MLB After the Deadline

In the end, it was the Dodgers who ended up getting Tarik Skubal.  "Of course they did" was the inevitable response of the cynics who think Major League Baseball is somehow rigged for the Dodgers to acquire every big-name player and win every World Series from now until the end of time.  They also claim it's further evidence that MLB "needs" a salary cap (which it doesn't) and that a lockout is definitely happening in December (which would've been the case regardless).  Both of which are ridiculous.

Here's the thing about the Skubal trade.  IT WAS A TRADE!  Not a free agent signing.  The Dodgers' finances had nothing to do with it!  All it cost them was prospects.  Every team had the same opportunity to get him, and some had a better package of prospects to offer the Tigers than Los Angeles did.  Nobody else was willing to pull the trigger.  That's not the Dodgers' fault.

As for the argument that this is further proof the Dodgers are "ruining" baseball, spare me!  As I said, not only did every team have the same opportunity to get Skubal, this has nothing to do with their financial might.  It's simply a well-run organization being smart.  There's nothing wrong with that!  In fact, it proves just how well-run the Dodgers are.  Everybody makes a big deal about their high-priced, big-name free agent signings, but it was their organizational depth and talent at the Minor League level that allowed them to make this deal.  Not their checkbook.

With all that being said, it's obvious that landing Skubal made the Dodgers better.  They were already the World Series favorites.  They made themselves even bigger favorites by getting the best pitcher available and making their potential postseason rotation even more formidable.  That's what teams who are serious about winning do.  So why begrudge them for it?  It screams "You hate us 'cause you ain't us."

The Dodgers are an obvious winner of the trade deadline.  Not only did they add an ace, Skubal didn't join the Brewers.  That's just as important.  Because just imagine the prospect of having to potentially face Skubal & Misiorowski three times in a five-game series or four times in a seven-game series.  Milwaukee had a chance to do it and even more reason to get Skubal than the Dodgers did.  So, the Brewers are a definite trade deadline loser.  Both because they saw Skubal go to Los Angeles and because, with the exception of getting Dustin May (who's no Tarik Skubal), they really did nothing at all.

I'd even venture to say that the Brewers might not even be the favorites in the NL Central anymore.  Because the Chicago Cubs were busy, and they addressed their biggest need by bringing in three starting pitchers.  Kevin Gausman was great in Toronto and was the veteran starter they were looking for.  They also added two lower-level starters in Clay Holmes and Braxton Garrett, as well as a bullpen arm (while also jettisoning Jameson Taillon).  They may be too far behind Milwaukee to steal the division, but they're set up nicely for the playoffs.

So are the Cubs' potential Wild Card Series opponent--the Phillies.  They needed a bat and they got one in Luis Arraez.  However, they didn't do anything else, so I'm not sure that's enough.  Arraez is also another left-handed bat for a team that already has so many.  It also complicates their defense since their entire infield with the exception of Trea Turner will have to move around to make room for Arraez, and Bryce Harper will go back to the outfield, where he hasn't played since 2022.  I'll give the Phillies a "Push" for their trade deadline.

Another team that gets a "Push" is Boston.  The Red Sox actually made one of the earliest moves when they got Curtis Mead from Washington to play second...only for him to break his wrist in hist first game with Boston.  Then they pivoted and picked up one of the biggest names on the board in Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.  It was interesting to see Baltimore trade the former No. 1 overall pick within the division, but it's the type of big splash the Red Sox used to make.  Is it enough to catch the Rays and Yankees and/or beat them in the playoffs, though?

Believe it or not, I actually think the Orioles had a pretty good deadline.  Sure, it was a rapid fall from a 101-win team to selling off at deadline, but they ended up with a pretty good haul for Rutschman, whose injury history made him expendable.  As did the fact that he and Samuel Basallo are both catchers.  Yes, the Orioles were one of the busiest teams at the deadline, mostly giving away players.  But they got a lot in return.

Elsewhere in the AL East, the Yankees addressed their bullpen with addition by subtraction, sending Camilo Doval to Pittsburgh and Jake Bird to Washington.  Somebody's also moving to the bullpen when Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt return, so they'll get some bullpen help from within.  In return for Bird, they got Luis Garcia, who helps in the power department, but is a bit of an awkward fit in that he's another lefty bat and another first baseman.  They were also able to add the needed right-handed outfield bat in Heliot Ramos.  However, they didn't add a catcher and seem to be waiting for Judge, Stanton and/or Bellinger to come back.  The Garcia trade tells me that they aren't confident all three will, though.

Tampa Bay, the third team in that AL East triumvirate, doubled down on pitching.  What else is new?!  The Rays pivoted to Freddy Peralta after they lost out on Skubal.  That's a great 1-2-3 with All*Stars Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez, and they're expecting to get Shane McClanahan back at some point, too.  They've obviously got the pitching.  The question is whether they'll have enough offense, especially since Arraez would've been a perfect fit for them, but ended up in Philadelphia instead.

San Diego is an interesting team.  The Padres have no chance of catching the Dodgers.  Their offense (which should be good) is struggling.  The have one of the best closers in the game, Mason Miller, who they were shopping around, along with fellow relief ace Adrian Morejon.  Instead, they kept both relievers, didn't get any bats, and added two starters (Robbie Ray and Casey Mize).  Apparently, they plan on winning every game 3-2.

I'm also curious to see what happens on the South Side of Chicago (yes, having just come back from there has made me more invested in the two Chicago teams).  The White Sox are ahead of schedule, so who can blame them for going for it in a winnable AL Central.  I actually like the Luis Castillo trade.  He hasn't been good this year, but a veteran starter is never a bad thing to add.  Likewise, their catchers have given them nothing all season, so they took a flier on Joey Bart (who was traded for the second time this year).

Then there's the AL West, which is just as big a crapshoot as the Central.  Houston wanted a left-handed-hitting outfielder and got one in Daulton Varsho (who I think is overrated, but is good defensively in center).  The Mariners traded Castillo and were shopping Randy Arozarena, only to add another outfielder in Taylor Ward and bullpen help in Seranthony Dominguez.  The AL West race could end up being very interesting (and, remember, the AL West winner just needs to finish with more wins than the White Sox or Guardians to get the 2-seed).

Will every trade deadline deal work out?  Of course not!  That's part of the fun.  Teams make these trades thinking they've found the missing piece, only to find out that it isn't.  Or maybe the best move will end up being the one you didn't make.  Sometimes the "improvements" aren't worth the price, especially when it may literally be just a two-month rental.

Still, some teams did get better with their trade deadline moves.  And those absolutely could end up making a difference come October.  Yes, the rich got richer with the Dodgers getting Skubal.  The overwhelming favorites are now even more overwhelming.  But nothing's guaranteed in the postseason.  Not even the "inevitable" Dodgers championship.  Even if it might feel like that right now after they were the biggest winners of the 2026 trade deadline.