While the 2025 MLB trade deadline lacked the blockbuster names of previous years, it concluded with a flurry of significant activity before the 6 p.m. ET cutoff. Headlining the day were two surprising moves: the Houston Astros reacquired former star Carlos Correa, and the Oakland Athletics sent closer Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres for elite prospect Leo De Vries. Elsewhere, former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber was traded from Cleveland to Toronto, while contenders like the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks were predictably busy. The flurry of deals reshaped the postseason landscape, creating clear winners and losers as teams positioned themselves for the final stretch.
Winners
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners emerged as major winners by acquiring two of the best available hitters, Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor, from the Arizona Diamondbacks in separate deals. Remarkably, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto executed these trades without surrendering any of the team’s top 10 prospects. Dipoto, traditionally an aggressive trader often constrained by payroll limitations, was empowered to add salary and has now assembled one of the league’s most potent lineups, featuring the formidable home run duo of Cal Raleigh and Suarez. With just one playoff appearance since 2001 and a wide-open American League, the urgency to upgrade was clear. The lone critique of Seattle’s deadline performance was the bullpen; while the team added lefty Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, they fell short of acquiring a high-leverage setup man for Andres Munoz.
San Diego Padres
The Padres signaled their all-in approach with a stunning trade for Athletics closer Mason Miller, sending top prospect Leo De Vries to Oakland. While the move initially sparked speculation about a larger sell-off, general manager AJ Preller quickly proved his intent was to win now. By also acquiring Ryan O’Hearn, Ramon Laureano, and catcher Freddy Fermin, the Padres systematically addressed their needs in left field, at designated hitter, and behind the plate. The addition of Miller bolsters what was already one of baseball’s best bullpens, making San Diego a formidable opponent for the postseason as it aims to chase down the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Philadelphia Phillies
With a veteran roster and a dominant starting rotation, the Phillies are firmly in win-now mode. They addressed their most significant weakness—the bullpen—by acquiring closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins, providing a crucial upgrade after late-inning struggles plagued their recent postseason runs. The cost was significant—prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel—but necessary for a team needing immediate high-leverage relief. Duran is also under team control through 2027, offering a long-term solution. The addition of outfielder Harrison Bader, also from the Twins, provides a needed right-handed bat and solidifies their outfield defense.
New York Mets
President of baseball operations David Stearns overhauled a struggling Mets bullpen, transforming it into a potential strength. By acquiring Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley, and Gregory Soto, the Mets added a diverse set of high-impact arms to complement an already solid core led by Edwin Diaz. The strategy focuses on building a relief corps designed for October, where deep bullpens are often decisive. While the Mets parted with notable prospects like Jesus Baez and Drew Gilbert, the aggressive moves position them well for a deep playoff run. The final addition of center fielder Cedric Mullins provides an offensive upgrade and valuable depth.
Houston Astros
The Astros bolstered their lineup by bringing back shortstop Carlos Correa to play third base, adding left-handed power with outfielder Jesus Sanchez, and acquiring utility infielder Ramon Urias. These additions, coinciding with the return of shortstop Jeremy Pena, significantly deepen an offense that had relied on stopgap players. Correa’s return is pivotal; though not at his peak offensively in 2025, a change of scenery could reignite his bat. With a dominant bullpen and a strong top of the rotation, Houston’s improved offense makes them a more complete contender in the AL West.
Oakland Athletics
In one of the deadline’s most surprising moves, the Athletics traded closer Mason Miller for Leo De Vries, a consensus top-five prospect in baseball. Trading a reliever, even an elite one, for a potential superstar is a rare and bold move. At just 18 years old, De Vries is already performing well in High-A, and his profile draws comparisons to other elite shortstops at the same age. For a rebuilding franchise, acquiring a player of his caliber represents a potential franchise-altering success.
New York Yankees
The Yankees opted for a high-volume approach, improving their depth and versatility across the roster. Key additions include third baseman Ryan McMahon, closer David Bednar, and a trio of infielders in Jose Caballero, Amed Rosario, and Austin Slater, alongside relievers Jake Bird and Camilo Doval. The moves provide tangible upgrades—McMahon could thrive outside of Colorado, and Caballero adds elite speed—but the Yankees did not land one of the top-tier players available. While the team is undoubtedly deeper, it remains to be seen if these incremental improvements are enough to overtake their rivals in the AL East.
Losers
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins initiated a significant teardown, trading away 10 players from their 26-man roster. Key departures included star shortstop Carlos Correa, closer Jhoan Duran, and several key relievers, effectively dismantling the core of their team and the back end of a strong bullpen. The sell-off signals a clear shift in direction, moving on from pending free agents but also from controllable, high-impact players. While the team acquired prospects, the return was not headlined by top-tier talent, raising concerns about the franchise’s immediate and long-term competitiveness. The moves suggest a potential period of austerity, leaving the team’s path back to contention unclear.
Chicago Cubs
Engaged in a tight race for the NL Central title, the Chicago Cubs had a surprisingly quiet deadline. While they made minor additions like utility man Willi Castro and pitchers Michael Soroka and Andrew Kittredge, they failed to acquire an impact bat or a top-tier arm. Possessing the prospect capital to make a significant move, the organization opted for a conservative approach. Whether this caution will cost them the division or prove detrimental in a potential postseason appearance remains to be seen.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox made modest additions to their pitching staff, acquiring Dustin May from the Dodgers and Steven Matz from the Cardinals. May provides a rotation option, while Matz offers multi-inning relief. However, these moves are unlikely to significantly alter Boston’s playoff odds, particularly as division rivals in New York and Toronto made more impactful upgrades. Despite a recent hot streak, the team refrained from leveraging its assets for a more substantial boost.
Cincinnati Reds
While the Cincinnati Reds were active buyers, their acquisitions of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and pitcher Zack Littell were puzzling. Hayes is an elite defender but a liability at the plate, and fitting him into the lineup requires moving Noelvi Marte to the outfield, a position where he is inexperienced. The defensive gains at third could be negated by the shift. Similarly, Littell, a pitcher prone to giving up home runs, is a questionable fit for Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly ballpark.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers were active in adding pitching depth, bringing in starters Chris Paddack and Charlie Morton and a collection of relievers. However, the moves do little to address the bullpen issues that have plagued the team and offer only a replacement-level upgrade to the rotation. Holding a comfortable lead in a weak AL Central, the Tigers were not under pressure to make major changes. Still, for a team with one of the league’s top farm systems, the conservative approach was a missed opportunity to bolster their roster for a deeper postseason run in a wide-open American League.
Milwaukee Brewers
While labeling the league-leading Milwaukee Brewers as “losers” is a stretch, their quiet deadline was notable. The team may feel its biggest additions were internal, with the recent return of pitcher Brandon Woodruff and the call-up of rookie Jacob Misiorowski. The front office addressed a bullpen that was already a strength by adding Shelby Miller but failed to acquire the power bat the lineup needs. As they compete with the Cubs for the division title, time will tell if their existing roster is enough to secure the top spot.
