The MLB trade deadline has passed, so let's hand out some grades for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets for their performances. Did they pass, or did they flunk?
This past Tuesday was a hectic day in MLB, as it was the final day for all 30 teams to swap players, whether it was to help the team make a push for a postseason spot or World Series appearance or to bolster their farm system and build for the future. Whatever the case may be, all 30 teams were able to trade players since July 1, even though there weren't as many big names and difference-making players available as in years past.
As is the case, fans and media alike go into teaching mode and decide to hand out grades for organizations based on their performances. As is the case with school, you thrive to get an A to pass with ease.
But when it comes to some of the more notable names, particularly on the East Coast, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets, did they pass? Let's hand out some trade deadline grades for these three teams.
MLB rumors: Grading the New York Mets' trade deadline
The Mets were eliminated by the San Diego Padres in last year's Wild Card Series despite winning 101 games last year. So, team owner Steve Cohen flexed his bank account and committed nearly $500 million in total money this past winter to either retain players or sign free agents. Some of the players they brought in were Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, David Robertson, and Jose Quintana. These were moves to position the team for a deep postseason run. Instead, they underperformed and sat outside of a playoff spot.
Kudo to the Mets, Cohen, and general manager Billy Eppler for committing to a strategy at this deadline, and that was to sell and replenish the farm system.
The first domino to fall was Robertson, who was dealt to the Miami Marlins for prospects Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernandez.
After that trade, Max Scherzer was open to waiving his no-trade clause and was eventually dealt to the Texas Rangers, in exchange for top prospect Luisangel Acuña. Then on trade deadline day, they dealt Verlander back to the Houston Astros in exchange for top outfield prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
Getting a bunch of top prospects for some of the big names was a good move for the Mets. Build for the future. But, they didn't get much-needed pitching prospects in the deals. Not to mention, they are paying an absurd amount of money for Verlander and Scherzer to play postseason baseball in Texas.
As for a grade, the Mets get a B-.
New York Mets trade deadline grade: B-
MLB rumors: Grading the Boston Red Sox's trade deadline
The Boston Red Sox may have lost big names in free agency like Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, and Nathan Eovaldi, bringing down excitement for the 2023 season, but they are still in the postseason race. Entering deadline day, the Red Sox held a 56-50 record, good enough for fourth place in the AL East, but just 2.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the league's last playoff berth.
Even though the Red Sox weren't that far out of a playoff berth, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom didn't go for the big move to help propel them up the standings. Their lone addition on deadline day was infielder Luis Urias from the Milwaukee Brewers. Urias played in just 20 games with the Brewers this year, recording a .145 batting average, a .299 on-base percentage, a .236 slugging percentage, one home run, five RBI, five runs, and eight hits in 55 at-bats. In exchange, the Red Sox sent minor-league pitcher Bradley Blalock
Their other move ahead of the deadline was dealing Enrique Hernandez back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox tried Hernandez at shortstop to fill in until Trevor Story returned from injury. It didn't work out, so the Red Sox traded him back.
The Red Sox didn't really do much to help themselves out, while their rivals in front of them in the standings in the Baltimore Orioles, Tapa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays all got significantly better. That's just not good enough for the Red Sox, especially with how other teams in the Wild Card race improved as well.
Boston Red Sox trade grade: D
MLB rumors: Grading the New York Yankees' trade deadline
Congratulations to Brian Cashman for leaving the New York Yankees fanbase, and even beating reporters befuddled by your trade deadline strategy and logic.
Entering deadline day, the Yankees have been playing horrendous baseball for nearly two months. While yes, Aaron Judge's absence played a role in the decline, but it also highlighted how poorly constructed the roster is. The bats were lifeless, with veteran players like Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, and D.J. LeMahieu unable to step up in a time of need. Most of the batting order is batting below .250 this year. They had a wormhole in left field, with nearly 10 different players manning that position. Even catcher was a weakness, especially after Jose Trevino was ruled out for the rest of the year.
The Yankees have been playing awful all-around baseball, sitting in last place in the AL East. But, they had a 55-51 record on deadline day and were just 3.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot in the AL. So, there were two paths for Cashman to choose — buy to help make a push for a postseason berth, or sell and build for the future.
Cashman chose to do neither. Instead, he made a trade for Chicago White Sox middle relief pitcher Keynan Middleton, and basically paid for Spencer Howard to play for the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. That was it. How does this help the team out, exactly? We get it, the trade market wasn't great, but come up with something that can at least help address their areas of weakness, because what they have now isn't working.
As the Yankees were being taken to school by the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, Cashman spoke with reporters at the press conference room, and… didn't help matters. Cashman said that he felt staying put was the best course of action, and that this strategy proves "we're in it to win it."
Pause for laughter.
Continuing on with the Yankees' deadline strategy, a rival executive told The Athletic's Marc Carig that the team was "frustrating," and that they were "in-between land waiting to be bowled over for their rentals."
It's hard to disagree, as they did have numerous movable players that were set to become free agents. Sure, they wouldn't have landed top-tier prospects, but they would have gotten something for them. It really did feel like Cashman was more interested in winning a trade than actually improving the team.
Cashman said of the fans disapproval of the team's performance this season that he hopes to "turn the jeers into cheers." Well, with a stretch from hell that includes postseason contenders in the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, and Atlanta Braves for over the next week, that may be a challenge. That "games back" number in the AL Wild Card standings could grow.
Last year, Cashman made trades and all of them, with the exception of Harrison Bader, blew up in his face. This year, after running back virtually the same roster that batted .173 and had an OPS of .579 in the postseason last year, Cashman made no effort to improve this roster and try to turn things around
An F isn't a low enough grade for the Yankees. They're getting an F-.
New York Yankees trade grade: F-