The 2025 MLB trading deadline produced significant movement, with many teams making strategic trades aimed at improving their immediate or long-term prospects. Here’s a breakdown of the initial grades for each team’s transactions:
National League
- Arizona Diamondbacks (B): They traded for third baseman Eugenio Suarez and dealt pitcher Meryl Kelly but struggled to find a buyer for Zach Gallen.
- Atlanta Braves (D): Made minimal moves, losing key players without substantial gains.
- Chicago Cubs (C): Added utility man Willicastro and pitcher Michael Soroka but lacked a major impact trade.
- Cincinnati Reds (C+): Acquired Ke’bryan Hayes, but did not significantly boost their offense.
- Colorado Rockies (B): Handled trades for Ryan McMahon well, but didn’t overhaul the roster.
- Los Angeles Dodgers (B+): Made solid additions like Alex Cole without needing to make splashy moves.
- Miami Marlins (C+): Held onto Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara while making minor trades.
- Milwaukee Brewers (B): Made strategic moves to strengthen their roster but lacked big headlines.
- New York Mets (A): Enhanced their bullpen and outfield effectively, checking all necessary boxes.
- Philadelphia Phillies (B+): Strengthened their roster with key additions from the Twins.
- Pittsburgh Pirates (D): Underwhelmed, missing opportunities to trade key veterans for better returns.
- San Diego Padres (A+): Made bold moves, significantly upgrading their roster with high-impact players.
- San Francisco Giants (B): Sought to improve but faced challenges after previous trades.
- St. Louis Cardinals (B): Made calculated trades for promising returns but had lineup issues.
- Washington Nationals (C): Retained key player Mackenzie Gore but lacked major movements.
American League
- Athletics (B+): Made savvy trades, hinting at a grand rebuilding strategy.
- Baltimore Orioles (F): Regressed by selling after reaching the playoffs in previous seasons.
- Boston Red Sox (C-): Made unremarkable trades, failing to acquire useful frontline players.
- Chicago White Sox (C): Missed major restructuring opportunities despite some good trades.
- Cleveland Guardians (F): Poor decision-making by trading key players, despite being close to playoff contention.
- Detroit Tigers (B): Strengthened their depth, though it felt insufficient relative to needs.
- Houston Astros (A): Made impactful trades and secured players returning from injuries.
- Kansas City Royals (C+): Made modest moves to stay competitive despite playoff prospects.
- Los Angeles Angels (C): Attempted to bolster the roster but fell short with minor additions.
- Minnesota Twins (D): Failed to capitalize on trade opportunities, especially by not moving key pitchers.
- New York Yankees (B+): Strengthened both their bullpen and position players but need starting pitching.
- Seattle Mariners (A): Added key offensive weapons, showing urgency in their playoff push.
- Tampa Bay Rays (A): Smart moves added depth while avoiding significant roster changes.
- Texas Rangers (B): Improved their rotation with Meryl Kelly but needed more offensive reinforcements.
- Toronto Blue Jays (B+): Made promising depth moves, albeit with some risk involved.
Overall, the deadline showcased a mixture of strategic thinking and missed opportunities, with some teams reinforcing their playoff hopes while others struggled with unclear direction.
