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Grades for every deal ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline

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It’s baseball transaction season, which means it’s time to start making MLB trade grades in 2022. Marginal moves at this time of year can swing a season, just as the Atlanta Braves exhibited with their outfield rebuild 12 months ago.

Of course, MLB trade deadline grades are not just about the immediate. We are looking for a more balanced view, an evaluation of the value for the selling team and if this is a trade which can prove to be a difference maker for the buyers.

We are combining all our MLB trade deadline analysis in one place, diving into each and every deal from the middle relievers to All-Star deals.

MLB trade grades 2022

Keep coming back for a full MLB trade deadline recap. This page will be updated with the latest MLB trade grades for 2022.

Mychal Givens to Mets

The price for Mychal Givens was low, as it often is for non-elite rental relievers. New York only gave up Saul Gonzalez, a 22-year-old pitcher currently in single-A.

    

Givens is having one of the best seasons of his career with a high strikeout rate and very little hard contact allowed. This gives Buck Showalter a relief arm he’s familiar with and another trustworthy guy to help get them to Edwin Diaz.

When you look at the price for some relievers, this has to be viewed as a shrewd move from the Mets.

  • Cubs grade: C
  • Mets grade: B+

Raisel Iglesias to Braves

Atlanta takes on the entirety of Raisel Iglesias’ $48 million on his contract, and gets another late-inning arm after sending Will Smith to the Astros. The cost was Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson – this is more of a salary dump trade than anything else for the Angels.

There is an element of risk here by taking on the contract, but the Braves have shown they are willing to spend. Iglesias has not been as bad as his results suggest. Expect to see Atlanta tweak his pitch mix.

  • Angels grade: D
  • Braves grade: C+

Mitch White to Blue Jays

Toronto flipped minor leaguers Nick Frasso and Moises Brito for Mitch White and Alex De Jesus. White, owner of a 3.58 ERA in over 100 MLB innings, has been good for the Dodgers this year, while De Jesus has a career OPS over .800 in the minors and plays around the infield.

    

Frasso has been almost unhittable in the lower minors this year, and Brito is an unknown, but has posted big strikeout numbers in rookie ball.

White can help the Jays immediately with their rotation issues. Los Angeles must like what it sees in Frasso.

Dodgers grade: C

Blue Jays grade: B+

Whit Merrifield to Blue Jays

Only days ago, Whit Merrifield missed the Royals’ trip to Toronto because of his vaccination status. One must now assume he’s getting the shot, as the Jays just gave up Samad Taylor and Max Castillo for the versatile veteran.

Merrifield is not the same hitter he was a couple of years ago, and is contracted through next season with a mutual option for 2024.

Taylor is the centerpiece of the deal and Toronto’s 16th-best prospect, and Castillo is a rookie relief arm who has flourished in the high minors this year. This looks a high price for a player putting up Merrifield’s production.

  • Blue Jays grade: D
  • Royals grade: B+

Jordan Montgomery to Cardinals

New York had room to move a pitcher after landing Frankie Montas, and Jordan Montgomery is the one leaving the Bronx to reinforce a Cardinals rotation which desperately needs MLB-proven arms.

Montgomery, under control until the end of next season, is having a brilliant year with an ERA under 3.70. The return of Harrison Bader is the sort of move that works for the Yankees, however, even after bringing in Andrew Benintendi. Bader’s an elite defender and an up-and-down hitter. Like Montgomery, he’s a free agent at the end of 2023.

This addresses needs for both teams – St Louis has retained its prospects while adding to the rotation, while the Yankees have an elite defender to slot alongside Aaron Judge and Benintendi.

  • Cardinals grade: B+
  • Yankees grade: B+

Noah Syndergaard to Phillies

The Angels didn’t want to be sellers at this deadline, but their play has backed them into a corner. Listening to offers on Noah Syndergaard, a free agent-to-be, was the bare minimum they could do.

Syndergaard isn’t the pitcher he once was, and his expected numbers are a worrying sign for Philadelphia. He’s still been solid this year, though, which is all they are looking for behind their ace tandem of Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.

The price was Mickey Moniak, who has shown limited signs of being a Major League-level player, and Jadiel Sanchez, a prospect who lit up rookie ball earlier this year but has progressed slowly since being drafted in 2019.

Los Angeles didn’t have much leverage here, but they would have hoped to get a bit more.

  • Phillies grade: C+
  • Angels grade: C-

Michael Fulmer to Twins

Well, the Twins needed bullpen help. Jorge Lopez arrived from Baltimore. Michael Fulmer comes in from Detroit. Minnesota has not messed about at this trade deadline in their bid to take advantage of a potentially slim window with Carlos Correa.

Sawyer Gipson-Long is the return, who has had a rough time in double-A after lighting up high-A earlier this season.

It was never going to be a big haul for a rental, but this looks a great deal for the Twins. Fulmer has been a much better pitcher since upping his power-slider usage, and he’s good for an xERA just over three this year.

  • Tigers grade: D+
  • Twins grade: A

Jake Lamb to Mariners

Strictly a platoon bat, Jake Lamb has an OPS of almost .800 against righties for his career.

At worst, Lamb is an effective pinch hitter.

At best, he can be a regular platoon option and play on the corners.

Seattle only gave up some cash in the deal.

  • Mariners grade: C+
  • Dodgers grade: C

Trevor Rosenthal to Brewers

It seemed to come from nowhere when the Giants signed Trevor Rosenthal late last month. Rosenthal hasn’t pitched in two years – he comes with injury risk and occasional control issues.

At his best, though, Rosenthal is a strikeout machine with serious heat. It’s a worthwhile bet for the Brewers, who are muddling together a bullpen after sending Josh Hader to the Padres.

San Francisco lands Tristan Peters, an outfielder with an .871 OPS in double-A on the season.

  • Giants grade: C+
  • Brewers grade: C

Sandy Leon to Guardians

Reliever Ian Hamilton moves from the Twins to Guardians in exchange for Sandy Leon.

The Twins get an experienced catcher with Ryan Jeffers on the injured list, while Cleveland can take a look at Hamilton, who appears to be on a tour of the AL Central.

  • Guardians grade: B
  • Twins grade: C+

Curt Casali to Mariners

It’s almost a daily occurrence that the Giants and Mariners make a trade. The latest is to send veteran backstop Curt Casali to Seattle in return for double-A reliever Michael Stryffeler and catcher Andy Thomas, who has an .844 OPS in the minors this season.

San Francisco needs relief arms with their bullpen having dropped off in a big way this year. Casali’s presence is not necessary with Joey Bart sticking in the Majors, while the Mariners can do with some help at the backup catcher spot. Matt Boyd is also included in the deal — he’s rehabbing at the moment, and should be available to start later in the year.

  • Giants grade: B
  • Mariners grade: B-

Brandon Drury to Padres

Not content with Juan Soto, Josh Bell and Josh Hader, the Padres have added utility man Brandon Drury from the Reds. Drury is having a career year, and has absolutely mashed lefty pitching this season, which is especially valuable with the Dodgers’ raft of southpaws and the presence of Max Fried once the Padres reach the playoffs.

Victor Acosta, an 18-year-old Dominican currently with a .707 OPS in rookie ball, is going to Cincinnati. Acosta was up to number six on the Padres’ prospect list after their other deals.

  • Reds grade: C
  • Padres grade: B

Tyler Mahle to Twins

The latest of the Reds’ fire sale moves sees Tyler Mahle end up in Minnesota in exchange for Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Steve Hajjar. The Twins gave up their seventh, 18th and 23rd prospects to add an underrated arm behind Joe Ryan and Sonny Gray in the rotation.

This is an absolute haul for the Reds. All three are having great seasons, and Hajjar was selected in the second round just last year. Mahle, a free agent at the end of next year, wasn’t going to be a part of the next good Reds team.

It’s a rare win-win, though this could age poorly for the Twins if they miss the playoffs this year or next.

  • Twins grade: B+
  • Reds grade: A

David Robertson to Phillies

David Robertson returns to the Phillies in exchange for high-A arm Ben Brown. Brown has strikeout stuff in the low minors, and has been in 2022 after having Tommy John surgery a couple of years ago.

The Phils’ bullpen has been better than last year, but an upgrade in Robertson will still be appreciated. Even deep into his thirties, Robertson has been one of the best relief pitchers in the sport and will immediately slot into a late-inning role.

We like the upside the Cubs have got here.

  • Phillies grade: B
  • Cubs grade: B+

Darin Ruf to Mets

A woeful run over the last couple of months meant the Giants were likely to be active as sellers. San Francisco has the worst defense in the bigs, and Farhan Zaidi was clearly motivated to flip some of their DH types.

Darin Ruf falls into that category. While unable to replicate his 2021 performance, Ruf has still crushed lefties this year, and can bring power from the right side to a Mets offense which has been surprisingly lacking in pop.

San Francisco takes a chance on being able to get J.D. Davis back to where he was a couple of years ago and gains an extra year of control. Zaidi also picked up Thomas Szapucki, Carson Seymour and Nick Zwack from New York.

  • Mets grade: C+
  • Giants grade: B-

Brandon Marsh to Phillies

Philadelphia parted with top-100 prospect Logan O’Hoppe to fill their center fielder need with Brandon Marsh of the Angels. Moving MLB talent for prospects is the right path for the Angels, having fallen out of the playoff race and with Mike Trout suffering a scary injury.

O’Hoppe has an .877 OPS in double-A this season, and he could quickly move to the Majors with defense that already impresses.

Marsh is a plus defender, but has been well below league average at the plate since a hot start to the season. Rarely hitting the ball hard, the Phils have paid a high price for a glove-first outfielder to counterbalance their offseason signings.

  • Phillies grade: C-
  • Angels grade: A-

Eric Hosmer to Red Sox

He might have turned down Washington, but San Diego still managed to move off Eric Hosmer’s bloated contract.

The Friars found a team not on his no-trade list, though they will also have to cover the vast majority of his remaining salary according to reports. We have long been critical of San Diego’s decision to hand Hosmer such a huge deal (in fact, it was one of the first pieces on the site), and it has ultimately become a burden as the team tries to pursue the Dodgers.

It remains to be seen what Boston does with Hosmer. Having had the third-worse first base production this year, Hosmer could be a decent placeholder for the rest of this year and perhaps into next.

Boston gave up former top prospect Jay Groome in the deal, while receiving cash and two prospects from San Diego.

  • Padres grade: D
  • Red Sox grade: C

Joey Gallo to Dodgers

A Joey Gallo trade has been inevitable since the Yankees landed Andrew Benintendi. Gallo has underperformed in his 12 months in the Bronx, and everyone is clearly ready to move on.

What better place is there for Gallo to do that than the juggernaut Dodgers? Being able to work with the Dodgers’ coaching staff could be exactly what Gallo needs to get his career back on track.

This is a worthwhile gamble for Los Angeles, with 2020 second-round pick Clayton Beeter going the other way. Beeter has an ERA just below six in double-A.

Gallo is the real winner here.

  • Dodgers grade: B
  • Yankees grade: C

Zach Pop, Anthony Bass to Blue Jays

Miami uses its relief depth to acquire a top 100 prospect in Jordan Groshans. Zach Pop, under team control through 2026, and Anthony Bass, who has a team option for 2023, are heading to Toronto to help a Jays bullpen which is 25th in fWAR on the season.

Pop has a nasty slider – a pitch he should throw more. Bass owns a 1.41 ERA with an expected number under three, and could also ramp his slider usage up even further.

Groshans has trended in the wrong direction this year, with an OPS of just over .630 in double-A and triple-A. Miami clearly needs hitting prospects, though, and can view this as a worthwhile bet on talent.

  • Marlins grade: B+
  • Blue Jays grade: B

Juan Soto, Josh Bell to Padres

Speculation becomes reality. One of the biggest deals in MLB trade deadline history sees the San Diego Padres land Juan Soto and Josh Bell for C.J. Abrams, Luke Voit, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, MacKenzie Gore and Jarlin Susana.

This is not like other MLB trade deadline grades. It’s impossible to be negative about a team landing a generational player like Soto with two-and-a-half years of team control. Washington, meanwhile, have got a player who has already proven himself in the bigs in Gore, plus high-upside prospects in the shape of Abrams, Wood and Hassell. Susana has a 2.45 ERA in rookie ball.

For San Diego, this trade is obviously costly, but upgrading to Bell at first base/DH is an added bonus. Washington, instead of attaching a bad contract and getting less prospect return, tried to buy themselves additional prospect talent by taking on Eric Hosmer, but the former Royal exercised his no-trade clause and will not be included in the deal. Luke Voit heads to the Nats instead.

For all the talent coughed up, this is a massive win for the Padres in their aggressive pursuit of the Dodgers. For Washington, this is an almighty leg up in their rebuild, but it’s always going to hurt losing a player like Soto.

  • Padres grade: A+
  • Nationals grade: B-

Jorge Lopez to Twins

Baltimore’s league-leading bullpen loses its closer. Minnesota was in dire need of relief help with the second worst ‘pen in the Majors having produced just 0.2 fWAR. Lopez was an All-Star this year and deservedly so with dominant numbers across the board.

His curveball has been pretty much unhittable, and he’s enjoyed a marked uptick in velocity over the last couple of years.

Baltimore dealing Trey Mancini was a signal of the path they were taking at this deadline. Arms with upside in Cade Povich and Yennier Cano help to add further depth to the Baltimore system, while rookie ball pitchers Juan Nunez and Juan Rojas are a couple of fun dice rolls.

  • Orioles grade: B+
  • Twins grade: B

Matt Bush to Brewers

Fresh off dealing Josh Hader, further bullpen moves were likely for Milwaukee. Mark Mathias was the price for Matt Bush.

A versatile defender yet to hit at the big-league level, Mathias is something of a project for Texas. He has decent minor-league numbers, but the Rangers could have looked for better upside here given Bush’s remaining control and strong performances thus far.

Advanced statistics love Bush’s 2022 to date. This is a smart move for the Brewers.

  • Brewers grade: A
  • Rangers grade: D

Robbie Grossman to Braves

Atlanta overhauled its outfield last deadline and the reigning champions have made a similar move here. Robbie Grossman is enduring a rough 2022, but he was a 114 OPS+ hitter last season.

This may well not be the last we see of Atlanta in our MLB trade grades for 2022. We know they like to be active at the deadline, and there are still issues to address on this roster.

It’s a buy-low from the Braves on a player who can be dangerous in a platoon. Kris Anglin was the player going the other way, a 2021 draft pick who pitched well as a starter in rookie ball earlier this year.

  • Tigers grade: C
  • Braves grade: C

Will Smith to Astros, Jake Odorizzi to Braves

The lesser-spotted trade of MLB pieces between World Series contenders saw the Braves flip Will Smith for Jake Odorizzi, a deal which checks boxes for both teams.

Atlanta is third in xFIP from its bullpen, but has rotation issues with Charlie Morton and Ian Anderson having poor years. Houston’s ‘pen is only around average, and has a lack of depth around Ryan Pressly. A surplus of starters made Odorizzi expendable.

It’s a player option for Odorizzi in 2023, and a team option for Smith. Atlanta saves some cash in this deal, too.

  • Braves grade: B-
  • Astros grade: B+

Tommy Pham to Red Sox

Boston only had to include a player to be named later to acquire Tommy Pham from the Reds.

In the midst of another difficult year, even away from slapping Joc Pederson, Pham has still hit lefties well. Boston clearly isn’t pushing their chips in for 2022, but this is a value move which could give them a chance at a late-season push if the other key pieces stay intact.

There was no reason for Cincy to keep the veteran outfielder.

  • Reds grade: C
  • Red Sox grade: C+

Luke Weaver to Royals

The Diamondbacks have seen Luke Weaver find his best stuff out the bullpen over the last month and it resulted in a trade with the Royals, who are long-time admirers of the former Cardinal. Arizona landed Emmanuel Rivera, a controllable infielder, in return.

The Royals plan to see what Weaver can do as a reliever for the rest of the season, while the Diamondbacks will hope Rivera can recreate the dominance at the plater we’ve seen in triple-A.

  • Diamondbacks grade: C+
  • Royals grade: C

Jake Diekman to White Sox

Following up from the decision to move Vazquez, Boston filled his void behind the dish with Reese McGuire from the White Sox. Lefty reliever Jake Diekman went the other way.

Diekman isn’t having his best year, but the ChiSox are taking a low-risk gamble that he can help fortify their relief corps.

  • White Sox grade: C+
  • Red Sox grade: C

Christian Vazquez to Astros

Every year there’s a publicly emotional moment when a player discovers they have been traded. This summer it was Christian Vazquez finding out he’d been flipped to the Astros while at their park as a Red Sox player.

This isn’t going to be the headline of many MLB trade deadline recap pieces, but this is a shrewd move from Houston with Vazquez providing far more offense from the catching spot than Martin Maldonado can offer.

Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez went to Boston – both are hitting well in the high minors and could be a factor in the big leagues later this year or early next.

  • Red Sox grade: A-
  • Astros grade: B

Jose Quintana, Chris Stratton to Cardinals

The cheaper alternative to Frankie Montas and Luis Castillo was always going to be Jose Quintana. The former Cub is having a nice year, though his contact allowed suggests there’s regression on the way. Chris Stratton has the stuff to be an effective reliever.

Johan Oviedo and Malcom Nunez isn’t a high price for the Cards to pay, yet it would have been good to see the Pirates gamble on some upside further down the minor leagues.

  • Cardinals grade: B
  • Pirates grade: C

Ford Proctor to Giants

Farhan Zaidi loves his utility players. Ford Proctor fits that mold, and the Giants only flipped minor league pitcher Jeremy Walker to land Proctor for further depth on the infield.

Walker has had a brutal year in triple-A. Proctor hasn’t hit well in the highest minor-league level, but he was solid in double-A a year ago. With a 40-man crunch coming, flipping Proctor makes a lot of sense for the Rays.

  • Rays grade: C
  • Giants grade: C-

Trey Mancini to Astros, Jose Siri to Rays

A three-team deal saw the Astros land Trey Mancini and Jayden Murray, while Jose Siri went to the Rays. As the selling party in this deal, the Orioles acquired Seth Johnson and Chayce McDermott.

With the relationship between Mancini and the Orioles, this is a cold reminder of the business side of baseball. Houston also lands Murray, a minor league starter who impressed in double-A earlier this year.

Siri is toolsy, but hasn’t hit at all this year. Tampa Bay may like the power upside even with a lot of swing and miss.

Former first-round pick Johnson is in A-ball, while McDermott is a southpaw who has struggled in high-A. The price was never going to be high for a rental DH like Mancini, but Orioles fans can wonder if this deal was really worth it for a player with such connections to the franchise.

Orioles grade: D

Astros grade: B+

Rays grade: C

Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino to Yankees

Long rumored as a suitor for Frankie Montas, the Yankees got the deal done and added another reliefer in Lou Trivino. The cost was JP Sears, Ken Waldichuk, Luis Medina and Cooper Bowman. This feels a lower price than expected considering that New York has retained its upper echelon position player talents.

A shoulder ailment appears to have suppressed Montas’ value. Trivino’s year hasn’t been as bad as an inflated ERA suggests, and he’s got a track record of average or better performance. We know the Yankees love guys with an elite pitch.

Oakland receives near-Majors talent in this deal, but it feels like they could have taken better upside even if it results in players who aren’t as high on the farm rankings. This is a sell-low on two key assets.

  • Athletics grade: C-
  • Yankees grade: A-

Josh Hader to Padres

San Diego has been aggressive in recent years and that approach continues here. Josh Hader is a Padre, Taylor Rogers is a Brewer. Milwaukee also acquires Robert Gasser, Esteury Ruiz and Dinelson Lamet.

Hader has one more year of team control, and has been an elite reliever for several years, but he’s coming off the worst stretch of his career. The strikeout stuff is still there, yet when batters have made contact, a lot of it has been of the hard variety.

Gasser, a second-round pick in the 2021 draft, has been so-so in high-A. Ruiz has just arrived in the Majors after lighting up the two highest levels in Minor League Baseball this season, and brings positional versatility. Some upside remains with Lamet, but he’s clearly a project at this point.

Milwaukee will hope Rogers can improve on what has been a down year to cover for the loss of Hader. A free agent to be, San Diego clearly didn’t fancy extending the veteran southpaw.

At first, this is hard to understand for the Brewers. There is reason to make this move, however, particularly for a team with such a depleted farm system. If a Hader extension wasn’t happening, this is the right kind of trade to make. San Diego are gambling on a big name once again, but crucially kept their top prospects.

  • Brewers grade: C+
  • Padres grade: B-

Scott Effross to Yankees

A bullpen arm was a clear need for the Yankees and they’ve addressed it with rookie Scott Effross. The five years of team control cost New York their seventh prospect in Hayden Wesneski.

Effross, a side-armer with a swing-and-miss slider, has superb advanced numbers across the board, sitting firmly among the elite in strikeout rate, whiff rate, xERA and hard contact allowed. The Yankees have added a bullpen arm not only to help them in 2022, but who can be integral for the next half-decade.

Drafted in the sixth round in 2019, Wesneski has been starting in triple-A this year and will likely make it to the Majors before the end of the season.

  • Cubs grade: C+
  • Yankees grade: A-

Ehire Adrianza to Nationals

The Braves designated Robinson Cano for assignment and sent Trey Harris to the Washington Nationals to reunite with Ehire Adrianza.

Struggling at the dish this year in just over 80 plate appearances, Adrianza provides some depth with Adam Duvall and Ozzie Albies sidelined.

Harris is a former 32nd-round pick, who hit well prior to the pandemic but has been below par at the plate in double-A over the last two seasons.

  • Braves grade: C
  • Nationals grade: C+

David Peralta to Rays

Enjoying something of a late-career boom, David Peralta is a really nice fit with the Rays. Tampa Bay has just an 85 wRC+ from its left-handed hitters on the season, and there is something of a hole in the outfield with Manny Margot and Kevin Kiermaier on the injured list. Brett Phillips has been a disappointment.

Peralta remains a plus defender in left. He’s lifting the ball far more than ever before, aiding his cause for a best xwOBA since 2018.

This was a cheap addition for the Rays, too, with teenage catcher Christian Cerda being the only prospect to go to Arizona. Hitting well in rookie ball, Cerda is farm depth for the Dbacks, who were never going to do much better for a rental of this natures.

  • Diamondbacks grade: C
  • Rays grade: B

Edmundo Sosa to Phillies

Philadelphia lands Edmundo Sosa in exchange for lefty reliever JoJo Romero. Sosa has desperately struggled at the plate this season, but he was an above-average hitter in 2021 and crucially brings plus defense to a team which has been woeful with the glove.

This is a low-cost move to meet a need for Philly with Jean Segura on the injured list and Didi Gregorius, Bryson Stott and Johan Camargo all struggling.

There was never going to be a great return for the Cards, but they will hope to take Romero from quad-A guy to a handy matchup option.

  • Phillies grade: B+
  • Cardinals grade: C

Chris Martin to Dodgers

The Dodgers sent Zach McKinstry to the Cubs in exchange for veteran reliever Chris Martin. While Martin’s year-long numbers are nothing to get too excited about, he’s markedly improved over the last six weeks and adds depth to a Dodgers relief corps which is missing several arms through injury.

McKinstry is yet to hit in the big leagues, but he’s versatile and controllable. Boasting strong walk numbers in the minors, McKinstry has been impressive in triple-A in each of the last three seasons. Useful pickup for the Cubs.

  • Cubs grade: C+
  • Dodgers grade: C

Luis Castillo to Mariners

The standout deal in our MLB trade deadline recap to date, the Seattle Mariners parted with Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Andrew Moore, and Levi Stoudt to acquire Reds ace Luis Castillo. Seattle is surging, looking to end its playoff drought, and has Castillo under team control through next season.

The Mariners now have a formidable front three with Castillo joining Logan Gilbert and Robbie Ray atop the rotation. Castillo was arguably the best pitcher available, and this could prove to be the biggest haul received if Juan Soto doesn’t get moved.

It’s a high price. Marte is one of the best prospects in the sport; Arroyo has a .899 OPS in A-ball; Moore is having a great year in the low minors; Stoudt was a third-round pick in 2019.

Seattle clearly believes it can continue this hot streak into August, September and possibly October. Castillo helps their chances of doing just that.

The teardown in Cincinnati continues. It’s changed the look of their farm system, with Marte becoming their top prospect and Arroyo slotting in at six on Pipeline.

  • Reds grade: A-
  • Mariners grade: B+

Tyler Naquin and Phillip Diehl to Mets

Tyler Naquin is a league-average bat in 2022, which doesn’t seem like much to get excited about. Just like the Vogelbach deal, though, this is a platoon move for the Mets, with Naquin owning a .805 OPS against righties for his career. Diehl is southpaw relief depth, having pitched well in triple-A over the last two years.

New York gave up Hector Rodriguez and Jose Acuna in the deal, two minor leaguers who don’t feature on their top 30 prospect list.

This isn’t a major trade for either the Reds or the Mets, yet it fits with what both teams are looking to do right now. Cincinnati builds depth. New York addresses a weakness.

  • Reds grade: C
  • Mets grade: C+

Andrew Benintendi to Yankees

The first major domino to fall ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline, Andrew Benintendi swaps Kansas City for New York. In return, the Royals receive TJ Sikkema (Yankees’ 19th prospect per MLB Pipeline), Beck Way (21st) and Chandler Champlain.

Benintendi was one of the best hitters available, enjoying something of a bounceback season with the lowly Royals. The Yankees desperately needed an outfield bat with Joey Gallo and Aaron Hicks struggling.

None of the arms acquired in this deal have reached Double-A yet. The Royals are stocking up on depth, and understandably focusing on pitching given their struggles.

This isn’t the blockbuster some Yankees fans were calling for, but it clearly improves New York on both sides of the ball without giving up any premium talent.

  • Royals grade: B-
  • Yankees grade: B+

Daniel Vogelbach to Mets

Rookie reliever Colin Holderman went the other way in this deal as the Mets landed a much-needed power bat. New York might be one of the best teams in the sport, and a clear World Series contender, but they have lacked pop this season. They are 20th in isolated power.

Daniel Vogelbach struggled in 2021. He bounced back with the Pirates, posting a .769 OPS. With a career .819 OPS against righties, Vogelbach should be a very effective bench/platoon bat for New York.

These are exactly the moves teams like the Pirates should be making. Vogelbach wasn’t worth anything to them, but there’s some upside with Holderman.

  • Mets grade: C
  • Pirates: C+

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