Even before we reached the final day of the MLB non-waiver trade deadline, teams were active in shoring up their rosters for the final push to October. Here are some of the top deals to occur so far.
July 31
Athletics acquire SP Jon Lester and OF Jonny Gomes from Red Sox for OF Yoenis Cespedes
There are a million ways to look at the deal, and both teams are getting very, very valuable players. It's not an insane baseball trade from a practical standpoint. It's absolutely insane from an emotional standpoint.
This is all very strange, but wonderful, and will surely go down in history as one of the most daring deadline-period deals of all time.
Cardinals acquire SP John Lackey from Red Sox for SP Joe Kelly and OF/1B Allen Craig
It's a big deal, in short, and made both bigger and stranger by the fact that it's between last year's World Series teams, two great clubs with incredible depth. The Red Sox are dead for 2014, and though they seem to be gunning for a 2015 comeback, that's no sure thing with the top of their rotation shorn away. The Cardinals had to rethink their pitching staff just to bid for the postseason.
Athletics acquire OF Sam Fuld from Twins for SP Tommy Milone
Steve Goldman:
Fuld will provide depth in center as well as a defensive replacement for Jonny Gomes
Brewers acquire OF Gerardo Parra from Diamondbacks for minor league OF Mitch Haniger and P Anthony Banda
Mariners acquire OF Chris Denorfia from Padres for Abraham Almonte and minor league RHP Stephen Kohlscheen
Nationals acquire SS Asdrubal Cabrera from Indians for SS Zach Walters
Orioles acquire RP Andrew Miller from Red Sox for minor league SP Eduardo Rodriguez
Yankees acquire SS Stephen Drew from Red Sox for UT Kelly Johnson
Yankees acquire IF Martin Prado from Diamondbacks for C Peter O'Brien and cash/player to be named later
Tigers acquire SP David Price, Mariners acquire OF Austin Jackson, Rays acquire SP Drew Smyly and Nick Franklin
It's a risky move, and one that will doubtless leave fans and analysts wondering about other offers that might have been on the table. Still, it's one that could pay off in the end.
The Mariners would probably rather have David Price, but considering what they gave up, they shouldn't be disappointed at all.
The Tigers make the biggest of moves at the trading deadline, adding another Cy Young Award-winner to their pile of starting pitchers.
Braves acquire UT Emilio Bonifacio and P James Russell from Cubs for minor league C Victor Caratini
Marlins acquire SP Jarred Cosart, OF Austin Wates and UT Enrique Hernandez from Astros for OF Jake Marisnick, Colin Moran and Francis Martes
July 30
Cardinals acquire SP Justin Masterson from Indians for minor league OF James Ramsey
If you're not scared of the Cardinals showing up in October with a suddenly resurgent Masterson flashing his All-Star form from last year, you haven't watched enough Cardinals.
Cubs acquire SP Felix Dubrount from Red Sox for player to be named later
July 28
Blue Jays acquire IF Danny Valencia from Royals for SP Liam Hendriks and C Erik Kratz
Dodgers acquire IF Darwin Barney from Cubs for player to be named later
July 26
Giants acquire SP Jake Peavy from Red Sox for minor league pitchers Heath Hembree and Edwin Escobar
This was a move that had to happen. The Red Sox just didn't have any use for Peavy anymore. ... For all that, though, I'm not exactly pleased to see Jake Peavy go.
July 24
Mariners acquire DH Kendrys Morales for minor league RP Stephen Pryor
Trading for Morales certainly isn't the end of the world. He's not going to prevent anyone who deserves playing time from playing and he's not going to make the team worse. The cost to get him, in terms of player cost, was well within reason. It's just that there are countless other moves that would've likely made much more sense and helped the team a lot more.
July 23
Tigers acquire RP Joakim Soria from Rangers for minor league SP Jake Thompson and RP Corey Knebel
The Detroit Tigers are a good, flawed team, flawed because their bullpen is bathtub toast. To remedy this problem, the Tigers traded for closer Joakim Soria. With that, the Tigers fixed one of the more obvious problems in baseball. Except that Joe Nathan is still the closer.
July 22
Yankees acquire 3B Chase Headley from Padres for minor league SP Rafael de Paula and UT Yangervis Solarte
Whether this deal ends up working out for the Padres and Yankees is somewhat secondary for Headley, as simply getting himself out of qualifying territory has opened up a more promising short-term future on the market. If he manages to turn things around in the Bronx before then, it works out even better.
July 18
Angels acquire RP Huston Street from Padres for minor leaguers Taylor Lindsey, Jose Rondon, R.J. Alvarez and Elliot Morris
The 2017 Angels might have been hurt by the trade but the 2014 Angels had to make sure that things were as airtight as possible late in the games.
July 16
Royals acquire SP Jason Frasor from Rangers for RP Spencer Patton
July 6
Yankees acquire SP Brandon McCarthy from Diamondbacks for SP Vidal Nuno
This isn't the move that the Yankees needed to make to get themselves into the playoffs, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. They needed a pitcher and got one without giving up anything of real value. It's a steal.
July 4
A's acquire SP Jeff Samardzija and SP Jason Hammel from Cubs for SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney, RHP Dan Straily, PTBNL
Billy Beane rolls the dice, the Cubs add a possible centerpiece, and both boldly jump ahead of the annual in-season trade market.