Another MLB trade deadline has come and gone, setting the stage for a playoff run for some teams or a build towards the future for others.
This was a pivotal one for the Colorado Rockies’ new front office. Much was made about whether the Rockies would be more active than they have been historically, whether they would move all or most of the veteran pieces acquired in the offseason, and whether they would trade or build around some of their buzzy emerging stars.
The Purple Row team produced a number
of pieces on those – and other – questions, grading the team’s overall day, considering players that could have been dealt (like Brennan Bernardino), and surveying readers’ feelings about Colorado’s moves.
Looking across MLB, the trade deadline is the fork in the road for all of the risers and fallers leaning into their fates.
Around the division, the San Francisco Giants positioned themselves as sellers, the San Diego Padres attacked a big weakness, the Diamondbacks held steady, and the Los Angeles Dodgers inevitably landed Tarik Skubal in the splashiest move of the deadline.
- Back in our NL West preview before the season started, we examined the potential impact of Luis Arráez’ arrival on the Giants playoff hopes. PECOTA projections had San Francisco holding steady compared to 2025 when they finished 81-81, third in the division and within reach of the final NL Wild Card spot. With the addition of Arráez, it felt like the Giants could parlay his reliable offensive production into a run at the playoffs. They did not… At 48-66 as of this writing, San Francisco floundered this season and shipped Arráez off to the 61-53 Philadelphia Phillies.
- The Padres are 59-55, third in the division, and are middle of the pack for pitching (a team ERA of 4.15 at this point in the season, good for 16th in MLB). They acquired pitchers Robbie Ray and Casey Mize to bolster their rotation.
- We probably don’t need to beat a dead horse – or a potentially dead 2027 season – but the Dodgers scooped up star ace Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers sparking conversation around the league about their World Series chances and about potential salary cap implications.
Across the league, there were a few movers and shakers that stood out:
- The Milwaukee Brewers, emerging as strong National League contenders, didn’t get quite as splashy as some expected, but added pitching help via Dustin May, JoJo Romero, and long-time Rockie Antonio Senzatela.
- The AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays pushed their chips in on rental pitcher Freddy Peralta. They also made a move for Liam Hicks, a young catcher to build around with several controllable years left. Hicks poses both a near-future boost and a long-term solution.
- The Boston Red Sox, riding a scorching 21-4 July (now at 24 victories in their last 28 games), looked to further jockey their way into the playoff picture by adding catcher and 2019 #1 overall pick Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, along with relief pitcher Erik Miller and utility bat Eli White to try and flesh out their lineup around a solid core.
- At the bottom of the league with a 43-70 record, the Los Angeles Angels are leaning into a rebuild. At the deadline, they dealt Logan O’Hoppe, Chase Silseth, Jo Adell, Kirby Yates, José Soriano, and others, offloading those veterans and replenishing their farm system with prospects.
With all of the trades in the rearview as teams head into the closing months of the season, we want your thoughts on the moves:
- Which team’s trades (or lack thereof) surprised you the most?
- Which trade that didn’t happen would you like to make happen?
- Who do you think will have the biggest impact on their new squad?
- Thinking ahead, what are your bold predictions for what this year’s trades will set up for the offseason?
Let us know below!
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