The MLB trade market last week generated numerous moves, and now, with a week of play elapsed, it’s time to assess how the new acquisitions are adapting and their impact on the teams.
Despite not making big moves at the deadline, the Brewers continue their good performance, staying in first place for the third consecutive week. On the other hand, the Yankees, who did make several changes and were considered winners, have lost five games in a row since July 31, falling to 12th place, their lowest position of the season.
The Red Sox also kept a low profile in the market, but have won seven of their last eight games and return to the top 10 for the first time since Week 5. And watch out for the Marlins, who have climbed to 20th place and could be on a streak to fight for a playoff spot. Our panel of experts has ranked each team based on what we’ve seen so far and what we knew before the 162-game marathon that is the full baseball season. In addition, we asked MLB experts Buster Olney, David Schoenfield, and Bradford Doolittle to share their observations on the 30 teams.Team Ranking
- Milwaukee Brewers
Previous Ranking: 1 The Brewers remain unstoppable: 16-9 in June, 17-7 in July, and 6-0 in the first six games of August, including convincing victories of 16-9 and 14-3 over the Nationals. Brandon Woodruff continues to show great performance after his return (2.22 ERA in five starts) and All-Star Freddy Peralta is having his best season. In addition, the appearance of Quinn Priester, acquired in early April, has been key. Priester now has an 11-2 record with a 3.15 ERA, with five wins and ten consecutive decisions, and a 2.45 ERA since joining the rotation on June 10.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Philadelphia Phillies
Previous Ranking: 6 Kyle Schwarber might not win the National League MVP award, given the difficulty designated hitters have in obtaining it, with the exception of Shohei Ohtani. Schwarber currently ranks eighth in WAR in the National League, behind players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Kyle Tucker. However, Schwarber could get a good contract in free agency in the fall. Some in the game’s environment wonder if he would prefer to play closer to his Midwestern roots.
Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Chicago Cubs
Previous Ranking: 2 The Cubs’ lack of impactful moves at the trade deadline was heavily criticized, and now it seems even worse as Michael Soroka pitched two innings in his debut, had to leave the game, and was placed on the injured list with shoulder discomfort. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the Cubs were aware of Soroka’s decreased velocity over the last month with the Nationals, but still took the risk of acquiring him. Ben Brown could rejoin the rotation, although the Cubs have off days on Thursday and Monday before playing 13 straight days (including a doubleheader against Milwaukee on August 18).David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Los Angeles Dodgers
Previous Ranking: 3 There are great players with unwavering confidence who seem to assume they will succeed. Derek Jeter was like that, and Shohei Ohtani is now. Mookie Betts, however, has never been like that. “A perfectionist,” said a staff member who has been a coach in the past. When Betts struggles, this torments him and he blames himself, feeling that he is disappointing others. Betts has never had an OPS below .800 in any season of his career, but currently that figure is .669. Since May 23, his batting average hovers around .200 and his slugging is below .300.Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Detroit Tigers
Previous Ranking: 7 The Tigers seem to have overcome the worst of their slump. They haven’t yet regained the dominant form that led them to a large lead in the American League Central Division, but they have gotten through a difficult stretch of the schedule and are entering a more favorable period. The offense has improved after a brutal stretch, with Kerry Carpenter, Dillon Dingler, and Wenceel Perez on fire. Despite everything, the Tigers still maintain a considerable lead in the division.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Toronto Blue Jays
Previous Ranking: 4 Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Shane Bieber will need a couple more preparation outings before joining Toronto after his rehabilitation. When Bieber debuts in the Blue Jays’ blue uniform, he will become the twelfth Cy Young winner to pitch for the franchise, joining his new rotation teammate Max Scherzer. Four of the 12 won the award with Toronto: Pat Hentgen, Robbie Ray, Roy Halladay and Roger Clemens (twice). Bieber and Scherzer are joined on the list of Cy Youngs who won for other teams by Mike Flanagan, David Cone, Pete Vuckovich, R.A. Dickey, Chris Carpenter and Dave Price.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- New York Mets
Previous Ranking: 5 Their starting pitching is the main reason the Mets started the year so strong, but now, the rotation is the biggest unknown going forward. Frankie Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million contract in the winter, will have at least one more start, but the Mets can’t afford a 6.00 ERA performance for much longer. Griffin Canning, whose contract might have been the best in terms of value for dollar last winter, is out for the rest of the year, and Clay Holmes has shown a regression in his performance.
Buster Olney’s Observation:
- San Diego Padres
Previous Ranking: 10 Some other managers will envy San Diego’s Mike Shildt after the Padres’ trade for Mason Miller and the reinforcement of what could be the deepest bullpen in the majors. In the first game after the deadline, Miller pitched the eighth inning, relieving Nick Pivetta, and was followed by Robert Suarez. Two days later, Shildt called on Jason Adam to pitch the sixth inning, then Jeremiah Estrada for the seventh, and Suarez for the ninth. Miller has only pitched once for the Padres; the bullpen is deep enough that Shildt can give all his key relievers rest for the rest of the season.Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Boston Red Sox
Previous Ranking: 13 Don’t get distracted, Yankees fans, but the red flash that just flew by in the American League East Division standings was Boston. The Red Sox have been on fire on both sides of the field for weeks, and suddenly, the range of possibilities for a playoff spot includes the possibility of reaching number 1. Despite all the consternation among experts over Boston’s lukewarm deadline, disappointment doesn’t seem to have reached the locker room. It’s an amazing turnaround for a team that was 43-45 on the morning of July 4th.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Houston Astros
Previous Ranking: 8 After having a 19-7 record in June, the Astros had their worst month in July, with a 12-15 record, and then started August being swept in Boston, a series in which they scored only five runs in three games. The pitching staff allowed a .259 average and a .313 BABIP in July, after entering the month with a .227 average and a .277 BABIP. Undoubtedly, the absence of Jeremy Peña throughout the month influenced those numbers, as Mauricio Dubon and Zack Short replaced him at shortstop. Peña returned on Friday and went 3-5. Meanwhile, Carlos Correa, now playing at third base in his return to Houston, went 6-21 in his first five games, including a home run.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Seattle Mariners
Previous Ranking: 9 The Mariners won three of four against Texas over the weekend, with J.P. Crawford’s two-run homer giving them a 4-3 victory on Friday as the highlight. Other highlights after the deadline: Eugenio Suárez hit his first home run since joining Seattle on Tuesday, number 37 overall; Cole Young hit a 456-foot home run with an exit velocity of 114 mph, suggesting he could have more power in the future; Bryan Woo has pitched at least six innings in all 22 starts; and the Mariners acquired a stealthy base-stealing threat in Josh Naylor, who stole eight bases in his first 11 games with Seattle to add up to 19 on the season (not bad for a guy who ranks in the third percentile of all players in terms of top speed).David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- New York Yankees
Previous Ranking: 11 Aaron Judge is back after a brief and insignificant stint on the injured list with an elbow injury. His return is the only good news for a Yankees team rapidly approaching free fall. The bullpen has faltered, even after the Yankees’ aggressive pursuit of relief help at the deadline, and the offense without Judge was mediocre. More concerning have been a series of baserunning and defensive errors that would have made Billy Martin lose his mind. Judge has handled it with more stoicism, at least in public.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Texas Rangers
Previous Ranking: 12 With eight scoreless innings and one hit in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over the Yankees, Nathan Eovaldi has allowed one run or fewer in 13 of his last 14 starts, lowering his season ERA to a microscopic 1.38. He has pitched 111 innings, so he is a few innings away from qualifying for the ERA title, but he has the possibility of reaching 162 innings at the end of the season. The lowest ERAs for a qualified starter in the live-ball era (since 1920 and omitting 2020): Bob Gibson, 1.12 in 1968; Dwight Gooden, 1.53 in 1985; Greg Maddux, 1.56 in 1994; Luis Tiant, 1.60 in 1968; Maddux, 1.63 in 1995.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Cincinnati Reds
Previous Ranking: 14 Zack Littell had a great performance in his first start since arriving in Cincinnati from the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing one run and three hits in seven innings in a 5-1 victory over the Cubs on Tuesday. Littell induced a maximum of 15 swings and misses, relying on a splitter that, according to him, was the best he’d had. The Reds needed a long outing after Nick Lodolo left Monday’s game in the second inning with a blister (and was placed on the injured list, hopefully for a short time) and Sunday’s game delayed by rain in Tennessee also needed a bullpen game.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Cleveland Guardians
Previous Ranking: 20 The Guardians are the current champions of the American League Central Division and are a weekend away from the current wild card position. Their deadline closing basically consisted of trading the current Shane Bieber for a promising young pitcher, Khal Stephen, who, if all goes well, could become a solid imitation of Bieber. However, if there is a candidate to follow the Tigers of last year as a team that makes it into the playoffs despite the lack of aggressiveness of the front office, it could well be the Guardians, at least if their pitching can catch up with a hot offense.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- San Francisco Giants
Previous Ranking: 15 When Rafael Devers was at his best with the Red Sox, his swing was perfect for Fenway Park, where hits and fly balls to left field and left-center field often found the Green Monster or went over it. Oracle Park is very different, with its large space in that part of the park. While it’s too early to draw conclusions, Devers is batting .160/.289/.280 in his new stadium.Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Tampa Bay Rays
Previous Ranking: 16 Tampa Bay’s approach at the deadline was defined by an easy classification. The Rays traded some veterans, but added some veterans and kept second baseman in contract year Brandon Lowe. They added some prospects, but also traded some prospects. The addition of temporary starter Adrian Houser, who is in a contract year, suggests the Rays still hope to make a run in 2025. Unfortunately, they came out of the deadline still cold on the field until they finally unleashed on Tuesday with a win over the Angels, a win powered by a home run from Lowe. I guess it’s good the Rays kept him.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Kansas City Royals
Previous Ranking: 21 Until they ran into problems in Boston, where the second hottest team in the American League collided with their hottest team, the Royals were on a roll thanks to a resurgent offense. A driver of that was Royals-esque: Since June 28, Kansas City has the third-best offensive strikeout rate in the majors. The other key was not so Royals-esque: an eighth-place home run rate and No. 6 in isolated power during that stretch. Leading the way have been Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Pérez, who combined for 18 home runs during that period.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- St. Louis Cardinals
Previous Ranking: 17 Ivan Herrera has had an excellent offensive season, interspersed with two separate periods on the injured list. However, Herrera has not been a catcher since returning from his second stint on the injured list, and it’s possible his days as a catcher are over after throwing out only four of 70 base runners in the last two seasons. He had seen most of his action at designated hitter, but he has now started three games in left field since the end of July. His maximum sprint speed ranks in the 25th percentile, so full-time work in the outfield could be a stretch, but at least it would give him some versatility.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Miami Marlins
Previous ranking: 22 The Marlins are now committed to Sandy Alcantara for the rest of this season, as they try to get above .500, and rival evaluators will be following his progress. In consecutive starts in late July, he allowed zero earned runs in 12 innings against the Padres and the Cardinals, while, on the other hand, he has allowed five or more runs in four of his last eight outings. Alcantara might simply need more time to find consistency while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Arizona Diamondbacks
Previous Ranking: 18 A week before the deadline, other teams felt that Zac Gallen might not be traded with the other wave of D-backs who were transferred because his value disintegrated this year. In the end, the Diamondbacks decided to leave the option of offering Gallen a qualifying offer after this season, of about $22 million, and get compensation for the draft selection if he signs elsewhere, or perhaps retain him with a one-year contract in 2026 if he accepts the qualifying offer.Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Los Angeles Angels
Previous Ranking: 23 Kenley Jansen has had a quietly solid season as the team’s closer, converting 20 of 21 save opportunities with an ERA of 2.79. He had that one blown save in early May, in which he allowed six runs, including three home runs, against the Tigers, but otherwise he has been reliable. He is fourth on the all-time saves list, just 11 behind Lee Smith, so Jansen could pass Smith by the end of the season or early next year. Although one could argue that Jansen’s last truly dominant season was in 2017, since then he has racked up 237 saves with an ERA around 3.14, and that gives him a chance to enter the Hall of Fame in the future.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Minnesota Twins
Previous Ranking: 19 Once the tears dry after a soul-crushing deadline, Twins fanatics might notice a rather interesting revamped starting rotation for the end of the season. Joe Ryan is somehow still around, and along with Pablo López (hopefully returning from a shoulder issue relatively soon) and Bailey Ober, the top three are familiar. Now, exciting rookie Zebby Matthews could join talented acquisitions Taj Bradley and Mick Abel. Also, infielder Luke Keaschall just returned after an absence of more than three months and, in his first plate appearance, hit his first career home run against Detroit. Not everything is bad!
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Baltimore Orioles
Previous Ranking: 25 When the winners of each club’s Heart & Hustle award were announced by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association on Tuesday, Orioles second-year player Jackson Holliday was selected as Baltimore’s winner. The selection, made by a committee of former players, is a good nod to a young player who entered the majors with all sorts of hype, but has struggled with some growing pains. Holliday has shown solid improvement this season and, with a strong finish, could set himself up for a jump in 2026. For now, at least, it’s clear he’s approaching the game the right way.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Atlanta Braves
Previous Ranking: 24 At the end, the Braves did little at the deadline because they are in a strange situation: They have secured most of their core for the next few years, while some of the guys heading to free agency in the fall have struggled this season. Perhaps the most important question going forward is whether they can find a long-term solution at shortstop. Nick Allen is a high-level defender, ranking second among all shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved, but his wRC+ is 60. Atlanta needs more from that position.Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Athletics
Previous Ranking: 27 Shea Langeliers had a game to remember when he was moved to the leadoff spot for the first time on Tuesday. He hit three home runs in a 16-7 thrashing of the Nationals, becoming the second catcher to have a three-home run game while batting first, matching Travis d’Arnaud. Perhaps most notably, he became the fourth catcher to have two three-home run games in his career, matching Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Gary Carter, in addition to d’Arnaud. Oh, by the way, Nick Kurtz finished July batting .395/.480/.953 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs, one of the best months in history. The A’s may be in last place in the division, but they are fun.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Pittsburgh Pirates
Previous Ranking: 26 Paul Skenes was named National League Pitcher of the Month in July, the first time he won that honor. He went 2-1 with a 0.67 ERA in the month, allowing just two runs in 27 innings with 36 strikeouts and three walks. (He allowed four runs against the Rockies in his first start in August). With a 2.02 ERA, he could surpass Bob Veale’s 2.05 ERA in 1968 as the lowest for a Pirates pitcher in the live-ball era. The Pirates continue to manage Skenes very conservatively. He has exceeded 100 pitches only once in his last 12 starts and hasn’t pitched more than six innings since June 8.David Schoenfield’s Observation:
- Chicago White Sox
Previous Ranking: 29 The White Sox have played winning baseball for over a month, mainly thanks to a powerful and youth-infused offense. The outlook on the South Side couldn’t be more different from this time last season. Rookie Colson Montgomery has led the surge and has possibly already become Chicago’s most dangerous hitter, just over a month after his major league debut. Consistency isn’t there yet, but the quality of contact is astounding. Montgomery doesn’t qualify for Statcast rankings, but if he did, his xSLG would rank 14th in the majors.
Bradford Doolittle’s Observation:
- Washington Nationals
Previous Ranking: 28 The payoff for the Nationals going young was that they were supposed to be set up for the coming years with a strong core of young players. But that hasn’t really happened as planned, and Keibert Ruiz is perhaps the embodiment of that. The 27-year-old is in his fourth full season in the Major Leagues, and he seems stagnant offensively: He has two home runs in 68 games this season, with an on-base percentage of .277. A centerpiece of the Nationals’ trade of Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Dodgers, Ruiz is signed through the 2030 season, with club options for ’31 and ’32.Buster Olney’s Observation:
- Colorado Rockies
Previous ranking: 30 Seth Halvorsen could be a practical example of why it’s better to take advantage of reliever value when you have the opportunity. The 25-year-old, a seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft, established himself in the Major Leagues as a high-impact, fast-throwing reliever, and rival executives wondered if the
