The Major League Baseball trade deadline didn’t disappoint Wednesday, including the Zack Greinke blockbuster, which sent the Diamondbacks ace to Houston.
But while that was the headliner, teams sneaked in two dozen trades before the 4 p.m. ET deadline, including the Cubs adding Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, the Braves adding three of the top relievers available and — perhaps most surprising of all — the Yankees and Red Sox (and mostly, the Dodgers, too) standing pat.
Catching up on credit madness: Excellent work by @Ken_Rosenthal, @feinsand, @joelsherman1, @jonmorosi, @ScottyMitchTSN, @Chandler_Rome, @JonHeyman and others I’m probably missing who were on top of what wound up being an incredibly eventful trade deadline.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Relief pitching on the move
The Nationals made two of the most significant moves in Wednesday’s early hours, adding relief pitchers Daniel Hudson from Toronto and Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland from Seattle.
The Atlanta Braves, whom the Nats are chasing in the National League East, responded. The Braves swung deals for three of the top bullpen arms available. Shane Greene was the closer in Detroit and is having a great year with an ERA under 2.00. Chris Martin had become the closer in Texas. And Mark Melancon, acquired from San Francisco, has been an All-Star closer before.
In all, Atlanta gave up nothing but mid-level prospects to fortify a bullpen that was the team’s most glaring weakness.
For the Braves
In: Chris Martin, Shane Greene, Mark Melancon, John Ryan Murphy
Out: Kolby Allard, Joey Wentz, Travis Demeritte, Daniel Winkler, Tristan Beck
— Kris Willis (@Kris_Willis) July 31, 2019
Castellanos at the buzzer
Just a minute or so before the Zack Greinke deal stole all of the headlines, the Chicago Cubs made a significant move of their own. They got outfielder Nicholas Castellanos from the Tigers to give themselves another quality bat and defender.
Castellanos, who recently complained about the Tigers’ Comerica Park, always seemed likely to be dealt. The outfielder is hitting. 273/.328/.462 and is headed for a better hitter’s park. That seems like a good fit for the Cubs.
Source: The Cubs are sending 2017 first-round pick Alex Lange to the Tigers in the Nicholas Castellanos deal. Pitching prospect Paul Richan is also packaged in the trade, according to @CraigMish.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 31, 2019
All’s quiet in the AL East
Teams swung other deals in the last couple of hours. Reds pitcher Tanner Roark went to the Athletics. The Pirates shipped Corey Dickerson to the Phillies. The Marlins and Rays swapped a pair of relievers. And the Giants sent pitcher Drew Pomeranz to the Brewers.
But the moves that weren’t made were just as significant. While the Indians rearranged their team by trading Trevor Bauer for an offensive boost, and the Astros added Greinke to a ridiculous starting rotation, the Yankees and Red Sox did … exactly nothing.
The Yankees reportedly were interested in Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard, among other top starters. Their starting rotation has been historically bad in July. The Red Sox were never going to be extremely active, but a small move to shore up their bench or bullpen couldn’t be discounted.
Instead, two of the sports’ powerbrokers stood pat. And the Dodgers, who lead the NL, made only one small deal, getting reliever Adam Kolarek from the Rays.
It’s the Astros, not the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers who lapped the field during the trade deadline.
It’s not even close, writes Tom Verducci https://t.co/dA8ZXMjSrP
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 1, 2019
