A flurry of activity came yesterday in advance of the deadline to acquire postseason-eligible players via trade. In case you weren’t able to keep track of it all, here’s a roundup of the swaps made by MLB organizations on August 31st, 2018, sorted by the team on the acquiring end of the major-leaguer involved.
AL West
- The Athletics received right-hander Cory Gearrin in a swap with the division-rival Rangers. Minor-league righties Abdiel Mendoza and Teodoro Ortega are headed back to Texas in the deal.
AL Central
- The Indians acquired Josh Donaldson from the Blue Jays. Toronto will send $2.7MM to Cleveland as well, and they’ll get back a player to be named later, the quality of which will be dependent upon how Donaldson’s health situation progresses.
AL East
- The Yankees took Adeiny Hechavarria off the Pirates‘ hands in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. It’s not yet known how much cash the Bucs will chip in to help pay the ~$1MM still owed to Hechavarria.
- The Yankees also pried Andrew McCutchen from the Giants. San Francisco gets infield prospect Abiatal Avelino and right-handed pitching prospect Juan De Paula.
NL West
- The Dodgers nabbed David Freese from the Pirates. Infielder Jesus Valdez will head back to Pittsburgh in exchange.
- The Dodgers dealt for Ryan Madson of the Nationals as well. Minors righty Andrew Istler will head to Washington in the trade.
- The Rockies plucked catcher Drew Butera from the Royals and will receive some salary relief in addition. MiLB lefty Jerry Vasto is going back to Colorado.
NL Central
- The Brewers struck a trade with the Nationals for Gio Gonzalez. Milwaukee will also get $250K in international bonus pool funds, while a pair of minor leaguers (first baseman KJ Harrison and shortstop Gilbert Lara) will head to the Nats.
- The Brewers also landed Curtis Granderson in a swap with the Blue Jays. The Jays will cover an unknown portion of the money still owed on Granderson’s $5MM 2018 salary, and will add outfield prospect Demi Orimoloye to their minor-league ranks.
- The busy Brewers got Xavier Cedeno from the White Sox as well, who’ll get outfielder Bryan Connell and right-hander Johan Dominguez in return.
NL East
- (No trades)
Brewers steal the show. Game over Cubs and Cards.
Lol yeah right
Hah 5 games in the Loss column is a lot to make up. Here you go all you Brew Crew big talkers. Let’s revisit things one week from today. Next 5 games for Milw against Strasburg, Scherzer and then the Cubs. Now’s the time to break out all the big pitching aces the Brewers traded for. Oh wait…
Probably getting pretty close to the 1 year anniversary of their last sort of ace knocking himself out for more than a year sliding into first base against the Cubs.
I think that was sarcasm by ray.
At this point realistically the Brewers are playing for the Wild Card. Admire the aggressiveness of going all in.
Thankfully Brewers not facing Scherzer. Nats are saving him for Monday game vs. STL. So a double benefit to the Crew..
So far you stand corrected.
You funny!
Good wide use of verbs!
I was weirdly proud of this so thanks for noticing haha
Particularly appreciated KD the use of nabbed, struck and plucked!
I was also impressed by that hahah
Guerra moves into long relief, GG replaces him. Junior just can’t get it together.
If Who’s on first, and I Don’t Know’s on third… than What’s on second
Everyone in Milwaukee’s clubhouse?
That’s a lot of infielders
You forgot that Giants got de Paulo from the Yankees as well. I think it’s the bigger return and that he has more upside than Abelino.
*avelino
Thanks for pointing that out… fixing now
Also didn’t mention the money going to Yanks in Cutch deal
I like the A’s philosophy over the years. “We need hitting!”…let’s bring in an average middle reliever. “We lost 40% of our starting pitching”…let’s bring in an average middle reliever. No one and I mean no one has cornered he market on average middle relievers like Bill Beane.
looks like they are trying to copy the royals blueprint in 14 and 15. stock up on power arms and try to ride your bullpen through the playoffs. Not a bad philosophy. They have tried about everything else and come up short so they might as well try something new.
The a’s are in that most difficult of positions; doing better than they dreamed of……they did OK….
So did the Brew Crew…not substantial moves, but good ones….
Jays have done OK…and Yanks got Clutch which could be HUGE……and ya, Giants did OK too……
The Rockies acquired both Drew Butera and Jerry Vasto (who was already a Rockie)?
Mariners didn’t do anything. I suppose they’re done.
A’s Billy Beane is the master of all trades. Got a very young Josh Donaldson from the cubs – JD was slatted to be a catcher – then Beane who knew Eric Chavez was leaving decided to try out Donaldson at third and what a heck of caliber player JD turned out to be! Oakland has Chapman now but now but folks what an athlete Josh turned out to be! Now the A’s also have on of best core of relievers in the majors! Watch out Astros, Yankees and…
Yep…the A’s are primed and ready to lose that first game or series in the playoffs again.
Oakland is a solid complete team
And young with energy
Fire power
With a little luck
May win World Series
Across the bay giants are opposit team
Old and tired and injury
No energy and no fire power
High paying players and pitchers are playing for money and personal statistics
Giants need tear down overhaul
Six high pay salaries players need to go
Smoke and Mirrors. Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, Edwin Jackson all performing (Anderson not at this present time on the DL). Treinen has been unbelievable closing games. And Khris Davis may be a top 3 MVP candidate, top 5 at the very least. He has a fighting chance at 50 bombs.
Nobody could have ever envisioned .590 baseball with a rotation like that back in March. Remarkable.
Wonder if Friedman gave Brett Tomko a call?
The Cardinals President of Baseball operations John Mozeliak did what he does best at trade deadlines, free agent market players and at the Winter Meetings. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!
And somehow they keep winning with a bunch of guys hitting-230 & Matt Carpenter hitting HR’s at an alarming rate.
Freese for the win!