MLB expanded the playoffs from five teams to six teams in 2022 has had several ripple effects throughout the league. One of the many is that it has made the trade deadline less exciting than years past.
With the big change to the playoff format, MLB needs to be willing to make the changes necessary to make the league as competitive as possible. One of these changes needs to be moving the trade deadline back a month from July 30 to August 30.
Reason 1 for moving the trade deadline- teams aren’t sure where they stand
With the playoffs featuring six teams instead of five, more teams can be in the playoff race compared to years past. This means teams around .500 are sometimes only four to five games out of a wild card spot. Before 2022 teams hovering around .500 usually sold at the deadline, meaning they traded players on expiring contracts for prospects. This allowed teams in the wild card and divisional races to make moves to bolster their rosters.
Photo via New York Post
However, now that teams can be competitive for a playoff spot at .500, teams are less willing to make moves. You don’t want to trade away anyone important if you’re in a playoff race. At the same time, if you’re only a losing streak away from being out of the playoffs you don’t want to gamble your entire future. This leads to teams in the middle being very conservative. They make one small move to say they did something but don’t really commit one way or another. This makes for very boring trade deadlines.
Reason 2 for moving the trade deadline- prospects get to prove themselves
Early July is historically the time when prospects are moved up to the next league if they’re having a good season. For many hitters, there is an adjustment period when getting called up to the next level of minor league baseball. With the current trade deadline date, prospects are often caught in an adjustment period. This can hurt prospects’ draft stock and cause trades to not happen.
Another benefit for prospects in a late August trade deadline is that September call ups would only be right after. In September MLB teams get to expand their rosters from 26 men to 28, commonly known as September call ups. A prospect who might have a chance to make the big league roster on another team could end up getting traded for. This can help teams have the best possible roster.
Reason 3 for moving trade deadline- injuries
Injuries are an inevitable part of a sports season, and baseball is certainly no exception. Teams are sometimes caught in awkward positions when they lose key players to injuries in August. With no ability to make trades they have few options. They can call up a prospect, they can claim someone off the waiver wire or they can sign a free agent. None of these options tend to help a team compete.
This can work the opposite way as well. If a player gets hurt near the deadline or isn’t back in time that can prevent them from being traded. A further back trade deadline can help give players more time to heal. This can lead to more trades happening as the health status of guys will be more clear at the end of August than it is at the end of September.
Photo via Forbes
Of course, there is a balancing act between making sure teams are the best version of themselves and allowing players to have security. If there was no trade deadline players could end up on totally different rosters just a day before the playoffs. This would be bad for the players and teams as players would be adjusting to new environments in the biggest games of the season. This is why there is a rule that if you weren’t on the 40 man roster or play for a team before September 1 you are ineligible to play in the playoffs.
This rule is good, but someone unhelpful when the trade deadline is a month before this roster deadline. This is why I believe the trade deadline should fall a day before the rostering deadline. I think a month is enough time to balance the needs of having healthy teams and making sure players are comfortable.
