How much star power will be dealt ahead of Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline is to be determined, but the days leading up to the buzzer have proven that the market is busy.
With Randy Arozarena, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Isaac Paredes, and Erick Fedde among the sought-after names already on the move, more deals are expected to pour in leading up to 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Just about every contender wants to make a move, or multiple moves, ahead of the stretch run. That doesn’t mean every deal is the right one. Some deadline moves in recent years have helped spur championship runs, while even more have flopped.
The Sporting News is handing out grades and analysis for every trade that goes down on deadline day. Follow along below as the deals come in.
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MLB trade grades 2024: Live analysis on every deadline deal
July 29
Braves bring back Jorge Soler, Luke Jackson
- Braves get: OF Jorge Soler, RP Luke Jackson
- Giants get: RP Tyler Matzek, INF Sabin Ceballos
- Grades: Braves C+ | Giants A-
The story is admittedly great, as the Braves are getting the band back together from 2021. Soler was a huge part of Atlanta’s World Series run, and he’s shown in recent days that his bat still has some juice. Taking on the entirety of his three-year, $42 million contract is a major risk, though. This isn’t the same scenario as 2021, when it wouldn’t have mattered if the deal didn’t work out. Atlanta is stuck with Soler through 2026, and he just hasn’t produced enough in 2024 to make that an exciting prospect.
This is a straight salary dump for the Giants, which is completely fine considering Soler wasn’t living up to the deal. Ceballos hasn’t hit much in the minors this season, but he was drafted just a year ago and is at least a lottery ticket on top of the salary relif.
Brewers add rotation depth with deal for Frankie Montas
- Brewers get: SP Frankie Montas
- Reds get: P Jakob Junis, OF Joey Wiemer
- Grades: Brewers C+ | Reds D
It’s a disappointing end to the Frankie Montas experiment for the Reds. Cincinnati wisely took a flier on the former A’s starter after an injury-ravaged 2023 season, but he just hasn’t found any consistency and didn’t even get the Reds much in return. Junis is a starter-turned-reliever with little long-term upside, while Wiemer is young but hasn’t produced at the plate at any level since 2022.
Acquiring Montas didn’t require the Brewers to give up much value, but it would be underwhelming if he turns out to be Milwaukee’s big rotation addition. With a 5.01 ERA and 4.91 FIP, Montas’ trajectory is pointing down and, given his injury history, the Brewers could use a much more reliable arm.
Dodgers re-acquire Amed Rosario
- Dodgers get: INF Amed Rosario
- Rays get: P Michael Flynn
- Grades: Dodgers A | Rays D-
Were the Rays really not able to get anyone with upside for Rosario, who has a .307 AVG in a utility role this season? Flynn is about to turn 28 and has severely underwhelming minor-league numbers as a reliever. It would be better to just take a lottery ticket on an 18-year-old than bank on an admittedly strong development system unlocking something even the Dodgers couldn’t in a career minor-leaguer.
For the Dodgers, there isn’t any real risk associated with adding Rosario after landing Tommy Edman earlier in the day. He’s familiar with the team, makes consistent contact and can play three infield positions. If Edman returns from the IL and other infielders get healthy, they also wouldn’t need to feel bad about cutting ties with Rosario.
Astros send surprising haul for Yusei Kikuchi
- Astros get: SP Yusei Kikuchi
- Blue Jays get: P Jake Bloss, OF Joey Loperfido, INF Will Wagner
- Grades: Astros D | Blue Jays A+
The Blue Jays likely didn’t waste time saying yes when they received this offer. Bloss, drafted a year ago, has a 1.64 ERA across 13 minor-league starts this season with a sparkling 0.79 WHIP. He’s already debuted in the majors and could very well out-pitch Kikuchi the rest of the way, let alone for the next six years.
Loperfido has struggled at the MLB level this season, but he has a career .873 OPS in the minors and has a chance to be a long-term everyday player in Toronto.
Kikuchi’s 3.64 FIP indicates better days are ahead after an ugly stretch inflated his ERA to 4.75, but he’s never been a top-of-the-rotation arm and is just a rental for an injury-riddled Astros rotation. This is not the kind of package a team should surrender for a pitcher like Kikuchi.
Guardians make rare splash, trade for Lane Thomas
- Guardians get: OF Lane Thomas
- Nationals get: P Alex Clemmey, INF Jose Tena, INF Rafael Ramirez
- Grades: Guardians A | Nationals B-
The Guardians deserve credit for finally getting aggressive and trading for a bat. Thomas might not be the most exciting addition, but a player who hit 28 home runs a year ago and has been a plus hitter for the last two months since returning from the IL is absolutely an upgrade for a top-heavy Cleveland lineup.
Clemmey is the prize for the Nationals, as he was a second-round pick a year ago and just needs to figure out how to limit walks, but Washington likely could have gotten a bit more value if Thomas was traded at last year’s deadline.
Cardinals land Erick Fedde in 3-team deal with Dodgers, Cardinals
- Cardinals get: SP Erick Fedde, OF Tommy Pham
- Dodgers get: INF Tommy Edman, RP Michael Kopech
- White Sox get: INF Miguel Vargas, INF Jeral Perez, INF Alexander Albertus
- Grades: Cardinals A | Dodgers B- | White Sox D
The Cardinals only gave up the injured Edman to land a solid starter controlled through 2025 and a reliable veteran bat in Pham. That’s a deal they would take every day of the week. The Dodgers still need another move or two, but they’re the right kind of team to try to unlock Kopech’s potential. Giving up three players for that haul is a bit on the heavy side, but there is no prospect here worth losing sleep over. That’s why it’s pretty disappointing to see the White Sox walk away with only this kind of return for two solid veterans.
Cubs swing surprise deal for Isaac Paredes
- Cubs get: INF Isaac Paredes
- Rays get: P Hunter Bigge, P Ty Johnson
- Grades: Cubs A+ | Rays C-
The Cubs aren’t buyers, but a deal for a controllable bat that can be near the center of their lineup for the next three seasons isn’t about 2024. Paredes hit 33 home runs last season, and he has an OPS just under .800 this season after cooling down from a red-hot start.
Bigge isn’t much of a loss for the Cubs, while Johnson has swing-and-miss stuff the Rays’ development system will hope to harness. For a young, controllable hitter, though, this is a light return.
Yankees acquire Jazz Chisholm Jr. from Marlins
- Yankees get: OF/2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
- Marlins get: C Agustin Ramirez, INF Jared Serna, INF Abrahan Ramirez
- Grades: Yankees A- | Marlins B+
Chisholm probably isn’t going to transform the Yankees’ lineup into something it’s not, but New York did well to take advantage of a young, controllable hitter on the market even if there is a lengthy injury history. Not only does Chisholm have impressive raw power, but he also comes cheap and plays an exciting brand of baseball that the franchise needs.
Agustin Ramirez is a nice coup for the Marlins and a worthy centerpiece in a deal for a young bat, while Abrahan Ramirez is a worthwhile lottery ticket for Miami after hitting .348 in rookie ball this season.
Mariners make first deadline splash with deal for Randy Arozarena
- Mariners get: OF Randy Arozarena
- Rays get: INF Aidan Smith, P Brody Hopkins, PTBNL
- Grades: Mariners A | Rays C+
There shouldn’t be any complaints about the Mariners landing an impressive bat under team control through 2026. Arozarena was about as steady as any hitter in the league from 2021-2023, and he’s recovered nicely after an ugly start to 2024. Now on pace for his fourth consecutive season of at least 20 home runs, Arozarena can give a lifeless Seattle lineup some pop down the stretch and beyond.
Smith and Hopkins are both lottery tickets for the Rays. It was surprising to see Tampa walk away without more of a sure thing, as both Smith and Hopkins have looked great in the minors this season, but each was drafted only a year ago and Hopkins has a history of control issues.
For the Mariners, turning fourth- and sixth-round picks into Arozarena after less than a year is a major win.