MLB Trade Deadline 2024: Winners & Losers

Another MLB trade deadline season has come and gone.

On the surface, nothing monumental happened. Randy Arozarena, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, and Tanner Scott were among the most prominent names who changed teams.

As for prospects, no player in Baseball America’s midseason top 100 was moved.

However, that doesn’t fully reflect what occurred during an active trade deadline. 

Many teams focused on improving their teams on the margins to boost their World Series odds, while franchises like the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins took advantage of a sellers’ market.

With that in mind, here is a look at the biggest winners and losers from the 2024 MLB trade deadline:

MLB Trade Deadline Winners 2024

Los Angeles Dodgers

The World Series favorites waited until the buzzer to make their most significant move of the deadline, landing Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. He has a 2.95 ERA in a bounce-back campaign and should immediately boost a depleted rotation and the Dodgers’ playoff odds.

After a blockbuster offseason, Los Angeles didn’t swing for the fence with any other trades. The front office prioritized depth and flexibility, bringing in Tommy Edman, Kevin Kiermaier, Michael Kopech, and Amed Rosario.

Kopech, who came from the Chicago White Sox, could be one of the more underrated additions this summer. The Dodgers didn’t spend much in an expensive relief market to land an intriguing 28-year-old reliever who has flashed solid stuff.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays did what they always do: They turned their expensive players into cost-controlled developmental assets. They landed a strong haul of prospects, establishing themselves as one of the biggest sellers in the market.

This time, it cost Tampa Bay the likes of Arozarena, Isaac Paredes, Zach Eflin, Jason Adam, and Rosario. The Rays will be ready to reload in 2025, so everyone (including me) will grade them as winners.

But it’s OK not to approve of this relentless approach entirely. The Rays are only 3.5 games back of a playoff spot in a wide-open American League. Fans can’t possibly buy a jersey of their favorite player because they have no idea when that player might be moved.

Tampa Bay’s front office remains a winner, but at what cost?

Miami Marlins

Speaking of the Rays, Peter Bendix made his former team proud during his first trade deadline as the Marlins’ president of baseball operations. Like the Rays, the Marlins sold a bunch of veterans to overhaul their farm system.

The Marlins’ No. 17-ranked farm system (FanGraphs) now has Robby Snelling, Adam Mazur, Connor Norby, Graham Pauley, Deyvison De Los Santos, Garret Forrester, and Kyle Stowers.

Miami’s future is brighter after this year’s deadline, which should be the goal for a team that sits 14th in the National League standings.

Kansas City Royals

It was J.J. Picollo’s first trade deadline as a buyer since becoming the Royals’ general manager a few years ago. In a pricey market, he had the difficult task of improving the Royals’ playoff odds with the No. 28 farm system via FanGraphs.

And yet, Kansas City made some of the best bargain deals at the deadline without giving up too much prospect capital. The Royals landed relievers Hunter Harvey and Lucas Erceg, who have multiple years of control and will immediately be high-leverage options for a weak bullpen.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen can be an innings eater for a rotation that has been heavily utilized this year. Even Paul DeJong offers some power as a reserve infielder.

It was the exact type of deadline necessary for a team in playoff contention after losing 106 games last year.

MLB Trade Deadline Losers 2024

Chicago White Sox

While teams like the Rays and Marlins took advantage of a sellers’ market, the Chicago White Sox kept their most-coveted assets in Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet. Perhaps they didn’t get much of an offer for either player. 

The White Sox offloaded Erick Fedde, Kopech, DeJong, Eloy Jiménez, and Tommy Pham. But it certainly feels like the return could have been better for first-year general manager Chris Getz, with infielder Miguel Vargas seen as the prize.

Chicago is on track for a historically bad campaign and somehow didn’t do much to improve its future outlook at the deadline.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins watched 29 other teams make a move before they finally traded for reliever Trevor Richards. It’s the type of inactivity this franchise demonstrated in the winter, likely due to payroll restrictions.

The problem is, the Twins won their first playoff series since 2002 last October. They entered the season as minus-odds favorites to win the AL Central, and their team is talented enough to win a pennant.

Instead, Minnesota has had to watch the Cleveland Guardians lead the division for much of the year. The Twins are now fighting with the Royals for position in the wild-card race.

I’m not sure how a bettor or fan can feel too optimistic about the Twins’ playoff odds following the deadline.