{"id":831226,"date":"2026-07-28T10:54:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/831226\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:54:51","slug":"mlb-power-rankings-can-last-years-trade-deadline-tell-us-about-each-teams-next-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/831226\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Power Rankings: Can last year\u2019s trade deadline tell us about each team\u2019s next move?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

We have unmistakably entered trade season. It kicked off this weekend with the Red Sox and Nationals swapping Connelly Early for Curtis Mead<\/a>, and it will continue through Monday\u2019s always frantic trade deadline.<\/p>\n

And if last year is any indication, it could be a slow build to a final flurry.<\/p>\n

The next time we do Power Rankings, the trade deadline will have come and gone, and we\u2019ll be better able to look ahead. For this week, we\u2019re going to look back. Are teams up or down compared to this time last year,<\/a> and what does that tell us about their direction since the 2025 trade deadline? And what might they be prepared to do in the next week?<\/p>\n

All stats are through Monday morning unless otherwise noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Record: 67-39
Last Power Ranking: 1<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 1
How they reacted: Trading for depth pieces and \u2026 other teams\u2019 minor-league prospects?
This year: All in, as always<\/p>\n

Was last year\u2019s Dodger deadline a sign of arrogance, or simply a sign that they had run out of wants and needs? They traded for Alex Call as a RHP-masher off the bench, and they got a few innings of Brock Stewart, but that was mostly it at the major-league level. Pretty cute for a team that had to be saved by Miguel freaking Rojas at the last second<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The strangest part about the last Dodgers deadline, though, is how much effort they spent acquiring other teams\u2019 prospects. This is when they wormed their way into James Tibbs III, who might be the key piece in another deadline deal in a much different way. Basically, it was a deadline when the Dodgers reminded you that they\u2019re smarter than everyone else, as they\u2019re wont to do. \u2014 Grant Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 66-40
Last Power Ranking: 2<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 4
How they reacted: Traded for Danny Jansen, Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery and Nestor Cortes
This year: More motivated?<\/p>\n

At last year\u2019s deadline, the Brewers had the best record in the sport, and their version of \u201cgoing for it\u201d was \u2026 I mean, take another look at those names. None of them are still with the team, so \u2014\u00a0even if you didn\u2019t know anything else about them, which you definitely do \u2014 you can\u2019t make the argument that those moves were made for 2026 or beyond.<\/p>\n

This year, Milwaukee still holds a big division lead over a very good Cubs team, and Jacob Misiorowski looks like just the sort of ace who could dominate a postseason series or three.<\/p>\n

They have the farm system to make a big splash. It feels imperative that they operate with a bit more urgency this year. \u2014\u00a0Levi Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 62-44
Last Power Ranking: 4<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 24
How they reacted: Nothing of consequence at the deadline
This year: Much, much better<\/p>\n

The Braves were bad last year, but they weren\u2019t supposed to be, and the front office responded by doing very little at the trade deadline. They mostly kept their roster together for another run in 2026, and it\u2019s worked. The Braves were bad in June but have otherwise been among the top teams in baseball all season. It\u2019s been a significant return-to-form for a team that won the World Series in 2021 but hasn\u2019t been able to capture that same level of excellence in the five years since. This is the closest the Braves have come, and they seem poised to be far more aggressive at this year\u2019s deadline. A starting pitcher is their most obvious need, though an extra bat off the bench wouldn\u2019t hurt. \u00a0\u2014 Chad Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 60-46
Last Power Ranking: 3<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 8
How they reacted: Eight trades, mostly for infielders and relievers
This year: About the same<\/p>\n

The Yankees have moved up a bit in our Power Rankings from a year ago, but they\u2019re once again approaching the deadline in need of help in the infield and bullpen (though this year, they could also use another catcher, and significant injuries are piling up). The Yankees\u2019 2025 trade deadline was more quantity than quality \u2014 David Bednar and Ryan McMahon were the big additions, along with two other relievers and two other infielders \u2014 and they have multiple needs again this year. Maybe this time they\u2019ll add a singular splash to what could be, again, a bunch of moving pieces. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 62-43
Last Power Ranking: 5<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: T-15
How they reacted: Typical blend of buying and selling
This year: We shall see<\/p>\n

The Rays seem to be perpetually doing several things at once, and their approach to last year\u2019s trade deadline was another example. They bought and sold in equal measure, including a clever swap of starting pitcher Taj Bradley for reliever Griffin Jax (whom the Rays have since converted to the rotation with strong results). The Rays are definitely better today than they were a year ago. The question is, how much will that change their approach? Could a weak American League give them the smell of blood in the water and spur a more aggressive trade deadline? Or will the Rays stick with their tried-and-true game plan that\u2019s rarely eye-popping but often yields results? \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 60-46
Last Power Ranking: 6<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 3
How they reacted: Traded for Taylor Rogers, Willi Castro, Andrew Kittredge and Michael Soroka
This year: The same, but without the big Pete Crow-Armstrong slump<\/p>\n

The Cubs have admirably battled through a litany of pitcher injuries this year, and their lead as the first National League wild-card team looks \u2014 barring some complete disaster \u2014 relatively comfortable. But the Cubs didn\u2019t go out and sign Alex Bregman this winter just to be an early-exit playoff team.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve been connected (sometimes by simple logic) to a ton of pitchers in recent trade rumors; Aaron Civale is a reasonable stopgap to start the acquisitions (particularly with Jameson Taillon being DFA\u2019d<\/a>), but he won\u2019t be the only move. They\u2019re getting an MVP-type season<\/a> from Crow-Armstrong that they just can\u2019t let go to waste. I expect them to be aggressive in acquiring multiple pitchers over the next week. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 55-50
Last Power Ranking: 9<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 11
How they reacted: Minimal additions with costly results
This year: About the same<\/p>\n

For three months, the Red Sox looked far worse than last year, and for the past month, they\u2019ve looked far better. The end result is a team that\u2019s once again in playoff contention but without the kind of success that demands an all-in approach at the trade deadline. We\u2019ve already seen the Red Sox trade away some of their rotation depth (Connelly Early) in pursuit of an offensive upgrade (Curtis Mead). They could continue to thread the needle while trying to avoid last year\u2019s trade deadline fiasco. In that deal, they acquired minimal upgrades (Steven Matz was good in the bullpen, but Dustin May was awful in the rotation) in trades that cost them what is now a big-league third baseman (Blaze Jordan) and a Top 50 overall prospect (James Tibbs III). \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 55-50
Last Power Ranking: 10<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 29
How they reacted: Light sellers
This year: Is it time to jump the gun?<\/p>\n

It is always a little surprising to me when I look to see when the White Sox last finished over .500. Oh right, it was only 2022. They made the playoffs in 2021!<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s just that losing 101, 121 and 102 games in the 2023-25 seasons was such a miserable run that it seemed like a decade.<\/p>\n

How the White Sox view this year\u2019s deadline might rest, in part, on whether they feel the same way. Their rebuild didn\u2019t seem destined to come to fruition until next year, at the earliest. Instead, they\u2019re in first place in the American League Central.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll certainly be buyers of some sort, but it\u2019s not like they\u2019re one arm or bat away from being a World Series contender (even in this year\u2019s AL \u2026 probably). The logical move would be to look for guys who are under team control for the next few years, even if that means playing the hybrid role and trading an Erick Fedde-type or a Trevor Richards-type. But if they really want to go for it, the cost will be higher and involve some prospects that might hurt in a year or two.<\/p>\n

But I suppose pain is something the White Sox have a lot of recent experience enduring. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 57-50
Last Power Ranking: 7<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 5
How they reacted: Trade for Harrison Bader, blockbuster for Jhoan Duran
This year: About the same<\/p>\n

The Phillies are lower in our Power Rankings, but their status is basically unchanged from a year ago. They remain World Series contenders, perpetually in need of an outfield bat and a bullpen arm (and a back-end starter wouldn\u2019t hurt, either). Their lower ranking this season is mostly a product of their horrendous start (though they haven\u2019t been great since the All-Star break, either). This is a flawed team with a lot of championship-caliber pieces and an aggressive head of baseball operations who will undoubtedly make another move or two in pursuit of a championship while this core is still intact. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 55-52
Last Power Ranking: 11<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 27
How they reacted: Finding better homes for a handful of players, including Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes
This year: Significantly better<\/p>\n

The last time the Pirates finished over .500 was 2018. The last time they made the playoffs was 2015. This winter, they went out and (finally) spent some money on free agents, then traded for some impact bats. They were never going to be a worst-to-first Cinderella story, but they\u2019ve spent most of the season in or near a wild-card position.<\/p>\n

They probably don\u2019t \u2014 at least traditionally speaking \u2014 have the roster to justify a big deadline buy. But there\u2019s something to be said for seeing a light at the end of a long dismal tunnel and doing whatever it takes to get there. \u2014\u00a0Weaver<\/p>\n

How many players will the Mets trade by the deadline?<\/p>\n

Ken Rosenthal and Johnny Sweet<\/p>\n

Record: 54-53
Last Power Ranking: 16<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 28
How they reacted: Made five trades, selling mostly rentals
This year: Feeling better<\/p>\n

Obvious sellers at last year\u2019s trade deadline \u2014 and again this winter when they traded MacKenzie Gore \u2014 the Nationals now find themselves somewhere in between buying and selling. Their offense has kept them on the edges of the wild-card race, while their lack of pitching has kept them out of any serious World Series conversation. Their weekend trade of infielder Curtis Mead for starting pitcher Connelly Early is indicative of a team that\u2019s now trying to find a better balance rather than rebuilding almost from scratch. The Nationals are not a finished product, but this season has seen them move significantly in the right direction. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 55-52
Last Power Ranking: 17<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 21
How they reacted: Enthusiastically selling
This year: Buying, but it\u2019s complicated<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks had a busy deadline last year, trading half of their infield to the Mariners, as well as sending longtime starter Merrill Kelly to the Rangers. In the offseason, they even re-signed Kelly, allowing them to have their cake and eat it too. By \u201ceat their cake,\u201d I suppose we mean \u201cwatching Kelly give up two or three runs in five innings until the heat death of the universe,\u201d but they\u2019re doing things their own way.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re a strong-enough team to consider going for it, especially considering that Ketel Marte isn\u2019t getting any younger. They probably won\u2019t go all in and trade from a relatively deep farm system, but they could easily claim a wild-card spot with a little help. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 52-55
Last Power Ranking: 12<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 10
How they reacted: By trading for BEEF
This year: More beef, please<\/p>\n

Last deadline, the Mariners acquired Eugenio Su\u00e1rez and Josh Naylor in an effort to beef up their lineup, and by gum, it almost got them their first pennant. While they could certainly use reliever Brandyn Garcia \u2014 currently sporting a 2.28 ERA in the Diamondbacks\u2019 bullpen after being a part of the Naylor deal \u2014 their more pressing concern is with their lineup. Especially in the middle of their lineup, considering that Naylor isn\u2019t doing anything.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Mariners, so expect a trade that absolutely floors you, a trade that makes good, practical sense, and a trade that you\u2019ll have strong opinions about in 2029. It is their way. Their fans have to hope the Mariners can finish the job the last deadline got them oh-so-close to. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 54-52
Last Power Ranking: 15<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 13
How they reacted: Borderline-delusional optimism, trading for Merrill Kelly, Phil Maton and Danny Couloumbe
This year: Agonizingly the same<\/p>\n

This feels like such a fitting exercise for this team in particular. Last year, the Rangers were middle of the pack, and after making a few moves to add to the roster \u2014 most notably, a trade for MacKenzie Gore during the offseason \u2014 they are \u2026 still around the middle of the pack.<\/p>\n

[Reaches into pocket, \u201cBut not for me<\/a>!\u201d-style]<\/p>\n

Anyway, they\u2019re in first place. They just won three of four from the Mariners, and in this year\u2019s AL West, two games over .500 is good enough for a division lead. You\u2019d like to think that the word \u201cfortunately\u201d should be in that sentence somewhere \u2014 winning the division would be great, right? \u2014 but with a farm system depleted by years of buying, it seems like this year\u2019s team is built to kickstart a rebuild. Instead, it is balancing perilously between beefing up a thin farm system and a mandate from the rest of the division to go ahead and accept this gift.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s any tale of caution to be gleaned from last year, it\u2019s that Kelly was worth 0.0 bWAR over 55 innings, so the prospects the Rangers traded for him \u2014 Mitch Bratt, David Hagaman and Kohl Drake \u2014 now look like a big overpay. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 54-53
Last Power Ranking: 14<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 19
How they reacted: Traded away Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald
This year: Almost the same, except rated higher here<\/p>\n

Last year at the deadline, the Guardians were in second place in the AL Central with a .500 record. This year, they\u2019re in second place in the AL Central with a .505 record.<\/p>\n

The difference? Last year, they were nine games behind the Tigers and three games out of a wild-card spot. This year, they\u2019re much closer to a White Sox team that \u2014 while exciting \u2014 is still pretty unproven. Weird how the surroundings can change the calculus, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Of course, there\u2019s also the recent memory of what a good second half can do. Last year\u2019s team orchestrated arguably the greatest comeback of all time, winning the division after trailing by as many as 15 1\/2 games in early July. You can\u2019t count on doing the unprecedented in back-to-back years, but this would at least appear to be a more winnable division than last year. I expect them to add to the lineup. \u2014\u00a0Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 53-53
Last Power Ranking: 13<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 17
How they reacted: A long-awaited sell-off
This year: Buy? Sell? Who\u2019s to say?<\/p>\n

The Cardinals have finished under .500 twice in the last three seasons. This might not sound like a tragedy to you, but before that, they\u2019d finished under .500 just once this century. This is not a team that rebuilds. So when it made standard rebuilding-team trades \u2014 trading its closer for a top prospect, for example \u2014 it was the clearest sign that a new era had begun.<\/p>\n

Just kidding! This year, the Cardinals are in the thick of a muddled wild-card race, and they\u2019re ostensibly buying. Unless they get an offer they can\u2019t refuse that helps them more for the future. They could use some more pitching, but they could also use more help for future seasons. They\u2019re one of the most fascinating teams to watch \u2014 their play over the next week might tip the scales. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 53-54
Last Power Ranking: 8<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 22
How they reacted: Sold slightly at the trade deadline
This year: About the same<\/p>\n

If we had done this a few weeks ago, we would have said the Marlins were much, much better than a year ago, but a prolonged losing streak, which they snapped Monday night, has dumped Miami back into familiar territory. The Marlins are back below .500, and any thought of being sneaky playoff contenders \u2014 and thus trade deadline buyers \u2014 is much harder to justify. Instead, the they could be heading for a trade deadline similar to last year when they were minor sellers, trading away Nick Fortes and Jes\u00fas S\u00e1nchez. If they decide to sell, the Marlins should have some pitchers with value, but that would be a disappointing turn of events for a team that seemed poised to add. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 50-57
Last Power Ranking: 18<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 7
How they reacted: Acquired Charlie Morton, Codi Heuer, Paul Sewald, Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero, Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak, then had a monthslong fainting spell
This year: Yeeesh<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t say the Tigers didn\u2019t go for it at last year\u2019s deadline, and you can\u2019t blame them for putting the pedal down (even if the Montero for Jim Jarvis trade hurts now<\/a>). After all, they were coming off a breakout year in 2024 and led the division by nine games at the deadline. Alas, they proceeded to pull off a catastrophic collapse, frittering away the Central title over the back half of the season.<\/p>\n

This year started much the same way the last one ended (many, many losses). But they\u2019ve been \u2014 more or less successfully (??) \u2014 trying to dig their way out of that hole since the start of June. Under normal circumstances, you could maybe justify a hold-and-see deadline. But uh \u2026 these are not normal circumstances<\/a>. They\u2019re still the most intriguing team at this year\u2019s deadline, and it\u2019s 100 percent down to the keep-or-trade conundrum with Tarik Skubal \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 53-53
Last Power Ranking: 19<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 12
How they reacted: By trading one of the best prospects in baseball for Mason Miller
This year: Trying to do the reverse, perhaps, while still buying? It\u2019s complicated<\/p>\n

Leo De Vries is currently in Double A for the Athletics, hitting .287\/.381\/.446 and playing strong defense at short. He is also 19 years old. For all of their A.J. Preller-tinted madness at the deadline every year, the Padres haven\u2019t regretted too many of their biggest trades, with the (very) large exception of James Wood and CJ Abrams as the cost for acquiring Juan Soto.<\/p>\n

That was the understandable price of a young Hall of Famer in his prime, though. If De Vries becomes a star, the Mason Miller trade will be remembered differently. Miller has done everything asked of him, but he wasn\u2019t the missing piece, and now he might have to be traded to get the prospects or starting pitcher needed to fuel another frenetic run. It\u2019s a weird, fluid situation. Which is to say, business as usual for the Padres. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 53-54
Last Power Ranking: 20<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 20
How they reacted: Roster vomit
This year: Holding down their food<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever patted a sick kid on the back and said \u201cThere, there \u2026 just get it all out,\u201d then you understand what I mean. Just get rid of everything that isn\u2019t attached, and then we\u2019ll get you a popsicle.<\/p>\n

From a wins-and-losses perspective, I don\u2019t think the Twins are all that surprising this year, but from a standings perspective, well \u2026 who could have predicted such a tepid American League? By keeping a few key pillars around (most notably Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton) and getting some good contributions from guys making a name for themselves (see: Taj Bradley, Yoendrys G\u00f3mez), they\u2019re hanging around in the AL.<\/p>\n

I still think it could go either way for them at the deadline. Let\u2019s see how the next week goes. \u2014\u00a0Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 52-55
Last Power Ranking: 23<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 25
How they reacted: Sold a bunch of pending free agents
This year: About the same<\/p>\n

When the Orioles sold at last year\u2019s trade deadline, the hope was that 2025 was a momentary blip. They traded away eight big-league players, but almost all were heading to free agency, and this 2026 season was supposed to be a return to the promise of 2023 and 2024. Instead, it\u2019s been a continuation of last season\u2019s disappointment. The American League is bad enough that even a sub-.500 team could reasonably hope to stay in the playoff race \u2014 the Orioles\u2019 playoff odds are roughly 20 percent on FanGraphs \u2014 but are the Orioles really poised to be significant buyers? If they repeat last year\u2019s formula, Taylor Ward and Trevor Rogers are potential rentals with trade value. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 53-55
Last Power Ranking: T-21<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 9
How they reacted: By accepting Carlos Correa back on a factory recall
This year: Buying, even though they\u2019re under .500<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a weak AL West this season, folks. A really, really weak AL West. Remember that year when the Astros were absolutely cooked, but the rest of the division puttered around and allowed them to zoom back and steal the division title? It feels like every season at this point, and the Astros aren\u2019t even pretending to do the will-they-or-won\u2019t-they. They\u2019re buyers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It almost makes sense, considering they\u2019re witnessing the power of a fully armed and operational Yordan Alvarez this season, and their needs are very clearly defined. They could use a left-handed bat and some more starting pitching. Still, they have the kinds of players \u2014 Josh Hader, especially \u2014 who could help them perform a quick reload by trading them away. We\u2019ll see if they can justify the confidence of the front office likely to keep them. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 49-58
Last Power Ranking: T-21<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 6
How they reacted: Four trades, mostly for pitchers
This year: Much, much worse<\/p>\n

Coming off an American League pennant and a thrilling, oh-so-close World Series, the Blue Jays seemed ready to make another run at a championship and perhaps finish the job. Instead, they\u2019ve been banged up, their lineup has radically underperformed, and they could be \u2014 probably should be \u2014 trade deadline sellers. This season isn\u2019t a complete lost cause, but getting back in the race would require a lot of resurgent performances down the stretch. Might be more prudent to trade notable pending free agents (Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho, George Springer) and try to make another run at full strength next year. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 49-55
Last Power Ranking: T-24<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 14
How they reacted: Acquired Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes (for Taylor Rogers), Zack Littell, Miguel Andujar
This year: Back to the drawing board<\/p>\n

After making the playoffs last year, the Reds started 2026 by finishing April in first place. That has clearly changed, as injuries and underperformance have tanked them back into the NL Central cellar.<\/p>\n

Their pitching depth is still impressive, and there\u2019s potential for a bounce-back next season, but this year\u2019s hope appears to be well into the rear-view mirror. They\u2019ll likely trade off a few big-league pieces and reload for the future. \u2014 Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 45-61
Last Power Ranking: 26<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 15
How they reacted: A modest, necessary selloff
This year: More of the same, unless \u2026<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. Last year, the Giants were a normal baseball team, and they were about to pick up manager Bob Melvin\u2019s option. In meme terms, it went something like this:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Giants would probably like to trade at least one of their infielders who isn\u2019t Luis Arraez, considering the emergence of Casey Schmitt as an everyday player and 30-homer threat. However, those infielders all make a lot of money, so deals would be tricky. They could also trade one of the younger players under contract, such as Schmitt, Heliot Ramos or Jung Hoo Lee in exchange for much shinier prospects, completely blowing up the roster (and the deadline).<\/p>\n

What\u2019s most likely, though, is a simple succession of free-agent rentals being traded for modest returns, a bog-standard deadline approach. The Giants can dream, but it\u2019s probably time for them to roll up their sleeves instead. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 45-62
Last Power Ranking: T-24<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 2
How they reacted: Bought at the deadline, then collapsed
This year: So much worse<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been all downhill since last year\u2019s trade deadline. At this time last year, the Mets were near locks to make the playoffs, and FanGraphs was giving them the fourth-best World Series odds. They traded for a veteran center fielder (Cedric Mullins) and a handful of relievers (Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto) and completely fell apart. They missed the playoffs, radically reworked their roster in the offseason, and the freefall has continued. So, one year later, the Mets have gone from playoff favorites to no-doubt trade-deadline sellers. And it could be back to the drawing board in November. \u2014 Jennings<\/p>\n

Record: 45-62
Last Power Ranking: 30<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 18
How they reacted: Acquired Randal Grichuk, Mike Yastrzemski, Bailey Falter, Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek
This year: Anyone need a lightly-used Michael Wacha?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the cautionary tale for about one-third of the league. Kansas City was nowhere near the division lead and 3 1\/2 games out of a wild-card spot at last year\u2019s deadline. While the Guardians sold and then got blazing hot, the Royals \u2014 fresh off a 2024 postseason appearance \u2014 added to their roster in moderation \u2026 then missed the playoffs by five games.<\/p>\n

Going into Monday\u2019s action, there were 10 teams \u2014 five in each league \u2014 that sat outside the playoff picture, but were within that same 3 1\/2-game range of the last wild-card spot. (The Royals are not one of them.)<\/p>\n

I feel confident guessing that all of them would prefer to avoid repeating the Royals\u2019 2025 outcome.\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0Weaver<\/p>\n

Record: 42-65
Last Power Ranking: 28<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 23
How they reacted: Trading for bullpen help?
This year: Something different, you would hope<\/p>\n

Bless these baseball weirdos. Last year, a very wealthy individual \u2014 it\u2019s hard to say exactly whom \u2014 probably yelled, \u201cWe need bullpen help to win the wild card!\u201d and a bunch of patient, doomed baseball people could not convince him otherwise. So they traded prospects for bullpen help. The Angels did not use this bullpen help to win the World Series, as you know.<\/p>\n

This year, there isn\u2019t the distant lure of a third wild card to tempt them into doing something silly. They\u2019ll just do the silly things on their own, unprompted, for the love of the game. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 44-62\u00a0
Last Power Ranking: 27<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 26
How they reacted: Trading Mason Miller for one of the best prospects in baseball
This year: Selling again<\/p>\n

For a while there, it was easy to believe in the Athletics. They had young power throughout the lineup and enough almost-competent arms to keep them afloat until the deadline, when they could target their specific needs. Then they hit a losing skid that just wouldn\u2019t end, and now they have the worst run differential in baseball. Even worse is that a lot of the struggles have been concentrated in some of their long-term core players, such as Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler and Jacob Wilson. They\u2019d have to listen on the first two, at least, but it\u2019s hard to imagine anyone calling.<\/p>\n

Expect it to be a quiet deadline for the A\u2019s, then. Veterans out, prospects in. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n

Record: 42-65
Last Power Ranking: 29<\/p>\n

Power Ranking a year ago: 30
How they reacted: Normal, sensible, seller-type trades
This year: More of the same<\/p>\n

This is the second year of a more standard deadline approach for the Rockies, where the front office actually \u201clistens\u201d to \u201ctrade offers\u201d from \u201cbetter teams\u201d in an \u201ceffort to get better.\u201d They\u2019re calling it the New Moneyball, folks, and it just might stick.<\/p>\n

This might be the year the Rockies trade Denver native Kyle Freeland, which would be bittersweet but probably helpful for everyone involved. They\u2019ll also trade depth pieces from up and down the roster, with Mickey Moniak being the most quietly fascinating trade target of the entire deadline. Whatever the actual deals, the template is obvious: Trade players who won\u2019t be on the next good Rockies team for players who might be. \u2014 Brisbee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every week,\u200b we\u200b ask a selected group of our baseball\u200b writers\u200b \u2014 local and national \u2014 to rank…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":831227,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[485,495,3960,3966,3959,49,48,508,3961,3983,491,4021,490,1506,474,3962,487,3981,493,3965,462,475,3980,481,509,477,512,470,82,3982,480,3992,507,3968],"class_list":["post-831226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-arizona-diamondbacks","tag-athletics","tag-atlanta-braves","tag-baltimore-orioles","tag-boston-red-sox","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-chicago-white-sox","tag-cincinnati-reds","tag-cleveland-guardians","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-detroit-tigers","tag-houston-astros","tag-kansas-city-royals","tag-los-angeles-angels","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-miami-marlins","tag-milwaukee-brewers","tag-minnesota-twins","tag-mlb","tag-new-york-mets","tag-new-york-yankees","tag-philadelphia-phillies","tag-pittsburgh-pirates","tag-san-diego-padres","tag-san-francisco-giants","tag-seattle-mariners","tag-sports","tag-st-louis-cardinals","tag-tampa-bay-rays","tag-texas-rangers","tag-toronto-blue-jays","tag-washington-nationals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/831226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=831226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/831226\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/831227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=831226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=831226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=831226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}