On July 30 at 6 PM, the 2024 MLB trade deadline officially came and went. This is the last opportunity teams had to make trades.
Some teams looked to add players to help with their playoff race. Meanwhile other teams looked to offload salary to focus on the future. Although this year’s MLB trade deadline wasn’t the most eventful, plenty of teams made interesting moves.
MLB trade deadline move 1- Tanner Scott to Padres
Tanner Scott was one of the few bright sides in what has been a very disappointing season for the Miami Marlins. The Marlins lone all star owned a 1.18 ERA at the trade deadline. Meanwhile the Padres look to hold onto the last wild card spot, as they’re ahead of the Diamondbacks by just 0.5 games.
Scott joins Robert Suarez and fellow traded player Jason Adam to make the Padres bullpen one of the top in the league. The Padres are in a weird phase of letting some big contract veterans go like Juan Soto and Blake Snell but also making trades for guys to help them win now like Dylan Cease right before the season and Scott at the deadline.
MLB trade deadline move 2- Jack Flaherty to Dodgers
At the buzzer of the trade deadline at 5:55 PM, the Dodgers made a move for Jack Flaherty. Flaherty is having his best season since 2019 with a 2.95 ERA at the trade deadline. The Dodgers already spotted a very good starting rotation with names like Gavin Stone, Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw. Their rotation would be even better if they were fully healthy, and Flaherty helps make up for those injuries. Flaherty has had his own worries of injury throughout his career, but this season he has been able to stay healthy so far.
Photo via MLB trade rumors
MLB trade deadline move 3- Paul Blackburn to Mets
Paul Blackburn has been the A’s best starting pitcher over the past three seasons. Although some may argue this doesn’t mean much when the A’s are so devoid of talent, his 4.41 ERA isn’t exactly a show stopper. However, Blackburn still gives the Mets a clear fifth starter which they lacked before. The Mets have been red hot in recent games and are looking to secure a wild card spot.
MLB trade deadline move 4- Alex Cobb to Guardians
Alex Cobb may be the most interesting move of the 2024 MLB trade deadline. He has yet to pitch this season due to offseason hip surgery. When he pitched last season he had a 3.87 ERA which helped him get the first all star nod of his career. If Cobb is able to reach the level he was at last season he can slide in as a number three starter behind Tanner Bibee and Ben Lively. Cobb made two playoff starts at the start of his career with Tampa Bay in 2013.
MLB trade deadline move 5- Isiah Kiner Falefa to Pirates
After the Pirates called up Paul Skenes, it felt like everything changed. A franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2015 is now within two games of a wild card spot as of July 31. The Pirates made an under the radar move to improve their offense and defense by trading for Isiah Kiner Falefa. Kiner Falefa is having the best offensive season of his career, with a .292 batting average, ,338 on base percentage and a .420 slugging percentage. His versatility gives the Pirates several options in making the lineup.
Photo via Baseball America
MLB trade deadline move 6- Eloy Jimenez to Orioles
The White Sox have been the worst team in baseball this season. One big reason is because a lot of the prospects they tried to develop from 2018-2020 have failed to live up to expectations. One example is Eloy Jimenez, who is having the worst offensive season of his career. However, for most of his career he’s been an average or better hitter. The Orioles hope new surroundings can get Jimenez back to form and help the team secure their second straight American League east division title. He will likely platoon with the Orioles DH Ryan O’Hearn, who is left handed compared to Jimenez who is right handed.
