Major League Baseball Deals: Astros and Yankees Make Purchases, Orioles and Twins Make Sales Highlighting AL Deadline Transactions
The MLB trading deadline passed at 6 PM Eastern on Thursday, and teams across the league made moves to bolster their rosters for the playoff push. Here are some of the key transactions that took place.
Houston Astros Reunite with Carlos Correa
In a surprise move, the Houston Astros reacquired former star shortstop Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins. Despite Correa's struggles this season and the Twins absorbing $33 million of his remaining $104 million contract, this deal was highly rated for its shock value. However, the move comes with risk given Correa's decline[1][2].
San Diego Padres Acquire Top Prospects in Blockbuster Trade
The San Diego Padres made a splash by trading for Athletics' closer Mason Miller and left-handed reliever JP Sears. In return, the Padres sent four prospects, including Leo De Vries, who is considered one of baseball's top five prospects and the best prospect dealt at the deadline. The Padres also added outfielder Ramón Laureano and designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn to bolster lineup depth. This deal was considered a major win for the Padres' aggressive GM A.J. Preller[1][2].
Seattle Mariners Bolster Lineup with Suarez and Naylor
The Seattle Mariners made a pair of shrewd moves by acquiring second baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Remarkably, the Mariners did not give up any top-10 prospects, enhancing their already strong lineup anchored by home run leaders Cal Raleigh and Suarez. This move solidified one of the best offensive rosters in the league and demonstrated savvy front-office maneuvering[1][3].
Notable Bullpen Reinforcements
The New York Mets strengthened their bullpen by acquiring Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto, while the New York Yankees also added bullpen depth, highlighted by acquiring David Bednar from the Pirates for catching prospect Rafael Flores[1][2][5].
Cleveland Indians Trade Shane Bieber to Toronto Blue Jays
The Cleveland Indians traded former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, who is still rehabbing, to the Toronto Blue Jays, marking a significant pitching move[3].
Other Notable Moves
- The Tampa Bay Rays "bought" starter Adrian Houser from the White Sox and reliever Griffin Jax, and moved utility player Caballero to the Yankees, durable starter Zack Littell to the Reds, and backup catcher Danny Jansen to the Brewers.
- The Boston Red Sox added Steven Matz and Dustin May, giving up Blaze Jordan, Zach Ehrhard, and James Tibbs III.
- The Kansas City Royals acquired starter Bailey Falter from the Pirates and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski from the Giants.
- The Texas Rangers acquired Merrill Kelly, Phil Maton, and Danny Coulombe, giving up Mitch Bratt and Mason Molina, their #4 and #41 midseason pitching prospects.
- The Detroit Tigers added Chris Paddack, Charlie Morton, Kyle Finnegan, and Paul Sewald, giving up only minor prospects.
- The Oakland Athletics got arguably the best prospect moved at the deadline in SS Leodalis de Vries, but also moved starter JP Sears to the Padres in the same deal that brought aboard solid pitching prospects Henry Baez (#135) and Braden Nett (#145).
- The Chicago White Sox moved starter Adrian Houser (to the Rays) and outfielder Austin Slater (to the Yankees), landing multiple marginal prospects in return.
- The best prospect the Royals moved was 1B Callan Moss (#197, to Pirates).
- The Seattle Mariners added Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, and Caleb Ferguson, with Ashton Izzi and Jeter Martinez being the only players dealt on the midseason top prospect lists.
- The Los Angeles Angels moved none of their supposedly available players and made a small bullpen buy, bringing aboard Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia.
- The Cleveland Guardians moved Bieber (to the Jays) and Sewald (to the Tigers), and received a very interesting prospect in return in the Bieber deal in P Stephen (#43).
- The Baltimore Orioles emptied their bullpen, cutting loose Dominguez, Gregory Soto, and Andrew Kittredge, and also dealt starter Charlie Morton and position players Urias, Ryan O'Hearn, Ramon Laureano, and Cedric Mullins. They got a bevy of prospects in return, with P Juaron Watts-Brown (#25, from the Jays), P Boston Bateman (#53, Padres), P Wellington Aracena (#81, Mets), and Victor Figueroa (#137, Padres) being the best among them.
[1] ESPN
[2] MLB Trade Rumors
[3] CBS Sports
[4] Sports Illustrated
[5] USA Today
- The New York Yankees added bullpen depth with David Bednar, joining the ranks of other MLB teams looking to strengthen their rosters for a playoff push, such as the Houston Astros who reunited with Carlos Correa.
- The Baltimore Orioles made significant moves by trading notable players such as Ryan O'Hearn, Ramon Laureano, and Charlie Morton, while acquiring a promising group of prospects, including Juaron Watts-Brown, Boston Bateman, Wellington Aracena, and Victor Figueroa, further showcasing the intense competition in baseball's MLB.
