The 2017 MLB Trade Deadline is officially over, with multiple notable players switching teams before the postseason chase. Now it's time to take a look at which teams are the winners and losers from the trade deadline. We've selected the five biggest winners and the three biggest losers.
Not every team is either a winner or a loser, so not every team is listed below. Only the top options for winners and losers were selected, which means teams like the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays (not great, but not terrible), didn't make the list. Trades that happened in the days or weeks leading up to the deadline are also included. With that in mind, here are the 2017 MLB Trade Deadline Winners and Losers.
Winners
New York Yankees
Who they got: 3B Todd Frazier, RP David Robertson, RP Tommy Kahnle, SP Jaime Garcia, SP Sonny Gray
Who they gave up: CF Blake Rutherford, RHP Ian Clarkin, RP Tyler Clippard, CF Tito Polo, RHP Zack Littell, LHP Dietrich Enns, SS/OF Jorge Mateo, OF Dustin Fowler, RHP James Kaprielian
The Yankees were one of the most aggressive teams before and at the deadline. They made one massive trade weeks earlier, landing an upgrade at third base in Todd Frazier and two good bullpen arms (one great one in Robertson). Garcia was a relatively cheap rental and the Yankees also managed to add the top controllable arm available at the deadline in Gray. Most importantly, the Yankees got to keep top prospects Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier. Sure, the Yankees gave up really good pieces in Blake Rutherford, Jorge Mateo and Dustin Fowler, but the Yankees were flush at those positions. New York's farm system still has some good players and they got a heck of a lot better.
Chicago White Sox
Who They Got: LF Eloy Jimenez, RHP Dylan Cease, 2B Bryant Flete, 1B Matt Rose, CF Blake Rutherford, RHP Ian Clarkin, RP Tyler Clippard, CF Tito Polo, OF Ryan Cordell, 1B Casey Gillaspie, RHP A.J. Puckett, LHP Andre Davis
Who They Gave Up: SP Jose Quintana, 3B Todd Frazier, RP David Robertson, RP Tommy Kahnle, RP Anthony Swarzak, RP Dan Jennings, OF Melky Cabrera
The winners section isn't just reserved for the buyers (although it is mostly buyers). The White Sox were easily the top seller at this year's deadline, when factoring in their Yankees and Cubs trades. The White Sox farm system is now stacked, with eight of the top 70 prospects according to MLB.com. Of the new additions, Eloy Jimenez is 7th overall, Blake Rutherford is 45th and Dylan Cease is the 67th. The White Sox also got back solid returns for Anthony Swarzak (OF Ryan Cordell), Dan Jennings (1B Casey Gillaspie) and Melky Cabrera (A.J. Puckett). GM Rick Hahn had put on a clinic in doing a rebuild.
Chicago Cubs
Who They Got: SP Jose Quintana, RP Justin Wilson, C Alex Avila
Who They Gave Up: LF Eloy Jimenez, RHP Dylan Cease, 2B Bryant Flete, 1B Matt Rose, 3B Jeimer Candelario, SS Isaac Paredes
The prices to get Quintana, Wilson and Avila were not cheap. But that's not to say they weren't good deals. Quintana is a great pitcher under team control, something the Cubs really needed. Wilson was the best bullpen arm to be dealt this year and while Candelario was a top 100 prospect, where was he going to play for the Cubs? Filling the need in the bullpen and at catcher for two infielders was a smart move by the Cubs. Yes, their farm system is thin, but the roster is still stacked with young players.
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Los Angeles Dodgers
Who They Got: RP Tony Watson, RP Tony Cingrani and SP Yu Darvish
Who They Gave Up: IF Oneil Cruz, RHP Angel German, OF Scott Van Slyke, C/1B Hendrik Clementina, 2B/OF Willie Calhoun, RHP AJ Alexy, INF Brendon Davis
The Dodgers bought low on Watson and Cingrani, two lefty bullpen arms who have had down years. They came pretty cheaply as well, since Cruz is the only Top 30 prospect and he's stuck behind higher ranked 3B and SS. The big trade was adding Yu Darvish, the best pitcher on the market after Gray was dealt. The deal came in just before the deadline, as the Dodgers sacrificed their No. 4 prospect in Calhoun (and No. 69 overall), No. 17 in Alexy and their 27th in Davis. And just like the Yankees, the Dodgers managed to keep their top prospects, all of whom are in the Top 51. It's a premium price to pay for rental, but it's not an overpay. The Dodgers are playing absurdly well this year and now the pitching staff is upgraded. They're the clear World Series favorites.
Washington Nationals
Who They Got: RP Sean Doolittle, RP Ryan Madson, RP Brandon Kintzler
Who They Gave Up: RP Blake Treinen, 3B Sheldon Neuse, RHP Jesus Luzardo, LHP Tyler Watson
The Nationals had one very clear need during trade season: the bullpen. So their moves to add three very good bullpen arms easily qualify them as the last major winner. Madson and Doolittle were the expensive pieces, as Neuse was the No. 7 prospect in the team's system and Luzardo was the No. 10. But the biggest piece was Kintzler, who only cost Watson (the No. 17 prospect), because Kintzler is a rental. The Nationals also managed to keep their top prospect in OF Victor Robles.
Losers
Baltimore Orioles
Who They Got: SP Jeremy Hellickson, INF Tim Beckham
Who They Gave Up: OF Hyun Soo Kim, LHP Garrett Cleavinger, RHP Tobias Myers, International Bonus Money
I have no idea what the Orioles are doing. At 50-54 in a stacked AL East, they need to sell to help boost a poor farm system that features one top 50 prospect. But rather than sell players like Zach Britton or pending free agents or engaging in a full-blown fire sale, the Orioles traded for SP Jeremy Hellickson and INF Tim Beckham. I don't understand the decision-making and based on the reactions, Orioles' fans don't either. Yes, they need starting pitching, but Hellickson isn't even under team control beyond this year. The additions of Hellickson and Beckham are win-now moves by a team that thinks they'll compete this year or next. The problem is, the Orioles aren't that caliber of team.
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Houston Astros
Who They Got: RP Francisco Liriano
What They Gave Up: OF Nori Aoki, OF Teoscar Hernandez
Loser might be a little harsh for the Astros, who are still one of the best teams in baseball. But the only move the Astros made was landing Francisco Liriano, who they will reportedly move into the bullpen. They gave up a Top 10 prospect in their farm in Hernandez, even though it's not clear how he'd be able to get playing time. Aoki was starting for the Astros, making his inclusion a bit odd. That's a high price to pay for a struggling Liriano. Worst of all, the Astros failed to add another starting pitcher (a need amplified by Lance McCullers' injury) or a high-leverage bullpen arm. The rest of the Astros' top threat for a World Series (Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs, Nationals and heck even the Royals and Indians) all improved in a more significant way than the Astros. They're still a World Series favorite, but Houston didn't improve like the other contenders did. That makes them a loser.
Detroit Tigers
Who they got: 3B Dawel Lugo, SS Sergio Alcantara, SS Jose King, 3B Jeimer Candelario, SS Isaac Paredes
Who they gave up: OF J.D. Martinez, RP Justin Wilson, C Alex Avila
The Tigers weren't as bad as the Orioles, but they weren't winners either. They traded Martinez early in the deadline season, with Lugo being the top return. He was fourth in the Diamondbacks system, but he doesn't even crack the top 12 in Detroit's. Alcantara was 15th for Arizona but only 23rd for the Tigers. It's not a terrible return, but you'd think the Tigers could do better. The Tigers reportedly wanted an Aroldis Chapman-type return for Wilson, but all they got back was Candelario and Paredes while also dealing Avila. Candelario was the Cubs top prospect and No. 92 overall, but he's just third in the Tigers' system. Paredes is not 8th among Detroit prospects. And while the Tigers were a bit thin on infielders before making trades, it's weird for them to only get third basemen and shortstops back. Detroit didn't get back great value in return, but they're really losers for failing to sell some other pieces. Eating salary and dealing guys like Justin Verlander, Ian Kinsler or even a Justin Upton might have been the best long-term move for the Tigers. I don't hate the Tigers' move as much as I do the Orioles, but I fear they're still stuck in a state of mediocrity.
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