{"id":120759,"date":"2025-08-05T11:39:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T11:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/120759\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T11:39:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T11:39:09","slug":"mlb-power-rankings-brewers-finally-take-the-top-spot-one-word-for-every-teams-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/120759\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Power Rankings: Brewers (finally) take the top spot; one word for every team\u2019s trade deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Grant Brisbee, Chad Jennings and Levi Weaver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every week,\u200b we\u200b ask a selected group of our baseball\u200b writers\u200b \u2014 local and national \u2014 to rank the teams from first to worst<\/a>. Here are the collective results.<\/p>\n

It is Aug. 5. Finally, we can stop talking about the trade deadline. Well \u2026 after this. We have a little bit more to say.<\/p>\n

The thing is, given the number of trades at this year\u2019s deadline \u2014 a record 36 on Thursday \u2014 it took a few days to fully digest everything that happened. Did you know the Royals traded for Mike Yastrzemski? We did, and then we forgot, and now we do again. We\u2019ve decided to make it easy by summing up each team\u2019s trade deadline in just one word \u2026 and then we write a few more words to tell you what we meant by that one word.<\/p>\n

And\u00a0then we\u2019ll stop talking about the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Record: 68-44
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 4<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Icing<\/p>\n

Here are two major additions to the 2025 Milwaukee Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (debuted June 12) and Brandon Woodruff (returned from IL on July 6).<\/p>\n

No team in baseball added two starters of that quality, and it didn\u2019t cost the Brewers a single prospect.<\/p>\n

One could (and should) make the argument that Eugenio Su\u00e1rez would have been a fun power-blaster addition to the run-and-gun Brewers offense. Sure, they have the best record in the sport, but the deadline is about setting up a playoff roster, not just maxing out the fun for the regular season.<\/p>\n

As constructed, Milwaukee has a very dangerous rotation, a fun and effective style of offense, and a bullpen that isn\u2019t bad (and just added Shelby Miller). We\u2019ll see how that translates in October!\u00a0\u2014 Levi Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 65-48
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 1<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Underwhelming<\/p>\n

What do you get the team that has everything? Let\u2019s see, an extra reliever, another outfielder, pieces like that. Maybe you make a win-later trade with a player who doesn\u2019t quite fit onto the roster. You have that luxury.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not so sure the Dodgers are a team that has everything right now, though. Before the season, sure, but since then, plenty has come to light. Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow haven\u2019t helped. Mookie Betts looks lost for the first time in his career. The Dodgers are still second in the NL in runs scored and winning percentage, so don\u2019t freak out, but there are more flaws and holes on the roster than it looked like there were going to be. It wasn\u2019t a bad deadline. Just underwhelming.\u00a0 \u2014 Grant Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 65-47
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 3<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Timid<\/p>\n

In mid-June, the Cubs were up 6.5 games in the NL Central. Even that was not the time to coast, because 2025 \u2014 perhaps their only season with Kyle Tucker \u2014 was not meant to be a year in which they concerned themselves with division rivals.<\/p>\n

This was meant to be Dodgers-hunting season. Instead, the Cubs are looking up at the Brewers.<\/p>\n

Willi Castro, Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers were all solid pickups, but the Cubs needed a starting pitcher<\/a> to post up alongside Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd to give them an intimidating trio in October.<\/p>\n

Put another way: they needed to replace Justin Steele. But Michael Soroka isn\u2019t a Steele replacement. He\u2019s a Jameson Taillon replacement. (And now it looks like Soroka might be injured too.<\/a>) Taillon will be back soon. Steele won\u2019t. So I guess this means the Cubs really trust 23-year-old rookie Cade Horton to be one of their top three in the postseason?<\/p>\n

Is that the gamble you take in your one wild life year with Tucker? \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 64-48
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 5<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Dombrowski<\/p>\n

A decade ago, when Dave Dombrowski became the Red Sox president of baseball operations, he basically announced his intention to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starter, a legitimate closer, and a fourth outfielder. Sure enough, he signed David Price, traded for Craig Kimbrel and signed Chris Young. The Red Sox won the World Series three years later. This winter, in his fifth year running the Phillies\u2019 baseball operations, Dealin\u2019 Dave made it clear that he wanted an outfielder and an improved bullpen. Indeed, he signed David Robertson, made a blockbuster trade for Jhoan Duran, then made a more predictable trade for Harrison Bader. Why would we ever expect anything else? Dombrowski knew what he wanted and went after it. \u2014 Chad Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 66-48
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 7<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Quantity<\/p>\n

Detroit needed bullpen upgrades, and badly. Despite having the best record in baseball for more days than any other team this season, their relief pitching has been subpar. So they went out and got half a bullpen of relievers. Kinda. Rafael Montero (sure, why not) and Kyle Finnegan (pretty good) are in the big leagues, Paul Sewald is recovering from injury, and Codi Heuer is in the minors.<\/p>\n

Even with the addition of Charlie Morton (who looked good in his first start as a Tiger!), I\u2019m not certain that was impactful enough for a team with World Series aspirations, especially on a deadline that saw a lot of top-end relief arms change uniforms. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 66-48
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 6<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Hack<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve chosen a word that can mean a few different things, but we\u2019re intending it in the baseball context. As in, a big swing. Could result in a home run. Could be a whiff. The Blue Jays, having played their way to the top of the AL East, traded three of their best prospects<\/a> for a couple of relievers (Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez and Louis Varland), a big-name starter (Shane Bieber), and a bench bat (Ty France). The moves addressed various needs, but the relievers weren\u2019t of the caliber some other teams acquired \u2014 Varland was the third- or fourth-best reliever the Twins traded \u2014 and Bieber is a wild card, having yet to pitch in the majors this season (but he\u2019s close to returning from surgery, and obviously, he\u2019s Shane Bieber). \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 63-50
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 2<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Check<\/p>\n

The Mets spent the days leading up to the deadline checking boxes. Their bullpen needed help, so they traded for Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, Orioles lefty Gregory Soto, and Giants right-hander Tyler Rogers. Center field had been a problem, so they got Cedric Mullins. Check, check, check and check. It was a good deadline, especially by Mets standards,<\/a> and David Stearns pulled it off without surrendering any of his best minor league talent.<\/a> It wasn\u2019t a splashy deadline for the Mets, but it was an active one, and it has a chance to be an effective one as well. The Mets did what they needed to do. \u2014\u00a0Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 62-51
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 12<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Classic<\/p>\n

As in, classic A.J. Preller. As long as the player development department keeps getting to draft amateur players and signing international free agents, he\u2019ll keep getting prospects to trade away. Really good ones, even.<\/p>\n

So trade \u2018em. Even after James Wood turned into a future star and an absolute freak in the best possible sense, Preller isn\u2019t deterred. Maybe this 18-year-old shortstop will become the greatest player in baseball history when he\u2019s 22. That\u2019s at least six decades away, though, by Preller math. He probably won\u2019t even be running the Padres then. Win now, always and forever. It\u2019s an easy ethos to appreciate.\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 63-50
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: T-9<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Snuggly<\/p>\n

A less loaded word would be \u201ccomfortable,\u201d but I like the extra warmth that \u201csnuggly\u201d provides. Carlos Correa is back, and the dude is like a human blanket for owner Jim Crane and the Astros. Can he still be effective? Is he physically compromised now? Why is he chasing pitches out of the zone more often?<\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t matter. Pull the soft wool of Carlos Correa up to your chin and take a deep breath. It\u2019s all going to be fine. Is he going to help the Astros, who are 10th in the AL in runs per game? Is he a regular third or second baseman going forward? Shhhhhh. Don\u2019t worry your pretty little head about it. Correa is back, and he\u2019ll help fix everything. (Not even sure if this is snark at this point. Much, much sillier ideas have worked.)\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 60-53
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 8<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Relief<\/p>\n

The Yankees\u2019 deadline played out in two waves. First, they addressed \u2014 for the second trade deadline in a row \u2014 their hole at third base by acquiring Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario. McMahon, in particular, brought much-needed relief to a recurring problem at the hot corner. Next, the Yankees added three of the market\u2019s better relievers in Pirates closer David Bednar, Giants closer Camilo Doval and the Rockies\u2019 best setup man, Jake Bird. Relief, relief, relief (just don\u2019t check Friday\u2019s box score<\/a>). Getting outfielder Austin Slater and utility man Jos\u00e9 Caballero (again, don\u2019t look at Friday) added some depth, which surely relieved manager Aaron Boone. The trick, it turns out, is turning all of that relief into actual wins, because the Yankees were just swept by the Marlins.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Jennings <\/p>\n

Record: 63-51
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 11<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Faith<\/p>\n

This word comes straight from outfielder Jarren Duran, who would have been one of the market\u2019s most valuable trade chips had the Red Sox decided to make such an aggressive trade. They didn\u2019t, choosing instead to keep their core intact while adding a couple of versatile pitchers in Steven Matz and Dustin May. \u201cThe way I take it is he has faith in us,\u201d Duran said of chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.<\/a> The Red Sox have been up and down this season, but they\u2019ve been building a young core, and the Red Sox are basically staying the course rather than going all-in on the present. They\u2019ve played well lately. \u2014\u00a0Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 60-53
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 10<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Streamlined<\/p>\n

Nothing cute, nothing fancy. The Mariners\u2019 offense has been a surprising strength, even outside of Cal Raleigh, but they weren\u2019t getting anything out of their corner infield spots. So they called up one of the best offensive teams in the league and traded for their pending free agents at both positions. Both players can thump. Seems like a good plan.<\/p>\n

The pitching will need to return to its preseason promise to be a juggernaut of a roster, but the elements are there. There\u2019s a reason why the Mariners have the fourth-best projected record in baseball for the rest of the season<\/a>.\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 59-55
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 13<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word: <\/strong>Pitching?<\/p>\n

As in \u201cPitching? Don\u2019t they already have enough of that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Rangers probably needed a right-handed bat. In theory, they\u2019ll get one when Jake Burger comes off the IL, but Burger is hitting .228 (.659 OPS) this year. It could have been any ol\u2019 right-handed bat, because their DH (Joc Pederson) was hitting .122 (.475 OPS) at the deadline, so he seems somewhat expendable right now. (Of course he hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning Monday after I wrote this.)<\/p>\n

ANYWAY, with so few bats available, they deemed the prices to be too high, so they went and got two relievers (Danny Couloumbe and Phil Maton) and a starter (Merrill Kelly) to bolster their already-dominant pitching.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not going to add run production, it doesn\u2019t hurt to add run prevention. (But I still think a bat would have helped.) \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 59-54
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 14<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Shrewd<\/p>\n

The Reds needed an outfielder and bullpen help, so they traded for a third baseman and a starting pitcher. So I\u2019m grateful for C. Trent Rosecrans\u2019 explainer<\/a> \u2014\u00a0Hayes at third base lets Cincinnati move Noelvi Marte to the outfield, and Zack Littell lets them move a starter with workload concerns (Chase Burns?) to the bullpen.<\/p>\n

They also picked up Miguel Andujar to strengthen the lineup against left-handers. They made all these moves without giving up much in the way of big-name prospects.<\/p>\n

It was a move to improve this year, without mortgaging the future. Not bad! \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 56-57
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 15<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Sheesh<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a first in my 20-plus years of writing about baseball: As soon as I finished my \u201chere\u2019s who the Giants should add at the deadline<\/a>\u201d article, I started on my \u201chere\u2019s what they\u2019ll look like if they\u2019re sellers<\/a>\u201darticle. No break, no wait and see. It was the natural progression after filing a story and watching them play like nincompoops yet again, even if it seemed unlikely the Giants would actually sell.<\/p>\n

Credit to Buster Posey and the Giants\u2019 front office, then, for deciding that this team simply doesn\u2019t have the juice, which is never an easy decision for a team that started out as hot as they were. Are there any second thoughts after a series win against the Mets? Maybe. And it\u2019s not unthinkable that the Giants could be the 2024 Tigers redux. Still, their word is \u201csheesh\u201d because that got real ugly, real fast.\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 55-59
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: T-9<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Unique<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s recap, and you tell me if any other organization would have pulled off this combination of moves. First, the Rays traded away a catcher (Danny Jansen), then added another (Nick Fortes), and subsequently traded Zack Littell in a three-team deal that netted a strong defensive catcher (Hunter Feduccia). The Rays also swapped one of their many glove-first utility infielders (Jos\u00e9 Caballero) for a young bat-first outfielder (Everson Pereira). They traded a faded prospect (Curtis Mead) for a veteran starter having a breakout season (Adrian Houser). And they traded a young, recently demoted starter (Taj Bradley) for a controllable reliever with truly elite stuff (Griffin Jax). Were they buyers? Were they sellers? As always, there were just the Rays. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 57-55
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 19<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Ruined<\/p>\n

Look at the returns the Twins (Jhoan Duran) and A\u2019s (Mason Miller) got for their closers. Now imagine what the return might have looked like had Emmanuel Clase been available.<\/p>\n

Instead, Clase is on non-disciplinary paid leave while the MLB completes a sports betting investigation<\/a>. He could be back in September, or he could never play baseball again. Who knows!<\/p>\n

So the Guardians\u2019 deadline was an exercise in straddling the fence. Did they need to trade Shane Bieber<\/a>? Probably not, but the odds of him exercising his player option this winter would be slim, assuming he looks good over the last two months.<\/p>\n

Did they need to trade Steven Kwan? No, so they didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Clase could have given them a chance to really improve for 2026 and beyond. Instead, they\u2019ll play out the string. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 55-56
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 22<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Hold<\/p>\n

The Marlins had two of the market\u2019s most intriguing trade chips in young starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, but they chose to hold onto both of them. Alcantara\u2019s value was nowhere near its peak, and Cabrera is having a career year with three more years of team control. Maybe the Marlins can at least make the playoffs again before he\u2019s gone. The Marlins did, at least, trade away lefty bat Jes\u00fas S\u00e1nchez and catcher Nick Fortes, but this wasn\u2019t nearly the rebuild it could have been. In the short term, holding assets paid off as the Marlins swept the Yankees over the weekend. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 56-57
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 18<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Surprise!<\/p>\n

Did you know the Royals went 16-9 in July? In late June, a sell-off seemed obvious and imminent. Instead, they extended Seth Lugo, then shopped the bargain-bin trade lines, picking up Mike Yastrzemski, Adam Frazier and Randal Grichuk, then trading catcher Freddy Fermin to the Padres for two relievers who can help right now.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still a long shot that the Royals make the playoffs this year, but it\u2019s not like they went out and made big moves for a pipe dream. This was the \u201cI\u2019ll buy you a guitar from Wal-Mart and if you prove you can learn to play, we can talk about Guitar Center in six months\u201d of a deadline.\u00a0\u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 57-57
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 17<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Sure<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to sell, start with the closers, especially if you have a good one. Standard operating procedure, page A1. GMs and Presidents of Baseball Operations don\u2019t get extra credit for these trades. Any goofball on the \u201cMLB: The Show 25\u201d servers would have made that kind of deal.<\/p>\n

Beyond the Ryan Helsley trade, the Cardinals have to be pleased that Steven Matz had perfect timing with his renaissance, saving his best season for his final year, when his contract was easier to trade away. But other than that, it was a mostly dry and dull sell-off, with most of the core remaining in place. They weren\u2019t going to make Chaim Bloom start from scratch next year, as he takes over for the departing John Mozeliak<\/a>. So, it was a mini-sell. Fair enough.\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 54-59
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 21<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Bittersweet<\/p>\n

It\u2019s rare for an erstwhile contender to be so perfectly set up at the trade deadline. They didn\u2019t have tough decisions to make, with their entire roster neatly sorted into \u201cwill be here next year\u201d and \u201cwon\u2019t be here next year\u201d before leaving spring training. They traded the pending free agents and kept the young core. Simple and effective.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks knew their problem was the rotation and pitching development, so they threw money at the problem twice, and all that happened was regression from the ace they already had. It stings. It\u2019s like that famous movie quote<\/a>: they \u201ccoulda been a contender.\u201d Yes, except in this case, they should have been. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 55-58
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 23<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> LMAO<\/p>\n

This is a bit, right?<\/p>\n

The Angels aren\u2019t acquiring middling relievers at the deadline and forgoing a rebuilding strategy because Arte Moreno really thinks the team has a shot. He wants to see the fans and media scurry like ants, and he wants to giggle about it. It makes him feel alive.<\/p>\n

I can respect this. It\u2019s also the only possible way to respect it, so it had better be true. Because if it\u2019s not a bit? Hoooooooo, buddy, would this be the most nonsensical, rudderless deadline in modern baseball history. (Good thing it\u2019s a bit. Right?)\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 47-64
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 24<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Acceptance<\/p>\n

The Braves weren\u2019t good enough to be buyers, nor did they have especially attractive trade chips as sellers. So, rather than pick a side, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos seemed to accept what the Braves have become.<\/a> He didn\u2019t trade away Marcell Ozuna or Raisel Iglesias \u2014 and certainly not Ozzie Albies or Sean Murphy \u2014 and mostly added some fringe big league pitchers (Erick Fedde, Carlos Carrasco, Tyler Kinley) to help hobble through the rest of the year. When a fourth-place team\u2019s big move is trading away whatever\u2019s left of Rafael Montero, it\u2019s not trying to do much. \u2014\u00a0Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 51-62
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 25<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Obligation<\/p>\n

We considered the word \u201cinevitable,\u201d but no, the Orioles selling like they did was not inevitable. It was a reaction to an overwhelmingly disappointing season, to the point that selling off a bunch of rentals (mostly) had become the least they could do. Thanks for everything, Cedric Mullins, Ryan O\u2019Hearn, Ram\u00f3n Laureano, Ram\u00f3n Ur\u00edas, Charlie Morton, Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez, Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge, but the team just wasn\u2019t good enough this year, and you weren\u2019t part of the future plans. The front office was basically obligated to turn the page and begin the process of \u2014 again \u2014 trying to build around Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and the rest. From that perspective, it\u2019s a shame Zach Eflin didn\u2019t give them a season worth trading. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 49-64
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 27<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Perplexing<\/p>\n

Maybe if the Pirates keep Andrew Heaney around, they can make the playoffs this year.<\/p>\n

Maybe if the Pirates keep Isiah Kiner-Falefa around, they can make the playoffs this year.<\/p>\n

Maybe if the Pirates keep Dennis Santana around, they can make the playoffs this year.<\/p>\n

Maybe if the Pirates keep Tommy Pham around, they can make the playoffs this year.<\/p>\n

All but Santana are set to be free agents this year, so I cannot understand why the Pirates would trade Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes, but not offload any of these veterans for players who might help them make the playoffs in future years. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 49-65
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 26<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Patient<\/p>\n

The A\u2019s played the Mason Miller game perfectly. When he was struggling in May, the old Branch Rickey maxim came to mind: It\u2019s better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late. They didn\u2019t flinch, though, and they were rewarded with one of the best prospects in the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s a caveat, it\u2019s that the A\u2019s have had this kind of super-shortstop prospect before, Franklin Barretto. The good news is he currently has a 1.006 OPS. The bad news is that it\u2019s in Mexico City, where his 41-year-old teammate, Robinson Can\u00f3, has a 1.114 OPS. There\u2019s a long way between now and Leo De Vries, superstar. Still, what a score for an A\u2019s team very specifically looking for a superstar that will be ready in a few years.\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 52-60
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 20<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Desolation<\/p>\n

When there\u2019s nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire. \u2014 \u201cYour Ex-Lover is Dead<\/a>\u201d by Stars<\/p>\n

That was originally my entire entry for the Twins, but my editor insisted I had to write more. But look \u2014 if you\u2019re a Twins fan reading this, you just came to see how far they sank (a lot), and if I\u2019m going to make any jokes at your team\u2019s expense (I\u2019m not).<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to give the Twins some credit for not leaving a job half-done when it comes to selling, but a year and 10 months ago, the Twins were celebrating their first win in a playoff game since 2004. Ownership could have dug in and said, \u201cBoy, that felt great. Wonder what it would feel like to win a playoff series?\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, the Pohlads decided \u201cgood enough,\u201d cut payroll, misfired on selling the team, and now, well \u2026 here we are.<\/p>\n

They left the job half-done. A couple of them, actually. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 44-67
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 28<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Limited<\/p>\n

Honestly, what else were they going to do? Sure, they could have ripped the team apart at the seams, but what is the proper return for MacKenzie Gore or James Wood? No, the best thing the Nationals could do was trade their pieces that had value with no long-term place in the organization. And they did that. Starter Michael Soroka, outfielder Alex Call, infielder Amed Rosario, closer Kyle Finnegan, and \u2014 somehow \u2014 both Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia to the Angels. That\u2019s basically what they had to work with. \u2014\u00a0Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 42-70
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 29<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word: <\/strong>OK<\/p>\n

I originally had the word \u201cSure.\u201d up there, but Grant beat me to it with the Cardinals. So \u2026 OK.<\/p>\n

Luis Robert\u2019s hot streak wasn\u2019t enough to get those prices up, so they kept him. Adrian Houser\u2019s hot season was enough to get those prices up, so they traded him. Austin Slater to the Yankees for a 22-year-old pitcher<\/a>, Tristan Gray to the Rays for cash.<\/p>\n

Sure. OK.<\/p>\n

The thing is, any exciting trade chips the White Sox had are gone now. Garrett Crochet was fun, right? Robert was the only one left who had some intrigue. He\u2019ll still have it this winter.\u00a0\u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 30-82
<\/b>Last Power Ranking: 30<\/b><\/p>\n

Deadline in a word:<\/strong> Finally<\/p>\n

Take the relievers with any value at all and trade them. It\u2019s not a hard concept for a team that doesn\u2019t have any momentum or direction or \u201cgood baseball players,\u201d but it was really hard for the Rockies over the last few years. They finally did it, so everyone can applaud them. It gets even easier the next time, folks.<\/p>\n

They went one step further, though, and traded away Ryan McMahon, the closest thing they have to a face of the franchise. It wouldn\u2019t surprise me to see him break out on a team that believes in analytics, scouting, data or any pertinent information about baseball at all in the year 2025, but at least they got something back for him.<\/p>\n

Run free and don\u2019t look back, Ryan McMahon. And good job being normal, Rockies\u00a0 \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

(Top photo: Scott Taetsch \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Grant Brisbee, Chad Jennings and Levi Weaver Every week,\u200b we\u200b ask a selected group of our baseball\u200b…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":120760,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1279,1280,1276,1281,1271,1274,5048,1282,1283,1885,2382,1284,1285,2502,1286,4247,1287,1266,1305,2228,5055,2083,1886,1306,1275,1288,62,3692,1289,1278,1290,67,132,68,1291],"class_list":{"0":"post-120759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","9":"tag-atlanta-braves","10":"tag-baltimore-orioles","11":"tag-boston-red-sox","12":"tag-chicago-cubs","13":"tag-chicago-white-sox","14":"tag-cincinnati-reds","15":"tag-cleveland-guardians","16":"tag-colorado-rockies","17":"tag-detroit-tigers","18":"tag-houston-astros","19":"tag-kansas-city-royals","20":"tag-los-angeles-angels","21":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","22":"tag-miami-marlins","23":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","24":"tag-minnesota-twins","25":"tag-mlb","26":"tag-new-york-mets","27":"tag-new-york-yankees","28":"tag-oakland-athletics","29":"tag-philadelphia-phillies","30":"tag-pittsburgh-pirates","31":"tag-san-diego-padres","32":"tag-san-francisco-giants","33":"tag-seattle-mariners","34":"tag-sports","35":"tag-st-louis-cardinals","36":"tag-tampa-bay-rays","37":"tag-texas-rangers","38":"tag-toronto-blue-jays","39":"tag-united-states","40":"tag-unitedstates","41":"tag-us","42":"tag-washington-nationals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}