Despite many of the big names being dealt before Tuesday, and names such as Matt Harvey and Bryce Harper staying put, MLB's Trade Deadline day was still very entertaining and active. That included the Los Angeles Dodgers getting even more help in their starting lineup, as they powered up their second base position by acquiring Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins. They sent a package that includes Logan Forsythe the other way in the trade, as Dozier joins Manny Machado as recent additions to an already stacked staring lineup.
Dozier, a former All-Star from last season, is batting just .224 this season but does have 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. The 31-year-old is the fifth player traded away by the Twins in the past five days, as he had spent his entire seven-year career with them. It was the second straight deadline that the Dodgers targeted Dozier, but the Twins kept him around last season and ended up making the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The slugging second baseman has 143 home runs since the start of 2014. The Dodgers also added reliever John Axford in a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Another team that upgraded at second base was the Milwaukee Brewers, who acquired Jonathan Schoop in a last-minute deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The O's acquired second baseman Jonathan Villar and two minor league players in the deal, as they continue to rebuild while sitting in last place in the AL East by 40-plus games.
The 26-year-old Schoop is batting .244 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs, although, he did miss some time in the first half of the season due to an oblique injury. He heated up post All-Star break, hitting nine home runs in the month of July, which was good for second behind Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals, who had 10 of them.
This trade does give many the hint that the Brewers were not comfortable with Travis Shaw at second base. They were forced to shift Shaw from third to second after acquiring third baseman Mike Moustakas from the Kansas City Royals last week.
The O's continued to ship out their current roster in their rebuilding process, including their pitching staff, as they sent Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day to the Atlanta Braves. They received four minor league players in this deal, along with international slot money.
The 27-year-old Gausman is 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA so far this season, and is under contract through the 2020 season. Meanwhile, the reliever O' Day made 20 appearances before undergoing season-ending surgery on his injured hamstring. He will be help for the Braves starting next season, as Atlanta is set up to contend for many years to come. O' Day has a career ERA of 2.56 in 11 years and is under contract through 2019.
Another hurler that was dealt, as many expected him to be, was Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays, as he is now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The two-time All-Star was dealt for three prospects, including Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows. The third player will be named at a later date.
The recently-injured starting pitcher is just 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 17 starts this season, and was one of very few consistent starters for the Rays, who use their bullpen a lot more than others. The 29-year-old is joining a Pirates team who is just getting over an 11-game winning streak, and is 15-4 in their past 19 games. That run has them just 3.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, and this move proves that they are in it to win it this season. The Pirates also added some help at the back-end of their bullpen, getting closer Keone Kela from the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old has 24 saves and a 3.44 ERA this season and is under contract through the 2021 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Rays, who have been around .500 all season long, also pulled off an interesting deal with another .500 team, acquiring outfielder Tommy Pham from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Another big deal came from the NL East, and it was another young team that finds themselves right in the thick of a playoff race. The Philadelphia Phillies added some pop by acquiring All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos from the Tampa Bay Rays. It was a cheap deal on their part, as they will send a player to be named later or cash to Tampa Bay. Ramos made the All-Star team but was unable to play as he was placed on the disabled list that week with a hamstring injury.
Ramos hasn't played since July 14th and remains out with that same injury. The 30-year-old is batting .277 this season with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. This gives the Phillies a much-needed upgrade behind the plate, as their catchers have batted a combined .244 with just 10 home runs this season. The Phillies currently sit in first place in the NL East, just a half-game ahead of the Braves.
Other key trades saw the Seattle Mariners get some more speed in the outfield, as if they needed that, by acquiring Cameron Maybin from the Miami Marlins. The Cleveland Indians did the same by landing Leonys Martin in a deal with division rival, Detroit Tigers. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks brought back a familiar face in reliever Brad Ziegler, and also added Jake Diekman from the Rangers.
Dozier, a former All-Star from last season, is batting just .224 this season but does have 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. The 31-year-old is the fifth player traded away by the Twins in the past five days, as he had spent his entire seven-year career with them. It was the second straight deadline that the Dodgers targeted Dozier, but the Twins kept him around last season and ended up making the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The slugging second baseman has 143 home runs since the start of 2014. The Dodgers also added reliever John Axford in a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Another team that upgraded at second base was the Milwaukee Brewers, who acquired Jonathan Schoop in a last-minute deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The O's acquired second baseman Jonathan Villar and two minor league players in the deal, as they continue to rebuild while sitting in last place in the AL East by 40-plus games.
The 26-year-old Schoop is batting .244 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs, although, he did miss some time in the first half of the season due to an oblique injury. He heated up post All-Star break, hitting nine home runs in the month of July, which was good for second behind Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals, who had 10 of them.
This trade does give many the hint that the Brewers were not comfortable with Travis Shaw at second base. They were forced to shift Shaw from third to second after acquiring third baseman Mike Moustakas from the Kansas City Royals last week.
The O's continued to ship out their current roster in their rebuilding process, including their pitching staff, as they sent Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day to the Atlanta Braves. They received four minor league players in this deal, along with international slot money.
The 27-year-old Gausman is 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA so far this season, and is under contract through the 2020 season. Meanwhile, the reliever O' Day made 20 appearances before undergoing season-ending surgery on his injured hamstring. He will be help for the Braves starting next season, as Atlanta is set up to contend for many years to come. O' Day has a career ERA of 2.56 in 11 years and is under contract through 2019.
Another hurler that was dealt, as many expected him to be, was Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays, as he is now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The two-time All-Star was dealt for three prospects, including Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows. The third player will be named at a later date.
The recently-injured starting pitcher is just 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 17 starts this season, and was one of very few consistent starters for the Rays, who use their bullpen a lot more than others. The 29-year-old is joining a Pirates team who is just getting over an 11-game winning streak, and is 15-4 in their past 19 games. That run has them just 3.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, and this move proves that they are in it to win it this season. The Pirates also added some help at the back-end of their bullpen, getting closer Keone Kela from the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old has 24 saves and a 3.44 ERA this season and is under contract through the 2021 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Rays, who have been around .500 all season long, also pulled off an interesting deal with another .500 team, acquiring outfielder Tommy Pham from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Another big deal came from the NL East, and it was another young team that finds themselves right in the thick of a playoff race. The Philadelphia Phillies added some pop by acquiring All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos from the Tampa Bay Rays. It was a cheap deal on their part, as they will send a player to be named later or cash to Tampa Bay. Ramos made the All-Star team but was unable to play as he was placed on the disabled list that week with a hamstring injury.
Ramos hasn't played since July 14th and remains out with that same injury. The 30-year-old is batting .277 this season with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. This gives the Phillies a much-needed upgrade behind the plate, as their catchers have batted a combined .244 with just 10 home runs this season. The Phillies currently sit in first place in the NL East, just a half-game ahead of the Braves.
Other key trades saw the Seattle Mariners get some more speed in the outfield, as if they needed that, by acquiring Cameron Maybin from the Miami Marlins. The Cleveland Indians did the same by landing Leonys Martin in a deal with division rival, Detroit Tigers. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks brought back a familiar face in reliever Brad Ziegler, and also added Jake Diekman from the Rangers.
