Now that you’ve had time to digest how your favorite team did at the trade deadline and have gotten through all the emotions surrounding those deals (or non-deals), it’s time to look at which teams did the best, which teams did the worst and everything in-between.
This trade deadline will be remembered for the Dodgers landing Tarik Skubal, the Red Sox pulling off an intra-division deal to acquire catcher Adley Rutschman and the last-minute heroics of Padres president A.J. Preller, who somehow landed two of the best starting pitchers that were moved in Casey Mize and Robbie Ray right at the deadline.
Yesterday, I shared my trade deadline grades and rankings for all 30 teams and now I cap off my deadline coverage by handing out superlatives for the moves made — or not made — during the deadline period. I like to have some fun with this column every year.
Here are my selections for the best, worst and everything in between from this year’s trade season, starting with the best and worst trades. Please share your own superlatives in the comments below.
Best tradeLos Angeles Dodgers acquire LHP Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers for OF Zyhir Hope and RHPs River Ryan and Brady Smith
Without question, the Dodgers’ landing Skubal earns the biggest praise. Somehow they were able to close the deal on Saturday, two days before the deadline, and did so without giving up a fourth prospect.
The Dodgers were heavy favorites to win their third straight title before the trade, and adding Skubal solidifies their position as the best team in baseball.
On the other side of the deal, the Tigers also did well, landing a top prospect in Hope, who profiles as a future All-Star with a plus power and speed combination, and Ryan, who, when healthy, should be able to slot into the middle of their rotation. They also added a young, high-upside arm in Smith for their development team to work with.
It was the best trade for a buyer and a seller.
Worst tradeLos Angeles Angels trade RHP Chase Silseth and C Logan O’Hoppe to the Texas Rangers for INF Angel Arredondo
Most organizations evaluated Arredondo as either a fringe prospect or an org player. The Angels should have been able to get a better return for Silseth and O’Hoppe.
Best buyersLos Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox
Dodgers earn this badge by landing the top player in the market. The Padres addressed a significant rotation need with their additions of Mize and Ray. The Cubs filled multiple holes by landing starters Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, reliever Ryan Zeferjahn and fourth outfielder/right-handed bat Tyrone Taylor. The Red Sox went for power at the plate and in the bullpen with their pickups of Adley Rutschman, Curtis Mead and Erik Miller.
Best job of threading the needleToronto Blue Jays 
The Blue Jays traded their No. 2 starter Kevin Gausman, who will be a free agent this offseason, but turned around and acquired his replacement (José Soriano) a day later. (Cole Burston / Getty Images)
The Blue Jays were successful at both buying and selling, trading the expiring contracts of Gausman and Daulton Varsho for strong returns and adding controllable starting pitching with the acquisitions of José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti.
Their ability to find balance between buying and selling at the same time was impressive.
Best sellersSan Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles
As expected, the Tigers got strong returns for both Skubal and Mize, but the Giants were the most impressive sellers because they didn’t have as much to sell and still ended up with three legitimate starting pitching prospects and two middle infielders with upside. The Orioles were also impressive thanks to the strong package they got from the Red Sox for Rutschman and the solid return from the Mariners for Taylor Ward.
Best job of standing patAthletics
Despite being well out of the playoff race, the A’s decided instead of selling to hold on to their controllable players as they continue to build the organization for their expected move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Worst job of standing patCincinnati Reds
The Reds didn’t buy and didn’t sell; they just punted. An organization that had so many needs at the major-league level wasn’t able to add anything to help this year’s team nor improve it for future years. Very disappointing.
Weirdest tradeMiami Marlins trade of RHP Lake Bacher to the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Brandon Bidois, INF Hyun Seung Lee and OF Brian Sanchez
Bachar was having a solid season for the Marlins, but they traded him for three players who all have less value than Bachar. For a team that’s still contending, it was a puzzling decision.
Biggest overpayBoston Red Sox dealing LHP Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for INF Curtis Mead
Early has less than one year of service time and profiles as a mid-rotation starter with many years in the big leagues ahead of him. Sometimes you have to overpay in trades to better your team, which is why this trade actually made sense for the Red Sox despite the overpay. It was just bad luck for Boston that Mead suffered an injury two plate appearances into his Red Sox career.
And, by the way, every team overpaid for right-handed power at this year’s deadline. The Yankees gave up a haul for Heliot Ramos, the Guardians also overpaid in landing Jo Adell and the Mariners traded a lot of talent in their pickup of Ward.
Best position player tradedC Adley Rutschman
Traded from the Orioles to the Red Sox, Rutschman was clearly the best position player moved. He should be a difference-maker for Boston once he gets off the injured list.
Best bat traded1B Luis García Jr.
Traded from the Nationals to the Yankees, García is one of only two players this year with at least 20 doubles, five triples and 20 homers. The other is Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is the frontrunner for NL MVP right now.
Best starting pitchers traded
The Tigers traded the two top starters on the market, Tarik Skubal (left) and Casey Mize, to NL West teams. (Junfu Han / USA Today via Imagn Images)
Quality starting pitching is a scarce commodity around the league, but several pitchers who will make an impact in their new teams’ rotations were moved. The best of the bunch:
Tarik Skubal from the Tigers to the Dodgers
Casey Mize from the Tigers to the Padres
Robbie Ray from the Giants to the Padres
Kevin Gausman from the Blue Jays to the Cubs
Foster Griffin from the Nationals to the Guardians
Best right-handed relievers traded
Luke Weaver from the Mets to the Pirates
Huascar Brazobán from the Mets to the White Sox
Best left-handed relievers traded
Brooks Raley from the Mets to the Phillies
Brent Suter from the Angels to the Braves
Raley had a 1.96 ERA in 45 appearances before the trade, and Suter provides a much different look for the Braves bullpen with his funky arm angle, delivery, pitch shapes and velocity.
Most underrated relievers traded
Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels to the Cubs
Caleb Kilian from the Giants to the Phillies
Erik Miller from the Giants to the Red Sox
Best prospects traded
Outfielder Zyhir Hope from the Dodgers to the Tigers (Skubal trade)
Right-hander Anthony Eyanson from the Red Sox to the Orioles (Rutschman trade)
Best reunionBen Rortvedt and the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers acquired catcher Rortvedt for the third time in a year, landing him in a deal with the Mets. They acquired him in July 2025 from Tampa Bay in a three-team deal, claimed him off waivers in February of this year and then traded pitcher Chayce McDermott to the Mets to land him again on Monday.
With the Dodgers’ primary catchers, Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, both dealing with injuries, L.A. brings back the 28-year-old, who has familiarity with much of the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
Best trade addition pairings
The Padres for landing starters Casey Mize and Robbie Ray
The Cubs for adding starters Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes
Best job of blocking another team from getting playersAtlanta Braves blocking the Philadelphia Phillies from acquiring Tyler Mahle and Lane Thomas
Atlanta acquired both Mahle and Thomas, preventing the Phillies from making those same moves and improving their roster. The Phillies needed a back-of-the-rotation starter for the rest of the year and a right-handed-hitting outfielder who rakes against left-handed pitching, and Mahle and Thomas would have been perfect fits on their roster.
Best job of dumping a contractSeattle Mariners (Luis Castillo contract)
Seattle got the Chicago White Sox to absorb the entire $30 million remaining on Castillo’s deal. Castillo wasn’t among the five best starters on the Mariners’ roster anymore, so moving his contract and getting players in return (Seranthony Domínguez, Nolan Jones and Boston Smith) was a strong move for team president Jerry Dipoto.
Best job of adding to a bullpen the year after dumping an entire bullpenMinnesota Twins
The Twins literally traded their entire bullpen last deadline and this year turned around and rebuilt it, acquiring A.J. Minter, Tommy Nance and Jeff Hoffman in separate deals.
Best job of impersonating Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres
Preller watched all the other front offices twirl and swipe their swords all week, then just sighed, tilted his head, smiled and took out a revolver and ended the duel with his last-minute Mize and Ray pickups.
Player who should have been traded but wasn’tLuis Robert Jr., New York Mets
With so many teams looking for right-handed hitting, it was bizarre to see him not traded.
The Mets’ reconstruction on and off the field
Tim Britton and Madison Eades
The team whose next move is to buy cases of Dom PerignonLos Angeles Dodgers
They need to buy enough for the division, DS, LCS and WS celebrations, but, as we’ve learned, they can afford it.
The fan bases that heard cricketsCincinnati Reds and Athletics
Neither team made any moves of note.
The team that added quantity but not enough qualityNew York Mets
They did an excellent job bringing in a lot of young players, but only two are top prospects — Jefferson Rojas and Sammy Stafura.
The trade I wish we’d seen
The Braves get LHP Trevor Rogers and the Orioles get RHP Owen Murphy.