The MLB trade deadline for 2025 has come and gone.
Now, naturally, I’m curious about who came out ahead and who didn’t.
Evaluating baseball trades can be tricky; sometimes it takes years to see the full impact of such deals. So, let’s take a look at the teams that seem to have benefited in 2025 and those that left us wondering.
Teams That Improved at the MLB Trade Deadline
Seattle Mariners
As the trading deadline neared, the Seattle Mariners caught the attention of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were eyeing top prospects in exchange for slugger Eugenio Suarez.
Eventually, Seattle’s president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, managed to bring Suarez back, trading Tyler Locklear along with minor league pitchers Hunter Clanton and Juan Burgos.
For Dipoto, this deadline was significant, as he added some of the best hitters available, including Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks. While Suarez may just be a rental—hitting free agency next season—pairing him with Cal Raleigh gives the Mariners a formidable duo this season.
If they’re aiming for a playoff push, they’ll need to bolster their starting rotation. However, manager Dan Wilson now has a robust lineup to play with, while the pitching staff has recently seen some improvements.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres came into the deadline with a few key needs: finding help in the outfield, at DH, and behind the plate.
They successfully acquired Ramon Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles to address the first two needs, while Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals filled the catching gap.
If these were the only moves General Manager AJ Preller made, it could have been deemed successful. But Preller kicked things off with a surprising move—trading for closer Mason Miller along with left-handed pitcher JP Sears for four prospects, including shortstop Leo de Vries, who is highly regarded.
This positions the Padres favorably. They already had one of the best bullpens in baseball, and adding Miller enhances their ability to secure games late.
With the competition in the National League West changing—teams like the Diamondbacks and Giants selling off players—the Padres only find themselves three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, who didn’t make many moves either. If there was a time to be bold, it was now.
Philadelphia Phillies
Dave Dombrowski made two notable trades with the Minnesota Twins before the deadline. Philadelphia clearly needed to strengthen its bullpen, which, while led by Jordan Romano, struggled with a 6.81 ERA—hardly a postseason-caliber unit.
Dombrowski addressed this by signing Jhoan Duran from the Twins, parting with two top prospects. Despite the high cost, Duran not only meets their immediate needs but has control until 2027.
In his other move, Dombrowski added outfielder Harrison Bader, who should fit in nicely in center field.
New York Mets
Similarly, the New York Mets focused on solidifying their bullpen ahead of the deadline. But David Stearns didn’t stop there.
He significantly infused talent into the bullpen by acquiring Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley, and Gregory Soto. Helsley, known for his fastball, can be a tough matchup for hitters. Soto, a left-handed pitcher, brings additional depth.
While enhancing the bullpen was essential, Stearns also provided some offensive support, allowing Juan Soto to focus more on batting. He brought in Cedric Mullins from the Orioles, but it did come at the cost of three top prospects.
Athletics
Now, I know this might be stretching things a bit; we’re considering a team that hasn’t been dominant, but keep an eye on the Athletics.
When discussing trades, it’s rare to see top prospects being dealt at such a critical time. For instance, while the Padres traded Leo de Vries, a top talent, to the Athletics in the Mason Miller trade, it raised eyebrows.
There’s uncertainty about whether de Vries will become a star. He’s youthful and showed promise in High-A, but he’s a long way from the majors. Still, if he develops, this could be a transformative move for the franchise.
Teams That Left Us Scratching Our Heads
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox made some moves, acquiring pitchers Dustin May and Stephen Matz. However, questions linger about their strategy.
An experienced Boston journalist pointed out that they had just turned their season around, raising doubts about why they would disrupt their newfound momentum.
Once other teams start to strengthen, it might be wise to do the same, but this decision remains puzzling.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs also had a quiet deadline. They made a few additions, such as Willi Castro, who’s versatile, and pitchers Michael Soroka and Andrew Kittridge.
But with a close wildcard race, many expected the team to be more aggressive in trying to bolster their lineup. Now, we’ll see if their cautious approach pays off.
Pittsburgh Pirates
In the lead-up to the deadline, many speculated that the Pirates would be sellers, but their actions raised eyebrows.
Keeping pitcher Mitch Keller made sense, given his contract and performance, but the decision not to trade him or others while acquiring lower-tier prospects was baffling. Are they really building towards something? It doesn’t seem like holding onto players in a losing season will prepare them for next year.
The Pirates are in a tricky position, with young talent like Paul Skenes but failing to move on from expiring contracts could haunt them in the long run.
