If there was one thing that separated this year’s trade deadline from those in recent years, it was the distinction between the contenders who were clearly going for it and those who seemed just happy to be there, making small, ancillary moves that didn’t really change their outlooks.
Of course, not every team is going to swing for the fences in trades (pun intended), but when trying to win a World Series, often there needs to be a move that increases a team’s chances of winning. Among the teams that went big, the San Diego Padres stand out. They acquired the most impact at the deadline, trading for first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, outfielder Ramón Laureano, starter J.P. Sears and closer Mason Miller.
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Like many teams at the deadline, the New York Mets decided to make their bullpen a priority. They also aimed high, trading for left-hander Gregory Soto and right-handers Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley.
And then there were the Philadelphia Phillies, who didn’t need as much at the deadline, given a rock-solid rotation and a lineup hitting its stride. But for years, a lockdown closer for the ninth inning always felt like the area the Phillies lacked in their efforts to win the World Series. Last week, they addressed that need in a big way, adding All-Star closer Jhoan Duran to anchor the back end of their bullpen and strengthen their case as legitimate World Series contenders.
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While those teams moved aggressively to increase their World Series chances, other teams that went into the deadline as World Series contenders stayed rather quiet, opting to bet on their existing strengths rather than paying steep trade prices.
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The Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers were arguably the two best teams in the first half of this season. But both have clear weaknesses. For the Cubs, it has always been starting pitching, with no apparent in-house arm ready to start a postseason game behind Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd. The Cubs’ deadline left a lot to be desired, with their pitching additions limited to reliever Andrew Kittredge, reliever Taylor Rogers and starter Mike Soroka, who is already on the IL after pitching just two innings in his first outing with Chicago, leaving the Cubs exactly where they were before the deadline.
Meanwhile, Detroit needed a right-handed bat and more starting pitching. The Tigers added right-hander Chris Paddack from the…