MLB TRADE DEADLINE: THE MOVES THAT WILL MATTER AND THOSE THAT WON'T
Contrary to expectations, this year's MLB trade deadline brought plenty of action and intrigue. We take a look at which teams made moves that will most help their chances of success in October, and which squandered their opportunities. As ESPN's Jeff Passan tweeted shortly after the trade deadline passed on Thursday: "That was fun." There was a flurry of moves and trades. The Minnesota Twins sold everyone, the San Diego Padres bought everyone. Relief pitchers were passed around like a hot potato. Not everyone was happy, not everyone was angry, but everyone was entertained. WHY SO MUCH MOVEMENT? Most scouts agreed that this year's group of potentially available players wasn't particularly exciting. There was no Juan Soto-type bat or similarly impactful pitcher on the market. But many teams saw an opportunity. Before the deadline, three teams were tied for the most wins in MLB (64) and another eight teams had at least 59 victories. With the absence of a d...