The 2021 MLB trade deadline: Man, it was crazy

*Photo from The Athletic*

   The 2021 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and, man oh man, it was a buyers market. Everyone in contention bought at the deadline, with some teams paying some really steep prices(Hi Toronto). Rather than spend a total of 6 hours writing about each trade in separate posts, I decided on condensing it into this one.

   First, we'll kick it off in the AL East. The New York Yankees had holes on their roster, as they were not playing up to their potential. A big deadline may turn things around. Andrew Heaney for the rotation, Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo, and Clay Holmes join the team as they try to make a playoff push. They gave up several top 30 prospects, but very little, if any, from the top 10. Will it be enough to get them into the playoffs? Don't know, but it makes the AL East even tighter. 

   Moving to the Rays, it was once again a series of minor moves for depth players and fringe position players and pitchers. Shawn Armstrong, Jordan Luplow, and JT Chargois headline the players they got. Knowing the Rays, they will turn into all stars. It's just how this works. The Boston Red Sox also made some moves. They got power hitting OF Kyle Schwarber from Washington, as well as relievers Hansel Robles from the Minnesota Twins, and Austin Davis from the Pirates. Again, just complimentary moves for a Red Sox team poised to return to the playoffs this season.

   Then, we get to the Blue Jays. Man oh man, they had a big deadline. They traded for Washington reliever Brad Hand first, who is sure to help stabilize an unstable bullpen. They also got Joakim Soria after missing out on some other big name relievers, and Trevor Story. Then, we get to the big move. Jose Berrios from the Twins. Berrios is a good pitcher, and makes the rotation much better. But, it cost the Blue Jays their first round pick in 2020 in Austin Martin, plus top pitching prospect Simeon Woods Richardson. Regardless, they certainly upgraded in an area of need.

   Moving to the AL Central, the White Sox were the only buyers in this division. They solved second base by trading for Cesar Hernandez, but they traded their currently injured star second baseman to the Cubs for Craig Kimbrel, which was their biggest move by far. In a separate trade, they also got Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera.

   For the Twins, it became a firesale of a deadline. Almost everyone got traded. JA Happ to the Cardinals, Robles to Boston, Berrios to Toronto, and rampant rumors surrounding Byron Buxton, Josh Donaldson, and Kenta Maeda, although they did not get a deal done with them. I will say, they did get a really good return for Berrios, landing two top 5 prospects. That's some good work.

   For the Houston Astros, after trading for Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero, they continued to shore up the bullpen with a trade for Indians reliever Phil Maton, sending OF Myles Straw the other way. The Seattle Mariners got Rays closer Diego Castillo in exchange for Chargois and 3B Austin Shenton. 

   For the Texas Rangers, they didn't trade as much as everyone expected them too. They got rid of Joey Gallo for a decent haul of prospects, and Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy are going to the Phillies for some prospects as well. It is at least a good step in their rebuild, as they look to get back to contention.

   Now, moving to the NL East, the land of buying as well as selling. The Mets made one of the biggest splashes of the deadline, getting star SS Javier Baez, as well as pitcher Trevor Williams, from the Cubs in exchange for 2020 first round pick Pete Crow-Armstrong. For the Phillies, it was a mild deadline, as they got Gibson and Kennedy from Texas, and Freddy Galvis from the Orioles.

   Now, the sellers of the NL East, the Washington Nationals. It's basically like they traded everyone except Juan Soto and Josh Bell. First, it was Schwarber getting shipped to Boston. Then, Daniel Hudson to the San Diego Padres for a pitching prospect. Jon Lester was sent to the Cardinals. Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison were dealt to the Athletics. Then, the big blockbuster, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner going to the Dodgers for a haul of prospects.

   In the NL central, there were no real serious buyers. Just the Cardinals and Brewers making relatively minor moves, and the Cubs trading off Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees, Kris Bryant to the San Francisco Giants, Baez and Williams to the Mets, Kimbrel and Tepera to the White Sox, Andrew Chafin to Oakland, and almost trading Kyle Hendricks.

   Moving now to the NL West. The Padres stayed quiet, despite almost getting Scherzer. They got Hudson for the bullpen, and that's about it. The Dodgers nabbed Scherzer and Turner in a blockbuster, and got starter and reliever Danny Duffy from the Royals. For the Rockies, it's a massive deadline loss, as they failed to trade Jon Gray and Trevor Story, missing out on what could've been really good returns.

   So, yeah, this trade deadline was absolute chaos. Many moves were made, a few teams were stripped completely bare(Nats and Cubs), a few teams came up short(Padres, Red Sox, Rockies), and lots of fun was had for teams that struck gold. May the 2022 deadline be filled with this as well.