Recapping Furious Trade Deadline Action with List of Every Deal

Kudos to Jed Hoyer for his most impactful trade deadline since he broke up the Cubs’ World Series core back in 2021. The Cubs added three starters, a backend reliever, and a backup outfielder. Additionally, Hoyer’s moves added much-needed length to Chicago’s bullpen because Javier Assad and Colin Rea can slide into swing roles. All told, the Cubs added Kevin Gausman, Braxton Garrett, Clay Holmes, Tyrone Taylor, and Ryan Zeferjahn. They gave up Brett Bateman, Ty Southisene, Jonathon Long, Jace Beck, Moisés Ballesteros, Mason McGwire, and Jefferson Rojas.

Rojas and Ballesteros were tough losses but expendable because of organizational redundancy at middle infield and catcher. The Cubs got to keep Pedro Ramírez and Matt Shaw, and they still have incumbent starters Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner. Ballesteros is probably going to be a career designated hitter, and Rojas may have to move to a corner. Chicago kept several prospects that were rumored to be coveted by other front offices, including Josiah Hartshorn. Hoyer was also able to keep Owen Ayers, Ethan Conrad, Kane Kepley, Jaxon Wiggins, Brooks Caple, and Kaleb Wing. Believe it or not, Chicago’s post-deadline strengths are now outfield and, thanks to a hurler-heavy draft, starting pitching.

Who’d have thunk it? Unfortunately, this deadline might be most remembered for a Reid Detmers trade that was erroneously reported and subsequently redacted.

Ed. note: Just a reminder to take it easy on Michael Cerami for that misstep. Bleacher Nation may be a “rival” of sorts in the space, but we all swim in the same circles and none of us get everything right. Frequent readers know that about me, that’s for sure.

I don’t believe the Cubs did enough to leapfrog the Brewers, who acquired Dustin May and JoJo Romero from the Cardinals. They did narrow the gap, however, because the Cubs added two top-end starters while Milwaukee will slot May at the back of its rotation, replacing Robert Gasser. I certainly prefer Zeferjahn to Romero. Chicago sits 5.5 games behind the Brewers entering play tonight with 50 games to play.

Monday was a busy day, so I’ve listed all the trades below in case you had trouble keeping up. The biggest deal of the week was obviously Tarik Skubal going to the Dodgers. Like last year, non-rental pitchers rumored to be available were not moved. I love what the Cubs did, especially when you consider that Daniel Palencia, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Justin Steele could be returning before the postseason starts. And don’t forget that Brown is much better this year after working with Holmes in the offseason.

Chicago may not catch Milwaukee, but Hoyer has the Cubs well positioned to make a deep postseason run.

July 31 Trades

• The Mets traded LHP A.J. Minter to the Twins for SS Bruin Agbayani and 3B Billy Amick.

August 1 Trades

• The Red Sox traded LHP Jojo Ingrassia to the Tigers.
• The Pirates started rebuilding their bullpen with a trade that sent C Omar Alfonzo and OF Luis Cruz to the Yankees for Camilo Doval.
• The Orioles traded RHP Dean Kremer to the Twins for OF Jhomnardo Reyes.
• The Guardians traded Bo Naylor and Codi Heuer to the Brewers for CF Blake Perkins and RHP Craig Yoho.
• The Dodgers acquired Skubal from Detroit for Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith.

August 2 Trades

• The Rays acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets for RHP Gary Gill Hill, OF Aidan Smith, and SS Émilien Pitre.
• The Giants traded Tyler Mahle to the Braves for RHP Anthony Molina.
• The Blue Jays sent Gausman to the Cubs for Bateman and Southisene.
• The Royals traded CF Lane Thomas and LHP Bailey Falter to the Braves for LHP Carter Holton and RHP Lucas Braun.
• The White Sox acquired Luis Castillo from the Mariners for RHP Seranthony Domínguez, C Boston Smith, RF Nolan Jones, and cash.
• The Cubs traded Jameson Taillon to Toronto for cash considerations or a PTBNL.

Deadline Day Trades

• The Nationals traded 1B Luis García Jr. to the Yankees for RHP Ben Grable, RHP Yovanny Cruz, RHP Jack Cebert, and RHP Jake Bird.
• The Rays traded RHP Michael Forret to Baltimore for RHP Tyler Wells.
• The Reds traded DH Nathaniel Lowe and cash to the Cleveland Guardians for RHP Alejandro Rivera and 2B Juan Brito.
• Atlanta traded C Joey Bart to the White Sox for RHP Duncan Davitt.
• Pittsburgh acquired Luke Weaver from the Mets for SS Sammy Stafura. New York also sent cash to Pittsburgh.
• The Pirates then added RHP Kirby Yates in a trade with the Angels. RHP Kyle Robinson heads to Anaheim in the exchange.
• The Yankees acquired OF Heliot Ramos from the Giants for LHP Henry Lalane and SS Kaeden Kent.
• The Rockies traded RHP  Antonio Senzatela to Milwaukee for LHP Mark Manfredi and SS Juan Martinez.
• The Orioles traded C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers and cash to the Red Sox for RHP Kyson Witherspoon, CF Enddy Azocar, C Carlos Narváez, RHP Anthony Eyanson. Baltimore will also receive a PTBNL in the deal.
• The Cubs, who killed it Monday, acquired Garrett from the Marlins for Long and Beck. Garrett is the cost-controlled starter Hoyer hoped to add this week.
• Chicago also acquired Zeferjahn from the Angels for Ballesteros and McGwire.
• Holmes became the third starter that Hoyer added this week in his second trade this season with the Mets. New York gets Rojas in the deal that also includes Taylor.
• The Giants traded LHP Robbie Ray to the Padres for RHP Miguel Mendez and SS Joniel Hernández.
• San Diego also acquired RHP Casey Mize and infielder Gage Workman from the Tigers. Detroit will receive LHP Kash Mayfield and southpaw Jackson Wolf.
• The Angels traded RF Jo Adell to the Guardians for C Jacob Cozart. Anaheim then traded LHP Brent Suter to Atlanta for SS Nacho Alvarez Jr.
• The Mets traded C Ben Rortvedt to the Dodgers for RHP Chayce McDermott. Los Angeles also acquired LHP Kris Bubic from the Royals for RHP Carlos Duran.
• Toronto traded CF Daulton Varsho and cash to the Astros for RHP Spencer Arrighetti. The Blue Jays then sent RHP Jeff Hoffman and cash to the Twins for LHP Dasan Hill, 2B Dameury Pena, and RHP John Klein.
• The Blue Jays also acquired RHP José Soriano from the Angels for SS Arjun Nimmala, RF Eddie Micheletti Jr., and RHP Angel Rivero.
• The Reds traded LHP Caleb Ferguson to St. Louis for cash.
• The White Sox acquired OF Brenton Doyle from Colorado for RHP Mason Adams and SS Carlos Vielma.
• The South Siders also acquired RHP Huascar Brazobán for RHP Gabe Davis and RHP Zach Franklin.
• Philadelphia traded RHP Nolan Hoffman to Kansas City for RHP Manuel Colón.
• The Phillies also turned to an outside-the-box solution to upgrade their offense Monday by landing veteran second baseman Luis Arráez in a trade with the Giants. San Francisco included Caleb Kilian and received pitching prospects Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair. To facilitate the deal, Bryce Harper agreed to move to the outfield with Bryson Stott moving from the keystone to the hot corner. Third baseman Alec Bohm will replace Harper at first. Philadelphia also acquired Brooks Raley from the Mets within minutes of adding Arráez.
• The Orioles traded LF Taylor Ward to the Mariners for RHP Alex Hoppe, RHP Brock Moore, and RHP Harrison Kreiling.
• The Pirates traded RHP Hunter Stratton to San Diego for RHP Andrew Moore.
• The Nationals traded LF Christian Franklin to the Orioles for RHP Joe Glassey.
• Washington also sent LHP Foster Griffin to Cleveland for LHP Will Dion, LHP Josh Hartle, OF Nick Mitchell, and RHP Kendeglys Virguez.
• The Marlins traded RF Rece Hinds to Baltimore for cash.
• The Rangers traded 2B Josh Smith and RHP Josh Stephan to the Blue Jays for LHP Adam Macko.
• Atlanta traded RF Eli White to Boston for RHP Tyler Uberstine.
• The Brewers sold Heuer to the Orioles.
• And finally, I think, Tampa Bay traded C Hunter Feduccia and RHP Jacob Kmatz to the Dodgers for CF Jack Suwinski and other considerations.

Phew. How do you think the Cubs did?