Top 3 Trade Deadline Winners & Losers

We all know who won the trade deadline. Any team that acquires the best hitter in the game, at the age of 23, is the winner. Hands down. But there were plenty of other teams who did well. And some who did not. 

Here, then, a look at the biggest winners and losers at the baseball trade deadline.

Trade Deadline Winners

San Diego Padres: They are clearly the champions of Aug. 2nd for adding the greatest young hitter in baseball, Juan Soto. Yes, they gave up five elite "prospects". But Soto is only 23. Pretty much as young as some of those prospects. And he's already a superstar. The Pads will be able to roll out Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado and Soto. 

And oh yes, they also added the best closer in the game, Josh Hader. Just, wow.

Minnesota Twins: They added one of the other best closers in baseball this season, Jorge Lopez, filling a glaring need. Adding Michael Fulmer as well makes their bullpen even stronger. Also, Tyler Mahle comes in to boost a rotation that also needed help. 

Houston Astros: They filled their most desperate need, replacing the struggling Yuli Gurriel at first base with Trey Mancini. They also added a huge upgrade at catcher with Christian Vazquez, and a big boost to their bullpen in Will Smith.

Honorable mention certainly goes to the Seattle Mariners for adding the best starting pitcher on the market in Luis Castillo. And the New York Yankees for landing the 2nd best starter, Frankie Montas, as well as outfielder Andrew Benintendi. And exorcising themselves of Joey Gallo.

Trade Deadline Losers

Boston Red Sox: Confusing is the only way to describe what they did at the deadline. They sold off their legitimate winning veteran catcher, yet added 34-year-old Tommy Pham and 32-year-old bust Eric Hosmer. Why?

Toronto Blue Jays: While all their main competition went out and had very active and productive deadlines, the Jays mostly sat around on their hands. What the Minnesota Twins did (see above) is exactly what the Blue Jays should have done for their not-ready-for-prime-time bullpen. Instead, they got two lesser-impact arms in Anthony Bass and Zach Pop, a questionable back-end of the rotation starter in Mitch White, and a greatly diminished version of Whit Merrifield, having his worst season by a long shot (and presumably still needing to get his shot.)

Chicago White Sox: As a supposed contender, the ChiSox did practically nothing, save for sending a backup catcher to Boston for a 35-year-old middling, middle reliever (Jake Diekman).

Very honorable mention here goes to the Colorado Rockies, who did... absolutely nothing. And also to the Washington Nationals. Yes, they got five elite prospects from the Padres. But any team that trades away a 23-year-old generational talent like Juan Soto just has to be in the loser column. Case closed.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports