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ESPN Staff Writer- Sports reporter, Kansas City Star, 2002-09
- Writer, Baseball, Baseball Prospectus
- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus
- Member, Baseball Writers Association of America
- Member, Professional Basketball Writers Association
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ESPN Senior Writer- Covers MLB for ESPN.com
- Former deputy editor of Page 2
- Been with ESPN.com since 1995
The 2021 trade deadline was more active and robust than normal, with 10 2021 All-Stars traded, including some of the best players in the sport in Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Nelson Cruz and Kris Bryant. The non-All-Stars traded featured prominent players such as Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Jose Berrios and Starling Marte.
The trades have impacted the playoff races, especially with the Yankees, where the team's fortunes immediately turned in a positive direction after adding Joey Gallo and Rizzo to the lineup. With Clayton Kershaw still sidelined and Trevor Bauer on administrative leave, the Dodgers have needed Scherzer to help chase down the Giants, and they have won all six of his starts. Some of the smaller trades have paid big dividends as well. JT Chargois has allowed one run for the Rays and won four games in relief.
Let's check in with all the playoff contenders and grade how their trade deadline maneuverings have worked out so far (while noting that we obviously don't yet know the long-term implications of the prospects traded away):
Acquisitions will be listed with FanGraphs WAR since their trade in parentheses. All playoff percentages from FanGraphs. National League contenders entries by David Schoenfield; American League by Bradford Doolittle.