Following the annual MLB trade deadline on July 30th, 2024, the league saw a decent amount of player turnover among the ‘buyers’ and ‘sellers.’ Despite there being no blockbuster trades, multiple transactions were made across MLB. With the league having more good teams than bad teams this season, a total of 19 organizations were listed as buyers compared to just 11 sellers. While it’s impossible to predict exactly how each trade will turn out over time, the transparency of early “winners” and “losers” is interesting to assess.
Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers
Key Acquisitions:
RHP Jack Flaherty (via DET)
RHP Michael Kopesch (via CWS)
2B/SS/OF Tommy Edman (via STL)

PC: sports.yahoo.com
Perhaps the most aggressive team at this year’s trade deadline, the Dodger’s intentions of competing for a World Series this season title were on full display. Acquiring rental RHP Jack Flaherty, 28, from Detroit was the best move any buyer made this deadline. Flaherty has been exceptional this season posting a 7-5 record paired with a pristine 2.95 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 18 appearances. Adding a frontline starting pitcher was a crucial roster hole the Dodgers needed to address due to their injury riddled rotation. Along with acquiring a legit arm for the home stretch of the season, the Dodgers weren’t forced to part with much prospect capital sending C/1B Thayron Liranzo (LAD No.3 prospect) and INF Trey Sweeny (LAD No.24 prospect) to the Tigers in return for Flaherty. The other notable trade that saw the Dodgers land a favorable player haul was the 3-team trade between the Cardinals and White Sox that sent flame throwing reliever Michael Kopesch from Chicago and utility infielder Tommy Edman from St. Louis. In addition, the Dodgers also added veteran bats Amed Rosario and Kevin Kiermaier.
Loser: Chicago White Sox
Key Acquisitions:
INF Miguel Vargas (Via LAD)
2B Jeral Perez (Via LAD)
2B William Bergolla (Via PHI)

PC: bvmsports.com
Clearly, the White Sox have had a historically disappointing season sitting 50+ games under the .500 mark. The speculation around the league was that they would be massive sellers, with rumors swarming around breakout LHP Garrett Crochet and 5-tool OF Luis Robert. Alas, neither of them were traded despite having significant amounts of trade value. Crochet in particular was seen as the prized possession of the trade deadline until Chicago ultimately couldn’t find the right price for him as well as concerns of his workload needing to be limited down the stretch entering the picture. Chicago was able to ship RHP Eric Fedde and OF Tommy Pham away for a couple of mid-tier prospects along with reliever Michael Kopesch, who they failed to develop despite his advanced arsenal. The lone bright spot for the White Sox is their farm system was already fairly strong before the deadline, but it’s difficult not to point fingers at the front office for being extremely conservative as if they had something to lose.
Winner: Tampa Bay Rays
Key Acquisitions:
INF Cristopher Morel (Via CHC)
RHP Dylan Lesko (Via SD)
OF Aidan Smith (Via SEA)

PC: mynorthwest.com
Despite being sellers this season, the Tampa Bay Rays had a sneaky good deadline featuring numerous under the radar pickups. Gathering a whopping nine top 30 prospects in total, the Rays appear to have set themselves up nicely for the future without completely decimating their entire roster. Setting the tone early, the Rays surprisingly sent star OF Randy Arozerana to Seattle in a package for three prospects. The most notable of the three was right handed OF Aidan Smith, possessing a 5-tool skillset at the ripe age of 20. In another package that saw one-dimensional slugger 3B Isaac Paredes traded to the Cubs, Tampa appeared to get the better end of the deal acquiring INF Christopher Morel and two high-end pitching prospects Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson. They were also somehow able to flip setup man Jason Adam to San Diego for a trio of prospects, RHP Dylan Lesko being tabbed as their current #5 overall prospect with a 70-grade changeup. To cap things off, St. Louis sent Dylan Carlson over who wasn’t given much playing time despite having the frame to become an everyday at bat.
Loser: Minnesota Twins
Key Acquisitions:
RHP Trevor Richards (via TOR)

PC: twinsdaily.com
In complete contrast to the Dodgers deadline, the Twins did next to nothing in terms of bolstering their roster. Sitting just a few games out of 1st place in the AL Central behind Cleveland, the Twins have outperformed expectations this season and find themselves right in the thick of the playoff mix. With a couple moves, Minnesota could have solidified themselves as true contenders. Instead, all they were able to acquire was middle relief pitcher Trevor Richards, sporting a 4.64 ERA in 45 appearances, from the Blue Jays. Riding the backs of Carlos Correa and Joe Ryan heading into October, the Twins feel as if they took strike three looking, rather than swinging for the fence this deadline.
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