The major league baseball trade deadline has ended.
That was fun. Now that the most exciting trade deadline in recent memory is over, here’s what stood out.
The future of Miami Marlins’ pitching is very bright. However, it will cost the fish in the present.
The Oakland Athletics acquired center fielder Starling Marte from the Marlins in exchange for left-hander Jesus Luzardo. The Marlins also sent cash considerations to Oakland.
Marte, a career .288 hitter, is scheduled to become a free agent after this season. Luzardo is under contract through 2025.
Marte, 32, is hitting .306 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs and has 22 stolen bases in 25 attempts for the Marlins. He missed time this season with a fractured rib.
Luzardo, 23, is 2-4 with a 6.87 ERA in 38 innings pitched. He has made 13 appearances, including six starts. He was sidelined for four weeks in May after he broke the pinkie on his pitching hand when he hit a table while playing a video game.
Around the majors, it was heating up.
Ten All-Stars from this season were traded.
Los Angeles Dodgers finished as the true winners. They added the two best players in pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals for four players including catcher Keibert Ruiz. Coming off a World Series championship, I don’t see how you can improve more than what the Dodgers accomplished.
New York Yankees needed left-handed hitting. They succeeded in adding two of them, acquiring outfielder Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, who will upgrade their outfield defense also, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs, who brings good character to the clubhouse. There will be no shock if the Yankees make the playoffs with the help of these left-handed additions.
Milwaukee Brewers will be the cream of the crop in the National League Central, adding third baseman Eduardo Escobar and left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris.
Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox had interesting transactions. White Sox added the best closer in right-handed pitcher Craig Kimbrel from the Chicago Cubs for second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-handed pitcher Codi Heuer. Red Sox added outfielder Kyle Schwarber from the Nationals for minor-league right-handed pitcher Aldo Ramirez. But they did not address their first base concerns. Moreover, they are a first-place team that witnessed the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Yankees improve dramatically. The edge goes to the White Sox.
Nothing is guaranteed, but there will be eyes on these teams and their futures.
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