Who Won the Trade Deadline? Isn't it Obvious?

A week after the trade deadline in the MLB, who do we think won the trade deadline in 2023? It will take a few seasons to truly know, giving the amount of prospects traded around.

However, isn’t it obvious who won the trade deadline for the rest of this season? Okay, maybe not that obvious, yet there are three teams who got better and gave themselves a better chance at a deep playoff run.

Some teams were selling, some teams were buying, and some teams; well who knows what they were doing.

Big Name Pitching Acquired at the Trade Deadline

The two teams in Texas took advantage of the New York Metropolitans falling apart by trading for proven aces. Both of which are sure fire hall of famers.

The Texas Rangers traded for Max Scherzer, who has been maybe the best pitcher over the last decade. This season before the trade he boasted a 9-4 record with a losing Mets team, impresive.

Scherzer is a huge name on his own, add him to the already deadly Rangers rotation and I think this team becomes one of the favorites to win a championship this season. Scherzer, Dunning, Evoldi, Perez, Heaney, Gray, and oh yeah they traded for Jordan Montgomery also. Montgomery is an all-star level pitcher at his best as well.

Add in the trade for closer Adonis Chapman and this Rangers team has to scare the snot out of opposing teams come playoff time.

While the Rangers added the most talent and depth, the other team in Texas added a huge ace as well to the rotation. Houston Astros, the reigning champs, added an old face back to the team. Justin Verlander who spent the last 5 seasons with the Astros is back after just a half season with New York.

Verlander who has won two championships with the Astros (2017, 2022) will buckle down and prepare for another postseason push.

Bats Acquired at the Deadline

The San Diego Padres are the third team I think had an amazing trade deadline. Yes they picked up a star bullpen arm from the Royals in Scott Barlow. As well as adding veteran starter Rich Hill. Nice.

Also in the background of these names, the Padres somehow added a number 24 prospect in pitcher Sean Reynolds. Reynolds has a 2.77 ERA in triple A through 38 appearances this season. He is quote unquote “a 6’8 flame thrower who reaches 100 mph”.

However it was the bats the Padres added that made me add this team to the list. Ji Man Choi and Garrett Cooper, who are probably very underrated to the average baseball fan.

Choi who is probably the name you recognize the most has had an above average career so far as the first basemen for the Tampa Bay Rays. He adds a bat and experience that can help this team ride the ups and downs they have had so far in 2023.

Garrett Cooper might be one of my favorite hitters in baseball. A career hitting average of .271 proves just how good Cooper is and can be. So far this season in Miami, he has hit 13 bombs and is hitting for average above .250.

Both Choi and Cooper will help add depth and bats to this Padres team who are pushing for a wild card spot. At the moment the team is 3 games out of a wild card spot.