PHOENIX — The 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline didn’t see any major trades, and only a handful of All-Star players changed teams.

However, even with the absence of headline deals, seven teams have made significant gains from their new additions, making fans wonder where they would be without them.

“Thinking about where we’d be is not something I want to do,” said Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. “These new players have been crucial for our success. Their impact has already been substantial.”

The most surprising find at the trade deadline was Michael Kopech, a middle reliever formerly with the Chicago White Sox. After struggling on the worst team in baseball with a 2-8 record and a 4.74 ERA, Kopech is now 3-0 with a remarkable 0.59 ERA since joining the Dodgers, striking out 20 out of 57 batters he has faced.

“It’s like there’s some kind of magic over there,” noted Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Paul Sewald. “Just look at what he’s accomplished.”

As the Dodgers chase their 12^th NL West title in 13 years, they secured valuable players at the trade deadline without parting with any of their top prospects, including starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, versatile utility player Tommy Edman, and Kopech.

Flaherty, who was with the Detroit Tigers, was close to being traded to the New York Yankees, but after reviewing his medical records, the Yankees backed out, reducing the asking price. The Dodgers managed to acquire him for a bargain price, giving up prospects Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney. Flaherty has stepped up as the leading starter on a battered pitching staff, boasting a 4-1 record and a 3.18 ERA, and is expected to pitch during Game 1 of the postseason. Additionally, through a three-way trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and the White Sox, the Dodgers secured Edman and Kopech by trading away struggling outfielder Miguel Vargas, who had been performing poorly in Chicago.

The Dodgers also picked up Gold Glove winner Kevin Kiermaier from the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I think it’s really worked out well for all of us,” Kopech told YSL News Sports. “Things are great.”

After a rocky 11-13 record in July, the Dodgers have rebounded to 21-11 since July 31 and, despite uncertainty about their starting rotation as October approaches, they may very well be the strongest team in the National League.

Here are other teams that gained the most from their quiet moves during the trade and waiver deadlines:

San Diego Padres

Padres GM A.J. Preller, who had traded 12 of his top 15 prospects during the season, made bold moves at the trade deadline.

He built a formidable bullpen by acquiring relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing from the Miami Marlins, as well as Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays.

As a result, they have transformed their games into six-inning showdowns.

Before Saturday’s game, the Padres were 23-11 since the trade deadline and an impressive 31-13 since the All-Star break, boasting an MLB-best 60-7 record when scoring at least five runs this season.

With their improved late-inning bullpen, they are now strong contenders for the World Series title.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals, staging one of the biggest comebacks in baseball history after a dismal 106-loss season last year, weren’t content with simply achieving a winning record.

They made the most deals during the trade and waiver deadlines, bringing in infielder Paul DeJong, outfielders Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman, starter Michael Lorenzen, and reliever Hunter Harvey.

The Royals have struggled against playoff teams in a stretch of 20 consecutive games, but their recent acquisitions have kept them in contention.

DeJong has excelled since leaving the White Sox, hitting six home runs and driving in 15 runs, while waiver pickups Pham, Grossman, and minor-league addition Yuli Gurriel have collectively batted .324 with a .500 slugging percentage.

With added depth, the Royals may still have a chance to catch Cleveland and could see postseason action again thanks to their proactive winter and trade deadline strategies.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Although the Diamondbacks didn’t initially plan to make big moves at the deadline, a wave of injuries prompted them to act, resulting in significant gains.

They took advantage of the opportunity to acquire left-handed reliever A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins, picked up first baseman Josh Bell within hours of losing Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker, and signed Luis Guillorme in August after All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was injured.

Despite injuries that could have derailed their season, the new additions ensured that the D-backs continued to perform well, achieving a record of 21-12 since the trades. Puk has delivered a 0.56 ERA over his 19 games, striking out 26 out of 59 batters. Bell made an immediate impact, hitting four home runs in his first six games, and Guillorme has showcased exceptional defensive skills.

With both Walker and Marte back in the lineup, the Diamondbacks are poised to return to the postseason and could stir up trouble similar to the previous year.

“Having an aggressive front office means a lot to us,” said D-backs third baseman Eugenio Suarez. “Just one day after Walker got hurt, there was Bell ready to step in.”

“We are confident that we can compete with the Dodgers. We believe we can compete with anyone.”

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles recognized that they needed additional support, especially in their starting rotation, to extend their playoff run into October.

To bolster their team, they made moves for Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays and Trevor Rogers from the Marlins, acquired Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto to reinforce their struggling bullpen, and took a chance on a slumping Eloy Jimenez from the White Sox.

Eflin has proven to be the most effective pitcher acquired during the trading period, boasting a 5-1 record with a 2.37 ERA, making him an ideal No. 2 starter for postseason play, right after Corbin Burnes.

Without Eflin’s performance, they wouldn’t be vying with the Yankees for the AL East championship.

Houston Astros

During the trade deadline, many laughed at the Astros for what they gave up to acquire Yusei Kikuchi, sending promising prospects Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner to the Toronto Blue Jays.

But who’s laughing now?

Kikuchi is 4-0 with a 3.07 ERA and has struck out 53 batters across 41 innings, while the Astros have won all seven games he started.

He hardly resembles the pitcher who had a 4-9 record with a 4.75 ERA while with the Blue Jays, having reduced his curveball usage and increased his sliders and fastballs.

Since Kikuchi’s arrival, the Astros’ rotation has posted a remarkable 2.51 ERA and the lowest batting average allowed (.185) of any team in a month since 1968. Their rotation features depth with Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, and Spencer Arrighetti.

With this momentum, the Astros are on the path to their eighth consecutive ALCS and possibly another World Series title.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians’ rotation has struggled significantly this season, prompting them to sign Matthew Boyd, who was recovering from Tommy John surgery, to a major league contract just a month before the trade deadline. They also took a chance on Alex Cobb from the Giants, who hadn’t pitched at all this season due to injury.

The total investment for both pitchers: $5 million.

Instead of merely providing minor stability, these veterans have been key in keeping the Guardians at the top of the AL Central standings.

Boyd has a record of 2-1 with an impressive 2.20 ERA over five starts, while Cobb, who was recovering from hip surgery, also has a 2-1 record with a 2.76 ERA over three starts.

This performance is commendable for two players who hadn’t seen any major league action before joining Cleveland.

You can expect to see them on the national stage in October for the Guardians.

Around the Bases

– There’s been talk of potential changes in the front offices throughout the season, but no significant shakeups seem imminent.

Reports indicate that Jerry Dipoto will return to the Seattle Mariners, as the Seattle Times first reported, despite the team likely missing the playoffs for the 22^nd time in 23 years.

A.J. Preller has put an end to uncertainty regarding his role with the San Diego Padres after a $90 million payroll cut and noticeable team improvements.

Although the Toronto Blue Jays might consider reassigning GM Ross Atkins after failing to reach the playoffs, there’s no sign that he will be let go.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, amidst their sixth straight losing season, are more likely to make changes in their managerial staff than with GM Ben Cherington.

There is some internal tension in the Chicago Cubs’ front office, but high-ranking officials say that despite their disappointing season, Jed Hoyer will return as president of baseball operations in 2025.

The San Francisco Giants, who have exceeded the luxury tax threshold and brought in manager Bob Melvin while still having a losing season, are expected to keep Farhan Zaidi around for at least one more year if he is assigned to negotiate a long-term deal for third baseman Matt Chapman.

The St. Louis Cardinals may face a losing record for two consecutive years for the first time since 1958-59, but president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has already announced his plans to step down after the 2025 season, possibly opening the door for Chaim Bloom. While roles may shift, major changes are not expected.

The Cincinnati Reds have not won a playoff game since 2012, yet Nick Krall, the president of baseball operations, is likely to retain his position, while coaching staff under manager David Bell may face scrutiny.

After last year’s World Series win, the Texas Rangers were anticipated to remain competitive, yet it’s surprising that GM Chris Young has not secured a contract extension yet. Nonetheless, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be back for another season.

If these teams fail to reach the playoffs next year, they might face some serious employment consequences.

– While the White Sox have been underwhelming with Grady Sizemore compared to Pedro Grifol, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker remains the top choice for the White Sox’s managerial position in 2025, though he may also have other offers.

– The happiest player about Matt Chapman’s six-year, $151 million contract extension with the San Francisco Giants, besides Chapman himself, is Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros.

With Chapman off the free-agent list, Bregman is now the clear standout third baseman on the market with minimal competition.

– The advertising revenue from the Dodgers’ outfield wall this year amounts to $6.5 million, attributed to Shohei Ohtani, a significant rise from just $500,000 in 2023.

– Veteran Atlanta player Whit Merrifield reported that there will be penalties for pitchers who hit batters in the head with fastballs after a recent MLB Competition Committee meeting.

“We’ll have a plan in place by the start of the next season,” Merrifield told reporters in Atlanta. “I’d be surprised if we didn’t. Everyone agrees on it; the main discussion is about what the penalties will be and how we’ll define it.”

The increase in pitch velocities has led to a surge in hit batters, with 657 players hit by pitches in 1980 compared to 2,112 last year, a number that could potentially rise this season.

– The San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres made a noteworthy trade involving All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and also faced losses in free agency, including key players like Blake Snell, Josh Hader, Michael Wacha, and Seth Lugo. However, they are significantly improved compared to last year, with many players expressing admiration for manager Mike Shildt and the positive environment in the clubhouse.

It’s clear that they have shown greater resilience this season compared to a year ago, when they were considered the most underperforming team in baseball.

Last season, the Padres struggled in extra innings, ending with a disappointing 2-12 record and a puny .169 batting average in those situations. This year, they have turned that around impressively, boasting an 8-1 record in extra innings with an outstanding .412 batting average.

This season, they have rallied back from deficits of five runs or more on four occasions and secured 21 wins in games where they trailed by two or more runs, which is a remarkable increase of 13 victories from last year.

– The scouting world took a major hit recently, especially in Chicago where the White Sox let go several seasoned pro scouts including Billy Scherer, Joe Siers, Bruce Benedict, and Duraka Shaheed, along with special assistant Marco Paddy, who headed international scouting. Meanwhile, on the North Side, the Cubs dismissed four younger scouts and made significant budget cuts.

The Cubs have instructed their scouting team that they will now only scout games in the complex league and the Dominican Summer League, which is quite harsh.

– Both the Houston Astros and New York Mets have remarkably bounced back from being 11 games under .500 to now being 11 games over .500. If they maintain this position, they will become only the third set of teams to achieve such a turnaround, joining the likes of the Houston Astros and Oakland A’s in 2005 and the St. Louis Browns and New York Giants in 1916.

– Chris Sale is a strong candidate for the NL Cy Young award, with 11 career games in which he’s thrown at least seven shutout innings, struck out nine or more batters, and allowed six or fewer hits without any walks. The only other pitcher to match this remarkable achievement?

Sale’s hero, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.

– Remember when the New York Yankees appeared to be almost unbeatable with a league-best record of 50-22 as of June 14? Since that point, they have dropped to a record of 32-38, despite winning the first two games of their weekend series against the Cubs.

– Achieving no-hitters is a tall order in today’s baseball, especially considering how rarely pitchers get a chance to face a lineup three times in a game before being pulled.

Over the last three years, pitchers have been taken out of games 45 times with a no-hitter in progress after at least five innings, including 12 instances just this year.

– The Yankees have a limited time frame of three weeks to resolve their closer situation before the playoffs kick off. Clay Holmes had an impressive 0.00 ERA in his first 20 games, but since May 20, his ERA has increased to 5.14, leading the major leagues with 11 blown saves.

– How has the Padres bullpen been performing this season? Remarkably strong. The recent game where Robert Suarez allowed a game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning was the first time all season the Padres lost after their starter gave the bullpen a lead since June 2.

– Think Manny Machado plays a key role in the Padres’ success? Consider this: they were 37-40 on June 18 while Machado was experiencing a career-low start with a .661 OPS.

Since then, he has improved significantly with a .919 OPS, and the Padres have gone 43-21. Notably, they have a perfect record of 24-0 this season when he contributes two or more runs in a single game.

“It has to be always me,” Machado remarked to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “If we’re going to win, I have to perform. That’s just what it is.”

– Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.’s recent trip to the Oakland Coliseum held special significance for him. “It’s where I got my first hit,” Griffey reminisced.

At just 19 years old, Griffey, then starting center fielder for the Mariners, hit a double off the 20-game winner Dave Stewart, marking his first major league hit.

– Texas Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford now shares an exclusive club of remarkable achievements. He has become just the second player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam, an inside-the-park home run, and complete a cycle in the same season.

The other? Jackie Robinson.

– Veteran pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has proven to be a tremendous asset for the Texas Rangers, holding a 23-12 record (.657) in his first 50 starts with the team. This stands as the third-best winning percentage by a Rangers pitcher in their initial 50 starts, trailing only behind Cole Hamels and Kenny Rogers.

– As for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, he is on track to contend for the AL Cy Young award and has a realistic chance of achieving the unprecedented feat of leading the major leagues in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.

Only two pitchers have previously clinched the pitching Triple Crown: Mets starter Dwight Gooden in 1985 and Mets starter Johan Santana in 2006.

– Marcell Ozuna’s bid for the NL Triple Crown has unfortunately slipped away, yet he has consistently demonstrated his value, boasting on-base streaks of 27, 24, and 23 games.

– If the Babe Ruth trade ranks as the most disastrous in Boston Red Sox history, the Sale trade to Atlanta may not be far behind.

Sale is almost certain to be crowned the unanimous winner of the NL Cy Young award, leading in all three categories of the pitching Triple Crown. He has surrendered two or fewer runs in 15 consecutive games.

Not only did the Red Sox receive just infielder Vaughn Grissom in exchange, but they also included $17 million in the trade, covering Sale’s entire salary for the 2024 season.

– The situation in Pittsburgh is grim, especially since first baseman Rowdy Tellez has had to pitch three times in 12 days during the Pirates’ lopsided losses, while the team has recorded one run or less in 30 games.

– The White Sox may find themselves as a playoff contender if only the games concluded after six innings. Their record stands at 27-22 when leading after six innings this year, while they have a stark 5-88 record when tied or falling behind after that point.

They haven’t won a single game since May 5 when they found themselves tied or trailing after six innings.

– Luis Arraez is making waves with an impressive combination of skills; he hasn’t struck out in 105 plate appearances, is batting .368 with runners in scoring position, and maintains a .280 batting average even with two strikes against him.

– The Mariners may be left feeling regretful as they reflect on their poor performance in one-run games this season, with a record of 6-17 since June 19.

– It turns out that there was more to Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker’s three-month absence from the game than just a bruised shin; it was actually fractured.

– The Dodgers are uncertain about their starting rotation leading into the playoffs, aside from Jack Flaherty, now that Gavin Stone has been placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. They have juggled 17 starters this season, with 11 having landed on the injured list.

– The Phillies have reached an impressive milestone, having won 31 consecutive games when their starting pitcher completes at least seven innings. This marks the second-longest streak in baseball history, following only the 1942 St. Louis Cardinals’ record of 42 games.

– Garrett Crochet stands out as the sole bright spot in the White Sox’s disappointing season, continuing to pitch without any plan to shut him down.

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This season, Shohei Ohtani will make history as the first full-time designated hitter (DH) to receive the MVP award. However, we should remember that back in 1979, Don Baylor won the AL MVP while playing for the Angels, having started 65 games as a DH.

– A big congratulations to Darren Baker, son of Dusty Baker, who became the eighth child of a former Major League Baseball player to debut this year:

He is now part of a group that includes Griffin Conine, Grant McCray, Will Wagner, Jacob Wilson, Angel Martinez, Jack Leiter, and Jackson Holliday.

– We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Tony Attanasio, a longtime agent who represented several star players, including Dave Stewart and Ichiro Suzuki, who has passed away at the age of 84 in San Diego.

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