the older end of the prospect scale. Getting anything for a rental pitcher who hasn't taken the mound in more than two months feels like a win, but it's hard not to think about what Bubic might have brought back during the offseason.
Grade: C
Rays Acquire Liam Hicks from Marlins
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To TB: C Liam Hicks
With a 124 OPS+, 14 home runs and 62 RBI, Liam Hicks will be a massive upgrade at catcher for the Rays, who have received a .701 OPS from their catchers on the year. He will platoon with defensive-minded Nick Fortes once again after the two were teammates in Miami in 2025.
Hicks has been one of the bigger Rule 5 success stories in recent years, and with club control through 2030, he represents a controllable addition at an annual area of need for the Rays.
Grade: A
To MIA: SP Jacob Kisting, SS Adrian Santana, 3B Brayden Taylor
A 14th-round pick in the 2024 draft, right-hander Jacob Kisting has put together a breakout 2026 season with a 1.67 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 86 innings at High-A. He lacks elite velocity, but the results are difficult to ignore.
Brayden Taylor (No. 19 overall in 2023) and Adrian Santana (No. 31 overall in 2023) are both former first-round picks. Taylor has turned a corner in his third season at the Double-A level, while Santana has a great glove and solid hit tool but lacks offensive impact.
Considering Hicks' remaining control, this package seemingly lacks a true centerpiece.
Grade: C+
White Sox Acquire Brenton Doyle from Rockies
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To CWS: OF Brenton Doyle
Brenton Doyle was a 3.9-WAR player in 2024 when he had 23 home runs, 30 steals and won his second straight NL Gold Glove in center field.
Since that breakout performance, he has batted .229/.277/.359 for a 68 OPS+ in 667 plate appearances, and he has been a negative-0.4 WAR player in 45 games this year. With some of the worst batted-ball metrics in baseball, it's hard to find much optimism for offensive improvement, and his defensive metrics have also regressed. The White Sox seem to be buying a name here rather than a profile.
Grade: C-
To COL: SP Mason Adams, SS Carlos Vielma
Mason Adams is a quality pickup for the Rockies, having ranked among the White Sox top 15 prospects heading into each of the last two seasons. He has a 3.22 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 287 strikeouts in 282 innings over four minor league seasons, and could debut later this year as he was pitching at Triple-A.
Carlos Vielma was signed for $400,000 as part of the 2026 international class and is hitting .337/.508/.474 over 134 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League. He doesn't turn 17 until later this month, so this is an upside swing.
Grade: A
Guardians Acquire Jo Adell from Angels
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To CLE: OF Jo Adell
If "power-hitting outfielder" was all the Guardians had on their shopping list, they nailed it.
However, after posting a 115 OPS+ with 37 home runs last season, Jo Adell has regressed to a 93 OPS+ with 16 homers this year. His .287 on-base percentage and poor defensive metrics (-5 DRS, -3 OAA) essentially make him a one-tool player, albeit one with 30-homer upside and an additional year of club control.
One quick thought: The Guardians could come to regret trading away Bo Naylor and Jacob Cozart within a few days of each other if their catching depth is tested.
Grade: B+
To LAA: C Jacob Cozart
What could the Angels have brought back if they had traded Jo Adell a year ago?
Jacob Cozart is a useful piece with the potential to develop into a platoon catcher thanks to his defensive profile. The 23-year-old is hitting .239/.330/.384 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI at Double-A.
But that's it? That's the entire return? Yikes.
Grade: D-
Mariners Acquire Taylor Ward from Orioles
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To SEA: OF Taylor Ward
After slugging a career-high 36 home runs for the Angels last season, Taylor Ward has just seven long balls on the year, but he has transformed into an elite on-base threat. He leads the AL with 87 walks and has a .383 on-base percentage, albeit backed by a .346 slugging percentage.
For a Mariners team that ranks 26th in the majors with a .310 on-base percentage, he should upgrade a major weakness while plugging a hole at one of the outfield corners.
Grade: A
To BAL: RP Alex Hoppe, SP Harrison Kreiling, RP Brock Moore
The Orioles bring back a pitcher who should immediately join their MLB bullpen in Alex Hoppe. The 27-year-old has a 5.79 ERA in 24 appearances in the majors as a rookie this season, and his 2.88 FIP and 27.6 percent strikeout rate paint a more promising picture of his work.
Harrison Kreiling was a senior sign out of Nebraska in 2024, and he has a 1.69 ERA and 16-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his pro debut this year, albeit against much younger competition. Brock Moore has a gaudy 15.6 K/9 in 31 minor league appearances this year.
Grade: B
Phillies Acquire Luis Arraez from Giants
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To PHI: 2B Luis Arraez, RP Caleb Kilian
The Phillies needed to add at least one bat, and while most expected it to be an outfielder, Luis Arraez gives a star-studded Philadelphia lineup the game's best contact hitter.
The resulting musical chairs will likely see Arraez slot in as the starting second baseman, Bryson Stott shift to third base, Alec Bohm shift to first base and Bryce Harper return to right field.
Right-hander Caleb Kilian is also not an insignificant part of this package, as he is controllable through 2031 and has shown late-inning stuff this year with eight saves and 10.8 K/9 in 45 games. He has two different breaking pitches that both have a whiff rate north of 40 percent.
Grade: A
To SF: SP Ramon Marquez, RP Marty Gair
The No. 5 prospect in the Philadelphia system on my most recent top 10 list, Ramon Marquez represents an excellent centerpiece for the Giants.
The 20-year-old has a 1.68 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and a 93-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 59 innings this season between Single-A and High-A. He has been trending toward claiming a spot on Top 100 prospect lists, and immediately becomes San Francisco's No. 1 pitching prospect.
Reliever Marty Gair has struck out 66 of the 148 batters he has faced this year in the minors.
Grade: A
Phillies Acquire Brooks Raley from Mets
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To PHI: RP Brooks Raley
Over the past five seasons, Brooks Raley has a 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 in 209 appearances as one of the most reliable left-handed relievers in baseball.
The 38-year-old is playing on a one-year, $1.85 million deal, making him a low-cost rental who can slot in alongside José Alvarado and Tim Mayza as a third proven lefty in the Philadelphia bullpen.
Grade: A
To NYM: OF John Spikerman, RHP Luke Gabrysh
A third-round pick in 2024 with elite speed and a solid glove in the outfield, John Spikerman could slot into the back of New York's top 30 prospect list, but he looks more like a high-floor fourth outfielder than an impact player.
Right-hander Luke Gabrysh has seen an uptick in his strikeout rate from 18.6 to 29.0 percent this year, and while his 5.14 ERA in 68.1 innings at High-A doesn't stand out, the emerging stuff no doubt held intrigue. About what you would expect for a straight rental reliever.
Grade: B+
Blue Jays Acquire José Soriano from Angels
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To TOR: SP José Soriano
Roughly 12 hours after trading veteran Kevin Gausman to the Cubs, the Blue Jays found his rotation replacement in José Soriano. The 27-year-old is controllable through the 2028 season, and is a step toward retooling the roster for 2027 rather than a full-scale rebuild in Toronto.
With a 3.29 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 123 innings, Soriano is enjoying a breakout season. That said, his overall numbers are inflated by a brilliant start, and he has a less impressive 4.64 ERA in 85.1 innings over his last 16 starts. Even with that regression, this move still makes a ton of sense for a Blue Jays team with a lot of money on the books, as he will be a low-cost rotation staple.
Grade: B+
To LAA: SS Arjun Nimmala (No. 44 on B/R Top 100), SP Angel Rivero, OF Eddie Micheletti
With 60-grade raw power and the quick-twitch athleticism to stick at shortstop, Arjun Nimmala will be one of the better prospects traded at this year's deadline.
The Blue Jays have moved him aggressively through the minors, as the 20-year-old has responded, hitting .279/.355/.451 with 13 extra-base hits in 138 plate appearances since he was promoted to Double-A in early July.
Eddie Micheletti has an .800 OPS with 20 doubles and 14 home runs in 93 games at Double-A, while Angel Rivero is a teenager right-hander pitching in rookie ball where he has 52 strikeouts in 42 innings.
Grade: A
White Sox Acquire Huascar Brazobán from Mets
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To CWS: RP Huascar Brazobán
Despite the fact that he turns 37 years old in October, Huascar Brazobán still has three additional years of club control remaining, making this a nice present and future bullpen addition for the South Siders.
He has a 2.56 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 8.4 K/9 in 46 appearances, and his 3.34 FIP and strong results from a year ago don't point to any imminent regression. Expect him to pitch some high-leverage innings in the coming months.
Grade: A
To NYM: SP Gabe Davis, RP Zach Franklin
Gabe Davis is a towering 6'9" right-hander who probably winds up in the bullpen long-term due to his inconsistent command and lack of a third reliable pitch beyond his fastball and slider.
With a 4.37 ERA and 11.9 K/9 in 33 appearances at Triple-A this season, Zach Franklin could end up replacing Brazobán in the Mets bullpen for the final two months. Given Brazobán's remaining control, it's surprising the Mets were not able to get a better return, even with his age.
Grade: C-
Yankees Acquire Luis García Jr. from Nationals
28 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To NYY: IF Luis García Jr.
Like the player, hate the fit, love the acquisition cost. So it's a mixed bag here.
Luis García Jr. is having a career year offensively, hitting .283/.313/.560 for a 136 OPS+ with 20 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBI, but after a terrible season defensively at second base in 2025 he has played exclusively first base.
With Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt platooning at first base, there are at-bats to be had at designated hitter, but that will change if and when Giancarlo Stanton returns. Unless Stanton is going to try to play the outfield, it's hard to see how all the pieces fit together.
Still, three relievers and a prospect a year removed from being a senior sign on Day 3 of the MLB draft is an absolute steal of a package to acquire the NL leader in slugging percentage with a year of club control remaining.
Grade: B+
To WAS: SP Jack Cebert, RP Ben Grable, RP Yovanny Cruz, RP Jake Bird
It's not often a four-prospect package for a controllable player features three relief pitchers. That said, Jake Bird has had MLB success before, while Ben Grable and Yovanny Cruz both have late-inning potential.
Right-hander Jack Cebert is the centerpiece, enjoying a breakout season a year after going in the 14th round of the 2025 draft. The 24-year-old has a 4.03 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 82.2 innings, and has seen his velocity tick up since starting his four-year collegiate career.
Grade: D
Braves Acquire Tyler Mahle from Giants
29 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To ATL: SP Tyler Mahle
Despite an ugly 5.13 ERA in 94.2 innings of work this season, Tyler Mahle has a chance to be a productive addition for a Braves team in need of rotation stability behind ace Chris Sale.
The 31-year-old has a 3.42 ERA in 23.2 innings over his last four starts, including six shutout innings against the Brewers on July 27. He is a pure rental playing on a one-year, $10 million deal, and the acquisition cost was minimal, so hard to dislike this move.
Grade: B-
To SF: RP Anthony Molina
With a 6.89 ERA and a .322 opponents' batting average in 55 big league appearances over the last three seasons, Anthony Molina has yet to find much success at the highest level.
He does have two minor league options remaining, and a live enough arm to believe there is some untapped potential, but he's more organizational depth than anything else at this point.
Grade: C-
Cubs Acquire Kevin Gausman from Blue Jays
30 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To CHC: SP Kevin Gausman
The Cubs needed starting pitching help more than perhaps any other contender, and Kevin Gausman gives them a workhorse veteran with a wealth of playoff experience who immediately pencils into their projected playoff rotation.
The 35-year-old ranks sixth among active pitchers with 2,038.1 career innings. He had a 2.93 ERA in 30.2 innings during Toronto's playoff run a year ago, and took the ball in Game 2 and Game 6 of the World Series.
Grade: A
To TOR: SS Ty Southisene, OF Brett Bateman
Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman should both fall somewhere in the No. 15-25 range on the Blue Jays top prospect list once the dust settles on the trade deadline, which is a solid return for a rental arm in the non-Tarik Skubal category.
The two players actually offer similar profiles with plus hit tools, good speed and bottom-of-the-scale power. Both are batting over .300 with on-base percentages north of .400, with Bateman knocking on the big league door with a .312/.430/.421 line over 82 games at Triple-A.
Grade: B
Rays Acquire Freddy Peralta from Mets
31 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To TB: SP Freddy Peralta
The Rays were part of the Tarik Skubal conversations, so this is a proactive pivot, but ultimately a disappointing consolation prize relative to the reigning AL Cy Young winner.
After years as a frontline starter in Milwaukee, Peralta has a 4.99 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 113.2 innings this season. His strikeout rate has cratered from 28.2 to 22.1 percent, and his opponents' batting average has spiked from .193 to .264.
Do the Rays see something they can fix?
Grade: C
To NYM: OF Aidan Smith, SP Gary Gill Hill, 2B Émilien Pitre
With a 55-power, 60-speed profile and standout defensive tools in center field, Aidan Smith has true impact potential. He is hitting just .209/.281/.392 with a 30.1 percent strikeout rate on the year, so he represents a boom-or-bust lottery ticket.
Gary Gill Hill could fit at the back of a big league rotation, while Émilien Pitre is hitting .308/.438/.447 with 70 walks against just 40 strikeouts in 88 games between High-A and Double-A.
All in all, a solid cutting of losses after they gave up Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to acquire Peralta in January.
Grade: B+
Dodgers Acquire Tarik Skubal from Tigers
32 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To LAD: SP Tarik Skubal
Wow.
The only real question mark for the Dodgers in their quest to be the first NL team to three-peat was whether Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow would get healthy and round into form in time to help Yoshinobu Yamamoto anchor the playoff rotation.
Now the question is which one of them gets bumped to the bullpen if Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound and lands a spot in the playoff rotation.
An amazing problem to have.
Grade: A+
To DET: OF Zyhir Hope (No. 38 on B/R Top 100), SP River Ryan, SP Brady Smith
Trades for superstars always look light on the prospect end, but this is a great return for two months of a player who was almost certainly going to be playing elsewhere in 2027 anyway.
Zyhir Hope is hitting .293/.369/.530 with 23 home runs, 87 RBI and 18 steals in 94 games at Double-A, and he doesn't turn 22 until January. He has franchise cornerstone upside.
It's odd to call River Ryan a prospect when he'll be 28 years old in a few weeks, but with 20.1 career MLB innings he technically still fits the bill. He has done a nice job rebuilding his stock after a 2025 season lost to Tommy John surgery, and could step directly into the Detroit rotation.
If Luis Peña (Brewers), Theo Gillen (Rays) and George Lombard Jr. (Yankees) were off-limits in the Tigers other trade talks, Hope may legitimately have been the best centerpiece available.
Grade: B
Braves Acquire Lane Thomas from Royals
33 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To ATL: OF Lane Thomas, SP Bailey Falter
With a 20/20 season on his resume and a two-homer performance in last year's ALDS, Lane Thomas has a chance to be a sneaky-good pickup for the Braves.
He has an .850 OPS in his career against left-handed pitching, making him the ideal platoon partner for Mike Yastrzemski while also serving in a fourth outfielder capacity thanks to his ability to handle all three spots defensively.
With 475.2 career big league innings, Bailey Falter is at least experienced organizational depth.
Grade: B
To KC: SP Lucas Braun, SP Carter Holton
Right-hander Lucas Braun immediately slots in as a top 10 pitching prospect in the Kansas City system, and he has a 3.43 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 421 strikeouts in 414.2 innings in the minors. His five-pitch repertoire and plus command give him a high floor as a back end starter, and he could debut later this season.
Southpaw Carter Holton spent three years in the Vanderbilt rotation before he was taken in the second round of the 2024 draft, and he represents a solid secondary piece as well for a rental outfielder and a non-tender candidate.
Grade: B+
White Sox Acquire Luis Castillo from Mariners
34 of 38
Date: Aug. 2, 2026
To CWS: SP Luis Castillo
The White Sox needed a workhorse veteran to anchor a young rotation, and they found just that in Luis Castillo. He might not be the Cy Young candidate he was in his prime, but he would still likely fill a spot in the South Siders playoff rotation.
With a $24.15 million salary on the books for next season, he's not cheap, but the White Sox had the payroll flexibility and they offset some of that money by moving Seranthony Domínguez.
Grade: A
To SEA: RP Seranthony Domínguez, OF Nolan Jones, C Boston Smith
This trade was largely about freeing up payroll, though Domínguez is a solid addition to the bullpen with plenty of high-leverage experience. He signed a two-year, $20 million deal during the offseason, so his $10 million salary for next year offsets some of Seattle's savings.
A sixth-round pick out of Wright State in 2025, Boston Smith is hitting .291/.450/.589 with 22 home runs in 79 games while reaching Double-A in his pro debut. Don't sleep on him as a key piece of the puzzle in this trade.
Nolan Jones is now three years removed from his surprise 20/20, 4.3-WAR season with the Rockies in 2023, and is little more than a flier.
Grade: B
Pirates Acquire Camilo Doval from Yankees
35 of 38
Date: Aug. 1, 2026
To PIT: RP Camilo Doval
With 20 blown saves in 42 chances, the Pirates bullpen has been a major weakness this season, and a year after trading All-Star closer David Bednar to the Yankees they were on the acquiring end this time.
Camilo Doval has 109 career saves, including an NL-leading 39 saves when he was with the Giants in 2023. He has filled more of a setup role with the Yankees and has battled his command at times, but with a high-octane fastball and a slider generating a 43.5 percent whiff rate he still looks the part.
Grade: B
To NYY: C Omar Alfonzo, OF Luis Cruz
Omar Alfonzo looks the part of a bat-first, backup catcher with a chance to carve out a platoon role if he maximizes his raw power. He is hitting .239/.338/.420 with 19 extra-base hits in 60 games at Double-A.
Luis Cruz signed for $50,000 in 2025, and he is hitting .321/.471/.415 over 71 plate appearances in his second go-round in the Dominican Summer League. Given his arm talent and extra year of control, this was an underwhelming return for the Yankees.
Grade: C-
Brewers, Guardians Swap Blake Perkins, Bo Naylor
36 of 38
Date: Aug. 1, 2026
To MIL: C Bo Naylor, RP Codi Heuer
After three seasons as Cleveland's primary catcher, Bo Naylor has spent much of the year in Triple-A following the addition of Patrick Bailey in an early trade with the Giants. The former top prospect is still only 26 and was an interesting change of scenery candidate.
The Brewers have used William Contreras in an almost everyday capacity behind the plate this year, with Gary Sánchez starting 26 games as his backup.
Grade: B-
To CLE: OF Blake Perkins, RP Craig Yoho
Of the 408 players with at least 100 plate appearances this season, Blake Perkins ranks 400th with a 41 OPS+ while hitting .157/.250/.258 on the year. It's hard to see how he upgrades the current situation, but he's at least a solid defender who quietly tallied 3.3 WAR in 242 games prior to this year.
Reliever Craig Yoho had a 3.15 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 15 appearances out of the Brewers bullpen, and he joined Cleveland's bullpen following the trade, so he has a chance to help level the scales.
Grade: D
Twins Acquire Dean Kremer from Orioles
37 of 38
Date: Aug. 1, 2026
To MIN: SP Dean Kremer
The Twins have used eight different starting pitchers behind Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley this season, and none of them have provided any level of consistency, so Dean Kremer will have a chance to stake claim to a starting role the rest of the way.
He logged a 3.95 ERA and 101 ERA+ in 106 starts over the previous four seasons, providing some context to why the Twins would want a pitcher with a 6.50 ERA in 2026. With an additional year of club control, he is an interesting buy-low play, though far from a sure thing to provide an immediate boost.
Grade: C
To BAL: OF Jhomnardo Reyes
An early standout from Minnesota's 2025 international signing class, Jhomnardo Reyes is hitting .272/.396/.489 with 22 extra-base hits, 17 steals and a healthy 15 percent walk rate in his stateside debut.
The 18-year-old also has some intriguing physical projection left in his 6'3", 186-pound frame, so this is a nice lottery ticket pickup for Baltimore who slots into their top 20 prospects.
Grade: B+
Twins Acquire A.J. Minter from Mets
38 of 38
Date: July 31, 2026
To MIN: RP A.J. Minter
Hovering around the .500 mark for several weeks, the Twins planted their flag as buyers when they acquired A.J. Minter to upgrade a bullpen that ranks 26th in the majors with a 4.85 ERA.
The 32-year-old does not have the same swing-and-miss stuff he did during his peak in Atlanta, and his 2.31 ERA is backed by a 4.00 FIP, so there is some regression risk.
Grade: C
To NYM: 3B Billy Amick, SS Bruin Agbayani
Billy Amick was a second-round pick in 2024 after helping lead Tennessee to a national championship, and with an .834 OPS and 24 home runs in 87 games at Double-A he represents a terrific return for a second-tier rental reliever.
Bruin Agbayani is the son of former Mets outfielder and fan favorite Benny Agbayani, who was the starting left fielder on the 2000 World Series team. He was a sixth-round pick in last year's draft.
Grade: A-
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