MLB 2019 Winners and Losers at the Trading Deadline

           Here are My MLB 2019 Winners and Losers at the Trading Deadline 

           Winners

           Astros 

           Thoughts: They made the biggest move of the trading deadline by getting Zack Grienke from the D-Backs. The Astros just became favorites to win the World Series. They now have Justin Verlander, Gerritt Cole and Zack Grienke. Those are 3 of the best starters in baseball on one team. The Astros are favorites to win the World Series with their 3 aces to go with their bullpen and offensive lineup. They have the best record in the American League and the 2nd best record in baseball. The Astros were already good and now they are even better by adding Zack Grienke today. 

             Braves 

             Thoughts: This is one of the teams that needed to upgrade their bullpen and they did. The Braves traded for Shane Greene from the Tigers giving up Joey Wentz and Travis Demeritte. They also traded for Mark Melancon from the Giants giving up Dan Winkler and Tristian Black. The Braves ended the day with a trade for John Ryan Murphy from the D-Backs adding catching depth. The day before the deadline they added Chris Martin from the Rangers for Kolby Allard. The Braves went into the day with a big hole at the closer spot and now have 2 guys that can close. Shane Greene has 22 saves this year while Mark Melancon has experience as a closer. These moves help the Braves challenge the Dodgers in the National League.  

             Mets 

             Thoughts: They are winners at the deadline and not for the moves they made today, but the moves didn't make today and made 3 days ago. The Mets added Marcus Stroman to their rotation along with Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard. They didn't give up Noah Syndergaard, Edwin Diaz and Zack Wheeler today. This team is actually going for it and I respect that.  

              Nationals 

              Thoughts: They really need bullpen help and got it today. The Nationals trade for Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland from the Mariners. Then, they added Daniel Hudson from the Blue Jays. The Nationals got better today with their moves to upgrade their bullpen. This team's bullpen has been last in the National League all year and they addressed it today. 

               Tigers 

               Thoughts: This team is rebuilding and they did a good job today. They got prospects Joey Wentz and Travis Demeritte from the Braves for Shane Greene. The Tigers then got in a late-minute deal Paul Richan and Alex Lange from the Cubs for Nick Castellanos. This team is in a long rebuild, but they got talent to help with that today. 

                Losers 

                Yankees 

                Thoughts: They did nothing to help themselves. The Yankees starting pitching has been their weak spot with an era of 4.77, but didn't address it. They should have added Zack Grienke and Robbie Ray today. The Astros made the big move for Zack Grienke while the Yankees did nothing to keep up. The lack of starting pitching at the deadline for the Yankees will hurt their bullpen down the stretch because their bullpen has pitched 416.1 innings this year which is too many. 

                 Reds 

                 Thoughts: I got no clue what this team is doing. The Reds went out and traded for Trevor Bauer who is an ace pitcher that they need in their rotation, but they gave up Yasiel Puig for him. Then today they traded Tanner Roark to the A's for Jameson Hannah. Jameson Hannah is a good prospect, but when you trade for Trevor Bauer you are supposed to send a message that you are going for it. The Reds then traded away Scooter Gennett. Doesn't this team need offense? This team is the 8th lowest scoring team in baseball. 

                  Pirates 

                 Thoughts: This team is supposed to be rebuilding, but they didn't trade Felipe Vazquez. The Pirates could had gotten a lot for Felipe Vazquez and didn't do anything. Teams like the Dodgers, Cardinals, Cubs, Yankees, Braves, Red Sox, and Nationals were at one point in on Felipe Vazquez and the Pirates couldn't make a deal with one of these teams. They also had veterans in Francisco Liriano and Melky Cabrera they could had gotten prospects for.  

                  

                  Phillies 

                  Thoughts: This team really needed help from the pitching stand point and didn't address it. They made a deal for Jason Vargas on Monday, but he won't be enough to make the playoffs. The Phillies did get a bat in Corey Dickerson, but offense isn't the problem for the Phillies. This team had holes in their starting pitching outside of Aaron Nola and their bullpen, but failed to address both.  

                   Indians 

                   Thoughts: They traded their ace when they are in the middle of a playoff run. That makes no sense. I know Trevor Bauer had an incident in Kansas City this weekend, but that's no reason to trade him. The Indians get Yasiel Puig who has been known for his antics too. This team got worse with the moves they made. 

                     Caught in a Hard Place 

                     Giants 

                    Thoughts: I feel for this team as they are 2.5 games back in the Wild Card race. They couldn't trade away Madison Bumgardner even though he's a free agent after this season because that would send a bad message. The Giants had to rebuild their farm system which they did by trading Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz and Sam Dyson. They also had to add to their team which they did by trading for Scooter Gennett.  

                     D-Backs 

                     Thoughts: This is another team got in-between. They are also very much in the Wild Card race. The D-Backs couldn't pass on the offer the Astros made for Zack Grienke as they got 4 really good prospects for him in Seth Beer, J.B Bukauskas, Corbin Martin and Josh Rojas. They also got a good pitching prospect in Zac Gallen from the Marlins for Jazz Chisholm. The D-Backs also had to add at the deadline by trading for Mike Leake. 

                      Overview: I thought the Astros, Braves, Mets and Nationals all got better at the deadline. They helped themselves by adding pitching which Braves, Mets and Nationals needed. The Astros are the biggest winners at the deadline by adding Zack Grienke which makes them the favorites to win the World Series. I thought the Indians, Yankees and Phillies need to get better at the deadline. Both the Yankees and Phillies needed pitching and didn't address it. The Indians got worse by trading away Trevor Bauer. The Tigers did a good job helping out their rebuild by getting good prospects from the Braves and Cubs while the Pirates did nothing other than trade Corey Dickerson. Both the Giants and D-Backs were caught in-between in terms of either rebuilding or contending.