MLB trade-deadline day: Here's every trade that happened
Eighteen trades went down in Major League Baseball on Monday — including one in which a player was sent back to a team that traded him to just a few days ago.
Yep, MLB trade-deadline day is a fun one. And while we were here, watching every minute of the action, we know some of you had things to do. Like work. Or seeing your family. Or maybe even your friends.
So, if you missed any of what transpired — from the Texas Rangers going all-in for 2016 or the New York Yankees restocking the farm twenty-something-or-other — we’ve got your back. Here is every single trade that happened on Monday.
RANGERS GET JONATHAN LUCROY FROM BREWERS
The Cleveland Indians’ loss is the Texas Rangers’ gain, as they’ve filled their need at catcher with the best one on the trade market. The Rangers got Lucroy, who vetoed a trade to Cleveland on Sunday, plus closer Jeremy Jeffress in exchange for two of the Rangers’ top three prospects — outfielder Lewis Brinson and pitcher Luis Ortiz — plus a player-to-be-named later. Read more on the trade from Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.
BLS take: A necessary move by the Rangers since catcher was their biggest weakness. That they were able to pull this off without giving up Joey Gallo, as many experts expected, is nice for the Rangers. Jeffress is an underrated part of this, since he has a 2.22 ERA in 47 games for the Brewers. The cost of relief pitching is so high that the Rangers seem to have paid a fair price so long as the player-to-be-named later isn’t Jurickson Profar.
RANGERS ADD CARLOS BELTRAN FROM YANKEES
The Rangers also added another bat to their lineup in Carlos Beltran, the 39-year-old who is hitting .304 with 22 homers this season. The Yankees get three Rangers prospects: Dillon Tate, Nick Green and Erik Swanson. Read more on the trade from Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.
BLS take: Beltran’s bat plays just about anywhere, but the Rangers will especially benefit now that Prince Fielder is out for the season. The centerpiece for the Yankees here is Tate, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 draft. He immediately became the Yankees’ 11th best prospect, according to MLB.com.
METS ADD BIG BAT IN JAY BRUCE
Looking to once again add an impact bat to their lineup, the New York Mets grabbed Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for two prospects: second baseman Dilson Herrera and pitcher Max Wotell. Read more on the trade from Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown.
BLS take: It’s a good move for the Mets, who not only get a bat that can help them boost their offense this year, but provide some insurance should Yoenis Cespedes opt out of his contract at the end of 2016.
DODGERS TRADE FOR JOSH REDDICK, RICH HILL
The Dodgers added both an outfielder and starting pitcher in one deal, syncing up with the Oakland Athletics and addressing two needs by grabbing Josh Reddick and Rich Hill. In return, the Dodgers are sending three of their top 13 prospects to the A’s: Frankie Montas, Grant Holmes and Jharel Cotton. Read more about the trade from Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.
BLS take: The Dodgers were a team many thought would make a splash on the final day and they did. Reddick gives them another outfield bat and Hill gives their battered rotation some help. Hill has been injured some too, but when healthy his 2.25 ERA has been among the best in the game. Both players are free agents after this season, so the A’s getting three prized prospects should be looked at as a good return. For the Dodgers, this is all about winning now.
MATT MOORE GOES TO THE GIANTS
The Tampa Bay Rays send 27-year-old lefty Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants for three players, including 2015 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Matt Duffy. The Rays also get Lucius Fox, the Giants’ No. 4 prospect, and pitcher Michael Santos. Read more about the trade on Big League Stew.
BLS take: It’s a hefty price tag for Moore, who has been spotty this season and last after coming back from Tommy John surgery. But if he returns to All-Star form, the Giants all of a sudden look like a much stronger World Series contender.
GIANTS GET BULLPEN HELP IN WILL SMITH
The Giants other need was in the bullpen, so they were a match with the Brewers, who sent Will Smith their way in exchange for pitching prospect Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac. Read more about the trade from Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.
BLS take: The Giants needed help and, once again, paid for it. They loved Bickford and Susac has proven himself to be a good player — but he’s blocked by Buster Posey at catcher. In Smith, however, they get a proven lefty reliever who isn’t a free agent until 2020. Such is the cost of trying to win the World Series.
ANGELS DEAL HECTOR SANTIAGO TO THE TWINS
The Angels sent Hector Santiago to the Twins in exchange for Ricky Nolasco and former prospect Alex Meyer. Santiago and Nolasco each have another year left on their respective contracts after 2016. Read more about the trade on Big League Stew.
BLS take: It’s not often you see two teams that are out of contention hook up for a deadline-day deal. The Twins must think they’re buying low on Santiago, who has been better in the past than his 4.25 ERA this season. The wild card here is Alex Meyer, a 6-foot-9 pitcher who was once a sought-after prospect but hasn’t delivered on the hype.
DODGERS GET JESSE CHAVEZ FROM BLUE JAYS
In their ongoing search for pitching, the Dodgers landed Jesse Chavez, who has started and relieved in the past. They’re sending Mike Bolsinger back to the Toronto Blue Jays, who has a 4.61 ERA over three seasons as a starter.
BLS take: Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi knows Chavez from their A’s days, so he knows Chavez is versatile. He could help the Dodgers if they end up needing more starting pitching or he could slide into the bullpen if not.
BLUE JAYS ADD SCOTT FELDMAN FROM ASTROS
Scott Feldman, who moved from the Astros’ rotation to the bullpen earlier this year, is on the move to Toronto, where the Blue Jays have been seeking starters. In exchange, the Astros get Lupe Rivera, an 18-year-old in rookie ball.
BLS take: It’s a decent deal for the Jays, who were after starters to fill the place of Aaron Sanchez, who is on an innings limit this year and should head to the bullpen. Between Feldman and Bolsinger, the Jays hope they’ll be in good shape.
BLUE JAYS GET FRANCISCO LIRIANO FROM PIRATES
In a deal where a change-of-scenery could help both sides, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Liriano to the Toronto Blue Jays for Drew Hutchison. The Pirates also get outfielder Harold Ramirez and catcher Reese McGuire. Read more from Big League Stew.
BLS take: The Blue Jays are trying to help their rotation by any means, even if that means taking on Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.46 ERA) and hoping he can turn things around in the AL. Hutchison hasn’t delivered on the hype just yet, but he’s only 25, so maybe the Pirates can work their famed pitching magic on him.
PIRATES GET IVAN NOVA FROM THE YANKEES
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who did a lot of pitching wheeling-and-dealing, get a rental in 29-year-old righty Ivan Nova while giving the Yankees two players to be named later.
BLS take: Can Nova be the next so-so pitcher that Pirates pitching guru Ray Searage turns around? Nova’s a free agent after this season so there may not be enough time. At the very worst, though, he fills the space left by Liriano.
JON NIESE GOES BACK TO THE METS FOR ANTONIO BASTARDO
The Mets know this guy: They got pitcher Jon Niese from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo.
BLS take: Neither of these pitcher have been that good this year. They both have ERAs over 4.00. But the Mets at least know Niese, since he played there eight years before getting shipped to Pittsburgh last offseason. In his return, Niese figures to be a reliever for the pitching-rich Mets.
INDIANS ADD BRANDON GUYER
The Cleveland Indians, already one of the AL favorites, didn’t make a huge move Monday (they already got Andrew Miller) but they did add a helpful bat in Brandon Guyer. In exchange, the Indians are sending two prospects to the Rays: Nathan Lukes and Jhonleider Salinas.
BLS take: Guyer isn’t a huge name, but could make an impact for the Indians. He plays all three outfield positions and is hitting .344 with a 1.082 OPS this season against left-handed pitching. That’s a worthwhile platoon option for Cleveland.
STEVE PEARCE REUNITES WITH THE ORIOLES
Another players going back to where he came is Steve Pearce, who the Rays traded back to the Orioles in exchange for Jonah Heim, a 21-year-old catcher currently in Single-A.
BLS take: The O’s are contending and looking to bulk up their lineup. Pearce offers a versatile option that they know well. He played with the Orioles from 2013-2015 and in that time played first base, second base, third base, right field and left field.
CUBS ADD ANOTHER RELIEVER IN JOE SMITH
The Chicago Cubs made their third trade for a relief pitcher this month, adding Joe Smith from the Angels. The Angels get 20-year-old, Single-A pitcher Jesus Castillo in return.
BLS take: Smith was pretty good a few years ago, but his ERA is two full runs higher this year than it was in 2014. Still, the Cubs are just looking for another arm in any already stacked bullpen, so there’s not much to lose here.
RED SOX BULK UP BULLPEN WITH FERNANDO ABAD
The Boston Red Sox, like every team with hopes of winning a postseason series, was in the market for more relief pitching. So they landed Fernando Abad, a 30-year-old lefty with a 2.65 ERA this season. In return, the Twins get hard-throwing rookie Pat Light.
BLS take: We know how valuable relief pitching is, and in the grand scheme of things, this wasn’t too costly, as Light isn’t a top-10 prospect. He does, however, hit triple digits, so there’s upside for Minnesota.
DODGERS GET JOSH FIELDS FROM ASTROS TO HELP BULLPEN
The Dodgers added Josh Fields, a 30-year-old reliever with a 6.89 ERA in 15 big-league appearances this year. In exchange, Houston gets Yordan Alvarez, an 18-year-old first baseman the Dodgers signed from Cuba earlier this year.
BLS take: It’s a rather minor trade, but bullpen arms are in demand and while Fields’ big-league numbers this year aren’t great, his peripherals gave the Dodgers some hope. He’s also pitched well in Triple-A the past few months.
COLIN REA GOES BACK TO THE PADRES AFTER ELBOW INJURY
Colin Rea was sent back to the San Diego Padres for Luis Castillo, both of whom were in the seven-player Andrew Cashner trade on Friday. Whaaat?!? Read more from Big League Stew.
BLS take: In the absolute strangest deal of the day — that’s why we saved it for last — the Marlins traded Rea back to San Diego after he made one start for in Miami and hurt his elbow. Once he landed on the disabled list, the Marlins invoked their return policy.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
