Trade Grades feat. Trevor May
Trevor May and his production team grade all of the biggest deals from this year's Trade Deadline.
The Mayday! production crew is here this week to break down all of the biggest action from the Trade Deadline. Enjoy!
Padres making shocking deal, trade for Mason Miller, JP Sears
Padres get: RHP Mason Miller, LHP JP Sears
A's get: SS Leo De Vries (MLB No. 3 prospect), RHP Braden Nett (SDP No. 3), RHP Henry Baez (SDP No. 13), Eduarniel Núñez (SDP No. 17)
Trevor May:
Padres grade: A
Look, I get that Leo De Vries is about as big of a prospect as there is and for a reliever, it seems like a MASSIVE overpay. That may end up being true. But, prospects aren’t major league studs until they are in the bigs. What we do know for sure though, is that Mason Miller is a bonafide monster and a top closer and JP Sears is a quality major league starter. Those two things, combined with how controllable they both still are, make this a really good move for the Pads, especially as they try to make a run at the NL West.
A’s grade: A+
Leo De Vries at short, Jacob Wilson and second, Nick Kurtz at first, Max Muncy at third. Enough said.
David Korn:
Padres grade: A-
I may be higher on this deal from the Padres side than most, but I have a hard time faulting a team for getting a player of Mason Miller’s caliber. Across all sports, I tend to think that prospect/draft pick value is severely overrated, especially for a player as young as the 18-year-old Leo De Vries. He is not a guarantee, and Miller gives the Padres arguably the best bullpen of all time (yes, I said it). One more note on this, given how much the Padres gave up for Miller, I would not be shocked to see if they kick the tires on transitioning him to a starting pitcher at some point.
A’s grade: A+
The A’s obviously are not doing anything this season, and while they may not have gone into this Trade Deadline planning on moving Mason Miller, they got an offer too good to turn down. Leo De Vries looks like a generational prospect and this is about as much value as a reliever, even someone who is as talented as Miller, could possibly bring in.
Henry Neiman:
Padres grade: B
Losing De Vries sucks, but getting a couple years of Mason Miller to complete what might be the best bullpen in the league is great for a team going all in like the Padres
A’s grade: A
The A’s are going to have one of the best infields in baseball in a few years with Kurtz, Wilson, De Vries, and Muncy. Love the haul for them.
Mariners bulk up offense, trade for Josh Naylor
Mariners get: 1B Josh Naylor
Diamondbacks get: LHP Brandyn Garcia (SEA No. 13 prospect), RHP Ashton Izzi (SEA No. 16)
Trevor:
Mariners grade: A+
I love Josh Naylor. He has pop, plays a solid 1st base, works counts, and has an electric personality. I think he is going to thrive with this Mariners crew and it's nice to see the M’s get a true first baseman for the first time in what feels like 35 years.
Diamondbacks grade: B
I am too busy to learn a lot about the prospects sent, so I’m just going with the, “I hope it works out for them,” approach. Nice job, Diamondbacks?
David:
Mariners grade: A+
The biggest complaint the Mariners have gotten over the past few years is that they have not built up a good enough offense to support their elite pitching staff. That can not be said anymore, especially after they aggressively went out and traded for Josh Naylor a week before the deadline.
Diamondbacks grade: C+
Just like how I praised the Mariners for acting quickly to get Naylor, the Diamondbacks probably could have played this a little more conservatively and let his market get a bit more competitive. I will defer to my colleague and author of our Mariners blog, Henry, on evaluating the Mariners prospects heading to Arizona and echo his belief that Mike Hazen could have done better.
Henry:
Mariners grade: A
Naylor is exactly who the Mariners needed at first base. It was one of their biggest liabilities on the field, and a consistent power bat and good defense in Naylor is a huge breath of fresh air.
Diamondbacks grade: B-
Garcia is the big get for Arizona, and I think he is a good arm who is mostly major league ready. Izzi is a tougher case, as he has been struggling in High-A this year. Could’ve gotten more for Naylor.
Rangers add to rotation, trade for Merrill Kelly
Rangers get: RHP Merrill Kelly
Diamondbacks get: LHP Kohl Drake (TEX No. 5 prospect), LHP Mitch Bratt (TEX No. 9) and RHP David Hagaman (TEX No. 13)
Trevor:
Rangers grade: B
I think the Rangers likely gave up a little too much, but the risk is worth it for another stable veteran presence in their rotation, joining Jacob deGrom and Nate Eovaldi. In a game where playoff baseball is best played with 3 quality starters, the Rangers have now checked that box.
Diamondbacks grade: B+
They got 3 top 30 prospects for a 3-4 starter? I like that. If one of those three become a productive Diamondback for any length of time and they get their value.
David:
Rangers grade: B+
I feel like this is a lot for a rental, but Merrill Kelly is a veteran and proven postseason performer. If the Rangers can get to October, despite some of their offensive struggles this season, a postseason rotation led by Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom and Kelly allows them to compete with anyone.
Diamondbacks grade: A
Being able to pry Kohl Drake, among others, away from the Rangers for half a season of 36-year-old Merrill Kelly is a great move for the Diamondbacks. While this does not usually work, this could be even better for the D-backs if they are able to re-sign Kelly, an Arizona native who loved pitching in the desert, this offseason.
Henry:
Rangers grade: A-
Good pickup to shore up the starting rotation, every aspect of the pitching staff in Texas looks good now.
Diamondbacks grade: B+
It was a good time to move on from Kelly, he has good numbers this year and got a nice handful of young guys. If the D-backs are rebuilding, the older Kelly had to go.
Mets bolster center field, trade for Cedric Mullins
Mets get: CF Cedric Mullins
Orioles get: RHP Anthony Nunez (NYM No. 14 prospect), RHP Raimon Gómez (NYM No. 30), RHP Chandler Marsh
Trevor:
Mets grade: B-
They got a great defender, a left handed stick, and some good pop in center. This was one of the few points of weakness for them and they willed that gap admirably. This could pay big dividends for this year. The drawbacks are still pretty glaring though. He’s a rental and they traded a LOT of prospects in all of their trades. Mullins will need to make a large impact for the Mets to “win this one.”
Orioles grade: B
How anyone keeps up on prospects and also pays attention to the big leagues is beyond me. They got three prospects for a rental. That has me leaning a little bit towards the Orioles on this one.
David:
Mets grade: C+
Cedric Mullins is a great defender in center field, but they already have that in Tyrone Taylor. If they really wanted an upgrade at that position, Luis Robert was the better option.
Orioles grade: B
In the final year of his contract, Cedric Mullins had to go. He has not had a great last few years since going 30-30 in 2021, but he was still able to net the Orioles a few prospects.
Henry:
Mets grade: B
The Mets needed an outfielder and Mullins is a great glove this year, but his bat has been lacking. Still, it is good to upgrade from Tyrone Taylor.
Orioles grade: B
Baltimore gets back a solid couple of prospects, but Mullins felt like a guy that could’ve been an Oriole forever. A loss for the vibes.
Astros reunite with Carlos Correa
Astros get: SS Carlos Correa
Twins get: LHP Matt Mikulski
Trevor:
Astros grade: B
Nostalgia rarely works out in baseball. They also took on a fairly bulky contract for a less than productive year. That said, if he’s pointing at his watch in October, none of any of that will matter.
Twins grade: C
My fingers are crossed that Mikulski becomes a dawg. Twins fans need it.
David:
Astros grade: A-
I do not care that Carlos Correa has not been performing at an elite level this season. This is an exciting and fun move for the Astros to bring back someone from their original championship core and shore up a desperate need on the left side of the infield with Isaac Paredes hurt. And, because of Correa’s no-trade clause and his desire to only play in Houston or Minnesota, they had a ton of leverage and did not have to give up anything but cash.
Twins grade: B
The Twins got lucky here that they were able to find a way to move off of most of Carlos Correa’s contract. With declining production and a no-trade clause, this seemed like an impossible task. But, the Astros stepped in and helped bail out the Twins and allow them to start their rebuild off with a relatively clean slate money-wise.
Henry:
Astros grade: B-
Correa is a fun homecoming, but he hasn’t been all that this year. Although I feel pretty certain that once he puts an Astros uniform back on he will start being great again because nothing bad ever happens to the Houston Astros.
Twins grade: C-
Trading Correa and $30 million of his contract for a 26-year old High A pitcher with an ERA of 7? I get you need to get the Correa contract off the books but come on.
Padres go all-in, trade for Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano
Padres get: 1B/DH Ryan O’Hearn, OF Ramón Laureano
Orioles get: LHP Boston Bateman (SDP No. 4 prospect), INF Cobb Hightower (SDP No. 6), RHP Tyson Neighbors (SDP No. 12), INF/OF Victor Figueroa (SDP No. 29), INF Brandon Butterworth, RHP Tanner Smith
Trevor:
Padres grade: A
How does A.J. Preller keep doing this without it epicly backfiring? These two guys are versatile, provide production from both sides of the plate, and are experienced veterans. This is giving Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler to the Braves in ‘21. We all know how that worked out.
Orioles grade: A
I know very little about these guys, but because they have names like “Cobb” and “Boston,” I’m in. Someone in here is going to be a stud.
David:
Padres grade: B
While Ryan O’Hearn seemed to be of the most popular names this Trade Deadline, but Ramón Laureano has sneakily had a better season and fills a more crucial need for this Padres team in left field. I do not love how much they gave up, but these are two great fits.
Orioles grade: A
With so many young position players in their organization, good for the Orioles to prioritize some pitching prospects here. If just one of these six guys works out, this is an absolute win.
Henry:
Padres grade: A-
Woah. The Padres really are all in. O’Hearn and Laureano are two great pickups for San Diego, and it is clear that AJ Preller hates prospects and wants them all gone.
Orioles grade: A
This is the greatest collection of prospect names I have ever seen. While these guys are all far from the majors, the sheet size of the haul is something to behold.
Yankees bolster bullpen, trade for David Bednar
Yankees get: RHP David Bednar
Pirates get: C Rafael Flores (NYY No. 8 prospect), C/1B Edgleen Perez (NYY No. 14), OF Brian Sanchez
Trevor:
Yankees grade: C-
Another bullpen addition from a team that hasn’t been competitive since the player in question has been on it. This is a much bigger factor than people think. I think they gave too much up here.
Pirates grade: B
Three players for one is good, but I have yet to see any indication that the Pittsburgh Pirates have a clear plan on how to improve. So I’ll keep my excitement low.
David:
Yankees grade: A
I am grouping David Bednar with their other two bullpen moves (Jake Bird and Camilo Doval), but the Yankees suddenly have one of the best and deepest late-inning groups in baseball. These are the types of moves that contenders make, and despite Aaron Judge’s injury, the Yankees are not going to go down without a fight.
Pirates grade: C+
The Pirates did the right thing by trading David Bednar, but it was clear the Yankees were desperate. I bet they could have gotten a bit more for their former closer.
Henry:
Yankees grade: A
As much as I hate to say it this was a great pickup for the Yankees. A really strong bullpen arm to add to Camilo Doval, the Yankees have a really scary bullpen now.
Pirates grade: B
While the Pirates did not get a Top 100 prospect like some of the other closer trades at the deadline, Flores is a good pickup and an MLB-ready catcher that I like. I won’t lie and say I know about the other guys, but they seem like projects.
Mariners get top target, reunite with Eugenio Suarez
Mariners get: 3B Eugenio Suárez
D-backs get: 1B Tyler Locklear (SEA No. 9 prospect), RHP Hunter Cranton (SEA No. 16), RHP Juan Burgos (SEA No. 17)
Trevor:
Mariners grade: A-
The best player available in a position they desperately needed. Combined with the Naylor move, I love this.
Diamondbacks grade: B
They got three players and Locklear could become a true power threat in the bang-box that is Chase Field.
David:
Mariners grade: A+
This is simple to me. The Mariners got the best bat on the market. In my eyes, they are now a World Series contender. Best move of the deadline. I am honestly surprised it did not take more to get Eugenio Suarez. I feel like the Yankees, Brewers or even the Red Sox, who were rumored to be in on Suarez as a first basemen, could have beaten this.
Diamondbacks grade: C
This is not enough for a player who is having as elite of a season as Eugenio Suarez. I understand he is just a rental, but unless the Diamondbacks see something special in Tyler Locklear then this does not make a lot of sense for me.
Henry:
Mariners grade: A
Good vibes only.
Diamondbacks grade: B+
Arizona clearly had to lower their asking price a little, but Locklear is a good pickup. He has been playing out of his mind recently and could join the major league roster immediately. Solid haul.
Phillies get their closer, trade for Jhoan Duran
Phillies get: RHP Jhoan Duran
Twins get: C Eduardo Tait (MLB No. 56 prospect), RHP Mick Abel (MLB No. 92 prospect)
Trevor:
Phillies grade: A
“How are the Phillies going to finish games though?” Like this, obviously. The best solution to their closer problem.
Twins grade: A
Mick Abel with Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan is a rotation core I believe could still be very competitive.
David:
Phillies grade: A
After Jose Alvarado’s suspension earlier this season, everyone knew the Phillies needed a closer. They got him in Jhoan Duran, but it was not cheap. With an aging core, the Phillies had a lot of pressure to assert themselves as true World Series contenders this deadline and this move solidified that.
Twins grade: A+
This is an absolute HAUL for half a season of Jhoan Duran. I am very high on Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait has a lot of potential. Great job by the Twins, this is my favorite move from the seller’s perspective of the deadline.
Henry:
Phillies grade: A
Duran is a stud, no doubt about it. The Phillies really needed a closer and now they are really scary.
Twins grade: A
Two top-100 prospects is massive, this is the kind of trade they were hoping for. Both teams walk away really happy.
Hey David, Phillies have 2.5 years of Duran control..not 1/2. Great stuff though.