The San Diego Padres wanted to make everyone know they are a team that should be taken seriously; despite not having their franchise player, Fernando Tatis Jr, for a little over half a season.

 

They surely made such that as they pulled epic deals so huge that their future had to be sacrificed in favor of a championship.

 

The Padres pulled huge deals as they acquired rising superstar, Juan Soto (from the frail Washington Nationals for a bevy of young players featuring the likes of SS CJ Abrams, SP MacKenzie Gore (who is on the injured list), OF Robert Hassell III and rising prospect, OF James Wood), 1B/OF Josh Bell (in the same trade package with Soto) and Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader (in a trade of saves leaders), In addition to these huge acquisitions, they added utility player Brandon Drury (who is playing surprisingly well) from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for rising prospect, SS Victor Acosta. The Soto trade was a complete longshot until the rejections became apparent of a long-term contract. The Padres were named as one of the teams that had the prospects to pull off such a blockbuster.  

 

While the Padres literally dominated the trade deadline period, there were other teams that pulled moves that will hope to get them to the postseason.  

 

    

THE AMERICAN LEAGUE

East

The New York Yankees missed out on getting the top pitcher in the trade market in Luis Castillo; they settled with Frankie Montas from the Oakland A's. In addition, they obtained bullpen help in the same trade with the A's and from the Chicago Cubs. They also acquired a Gold-Glove outfielder in Harrison Bader from the St. Louis Cardinals but had to sacrifice SP Jordan Montgomery. They kicked off the period with the acquisition of OF Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals, and, addressed a problem by shipping OF Joey Gallo to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Toronto Blue Jays (Merrifield) and Tampa Bay Rays (Peralta) added supporting help as they vye for the wild-card spots. As for the Boston Red Sox:they traded away their starting catcher (Vazquez) and one of their relievers (Diekman), but added 1B Eric Hosmer and OF Tommy Pham in turn. The very surprising Baltimore Orioles traded away their closer and their team leader but still remain in the hunt for one of the three wild-card spots. 

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Central

The Minnesota Twins had no counter threats from the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox (despite acquiring Diekman from the Red Sox). The Twins added a starter in Tyler Mahle from the Reds and relievers Jorge Lopez (Orioles) and Michael Fulmer (Tigers). 

 

West

The Seattle Mariners got the top starting pitcher in the market in Luis Castillo from the Reds, but it cost them two highly-rated prospects. The Houston Astros countered by acquiring C Christian Vazquez from the Boston Red Sox and 1B/OF Trey Mancini from the Baltimore Orioles; they sacrificed a starter (Odorizzi) to the Atlanta Braves for bullpen help (Smith). The Los Angeles Angels waived the flag as they dealt away SP Noah Syndergaard, RP Raisel Iglesias and OF Brandon Marsh.

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THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

East

The Atlanta Braves, aiming to defend their World Series championship, made the most noise as they added a starter (Odorizzi), what could be next season's closer (Iglesias) and an outfielder (Grossman). They also welcomed back a familiar face from last season (INF Adrianza). Meanwhile, the New York Mets added supportive help for the bench and the bullpen. The Philadelphia Phillies made the two teams in the division they will not go away by acquiring SP Noah Syndergaard and RP David Robertson (for a second stint). The Washington Nationals added prospects to rebuild the farm system. 

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Central

The Milwaukee Brewers traded their elite closer (Hader) to the Padres for a payroll friendly one in Taylor Rogers; they also added a couple of arms for the bullpen. For the St. Louis Cardinals, they added a starter in Jordan Montgomery from the Yankees but sacrificed a Gold-Glove outfielder in Harrison Bader. They also added a couple of arms from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

West

While the San Diego Padres towered over the entire baseball universe, the Los Angeles Dodgers still made moves: they did the Yankees a favor by taking Joey Gallo off their hands and added an arm for the bullpen from the Chicago Cubs.

 

NAMES ARE STILL OUT THERE

The likes of JD Martinez, Willson Contreras, Ian Happ, Sean Murphy, Nathan Eovaldi, Michael A. Taylor, Carlos Rodon and Joc Pederson remained with their teams after the dust has settled. Trades can still happen in August but it is likely these players will either be out in the free agent market, or, will be part of off-season trades. One big name that was heavily flirted around, AL MVP Shohei Ohtani, was pulled back by the Angels.  

  

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