Fears of a stagnant trade deadline were squashed as a flurry of moves got across the finish line Tuesday marking one of the more exciting ends of July in recent deadline memory. Teams like the Rays, Marlins, and Blue Jays capitalized on buyers willing to shell out $1.50 on the dollar for talent with two months left in the season.
Miami Marlins Receive: Infielder Connor Norby, outfielder Kyle Stowers
Baltimore Orioles Receive: Left-handed starting pitcher Trevor Rogers
Really like this deal for Marlins. Miami really only needs one of Norby or Stowers to develop into a role 5 player for this to make sense. If they both end up plateauing as role 4.5 types as utility and fourth-outfielder types, it’ll still help round the roster into form with more athleticism and floor.
For Baltimore, the hope is the organization can help Rogers rediscover some of his lost velocity and production. He’s largely been a low No. 4/No. 5 starter over the past three seasons. His last real impressive campaign was back in 2021. Rogers is arbitration-eligible following this season and will see his salary take a jump. Because he’s not guaranteed anything Baltimore could always flip him in the next few seasons and walk away from the salary escalations when they see fit.
Seattle Mariners Receive: Right-handed relief pitcher JT Chargois
Miami Marlins Receive: Right-handed starting pitcher Will Schomberg
This is a nice add for the Mariners as Chargois as consistently performed above his peripherals over the last four seasons. He’s been remarkably consistent in limiting hard contact and base hits as a whole. He’ll likely slot in as a low-leverage reliever for Seattle, a team dealing with attrition in their bullpen as the season has progressed. He is making $1.2 million this year and is arbitration-eligible in 2025 for the final time. He’ll likely be due close to $2 million, a number Seattle could elect to walk away from instead of offering him another contract if they so see fit.
Schomberg, 23, was an undrafted free agent signing by the Mariners following the 2023 Draft. He racked up 97 strikeouts for Low-A Modesto in 70.1 innings this season before being promoted to High-A Everett. He has a reliever arm swing with a mid-90s fastball at peak that presents above-average carry to the hitter. He mixes in a frisbee slider that has been tremendously effective against right-handed hitters.
Detroit Tigers Receive: Right-handed pitchers Joseph Montalvo and Chase Lee
Texas Rangers Receive: Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin
The Texas Rangers refuse to fold. And for good reason. Just six games out of the AL West, it’s a division that has been a rollercoaster ride all summer. Chafin is a nice addition to the backend of the Rangers bullpen, a staff that has wavered of late. He’s posted 50 punchouts in just 37 innings this season with 16 walks to boot. His 3.16 ERA and 2.53 ERA points to just how effective he can be in big spots at the end of games.
A 20th rounder in 2021, Montalvo is enjoying a bit of a breakthrough 2024 campaign. He’s a three-pitch starter with a low-to-mid 90s fastball featuring more arm-side tail than vertical tilt. His slider projects at least above average. It’s a low-80s hammer with considerable depth and sweeping action. There’s also a mid-80s changeup with vertical plant and conviction. Lee was a high school shortstop who transformed himself into a reliable arm with budding stuff. He’s sporting a 1.69 ERA at Triple-A this season and could get the call into Detroit’s bullpen down the stretch. His slider has flirted with 3000 rpm at times and flashes above-average traits and shape.
Pittsburgh Pirates Receive: Outfielder Bryan De La Cruz
Miami Marlins Receive: Infielder Garret Forrester, Right-handed pitcher Jun-Seok Shim
Nice piece for a Pirates outfield looking to put together a more formidable lineup after Jack Suwinski‘s untimely struggles in 2024. De La Cruz is a power bat with 18 homers this season. Still just 27 years old, he’s controlled through the 2027 season.
Forrester was one of the more highly regarded pure hitters in the 2023 Draft coming out of Oregon State. He’s limited athletically, but he’ll draw walks, swing at good pitches, and hit for some average and power. He can handle first base and left field. Shim has been dealing with a shoulder injury this season and has not appeared in a game, but was impressive in his eight innings of complex work in 2023 posting 13 strikeouts across 8 innings. Still just 20 years old, he’s got a great frame and a loose, easy operation.
Pittsburgh Pirates Receive: Utility Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Toronto Blue Jays Receive: Infielder Charles McAdoo
I like this deal quite a bit for Toronto. McAdoo has size and physicality and has been a development success in Pittsburgh. There’s usable power and positional versatility even if he won’t grade out better than average at any one spot. The bat will carry this player to the big leagues.
Kiner-Falefa helps fill out a Pirates lineup searching for consistency down the stretch. He can handle any of the infield spots. The Pirates don’t need exceptional offense to get to the offense, just steady enough performance to let their pitching staff due the heavy lifting.
Baltimore Orioles Receive: Outfielder Eloy Jimenez
Chicago White Sox Receive: Right-handed pitcher Trey McGough
Jimenez is more of a lottery ticket than anything for the Orioles. He’s a nice designated hitter who rounds out their bench as a potential late-inning pinch hitter or insurance policy if they lose a bat down the stretch. He’s been hurt most of the year but when he gets hot he can carry a lineup… if he gets the at-bats to get cooking that is.
This is mostly a salary dump for the White Sox who still owed Jimenez close to $6 million through the end of the season. McGough, 26, has a 1.99 ERA across 54.1 innings with 55 strikeouts and 21 walks this season. He profiles as a swingman going forward.
Los Angeles Dodgers Receive: Right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty
Detroit Tigers Receive: Catcher Thayron Liranzo, infielder Trey Sweeney
This is a really nice get for the Dodgers. Flaherty is enjoying a nice bounce back 2024 in which he boasts a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts. He’s striking out more batters than he ever has and is issuing the least amount of walks he ever has too. Flaherty is the insurance policy the Dodgers needed to make a final push this summer with Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler struggling to recapture what they’ve been in the past.
Liranzo is a really nice addition. He was set to rank as the Dodgers’ no. 5 overall prospect in our midseason update. There are still considerable questions on whether or not he can catch at the big league level but few doubt whether or not the raw power will play. It’s ‘plus’ arm strength that could be hidden in a corner outfield spot. More than likely he projects at first base and in a platoon role at catcher.
Sweeney is now 24 years old enjoying a .255/.334/.427 campaign with 13 homers at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He’s striking out more than he really ever has this year and scouts are a bit less bullish on the hit tool than they were a year prior. It’s still solid-average raw power, a left-handed swing and an average shortstop glove despite his bigger-than-typical size for the position. If it all clicks, you’d hope he transforms into a Matt Carpenter type of player.
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