The 2016 MLB trade deadline has passed and the Texas Rangers did well, while the New York Yankees decided to look towards the future. At the same time, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers made moves that may help one of them win the division, while the Chicago White Sox kept their prized players at home. It was a pretty crazy final day of comings and goings, trades and deals, and exploited as well as lost opportunities. Eight All Stars and 11 top prospects were all part of the 18 deals.
Rangers at the 2016 MLB Trade Deadline
Who did the Rangers get right at the 2016 MLB Trade Deadline? They got a player that was wanted by a lot of teams and most thought that he’d go to the Cleveland Indians. But it ain’t so, as Milwaukee Brewer catcher Jonathan Lucroy went to the Rangers. It was thought as late as Sunday that Lecroy, who was also desperately wanted by the Mets, would go to the Indians.
What do the Rangers get with Lecroy? They get a very solid catcher who is batting .300 and has 50 RBI and 13 homeruns. Lucroy has also hit 17 doubles, three triples, and 101 hits while scoring 48 runs. He can really make a big difference in the final weeks of this 2016 MLB season.
In addition, Texas got closer Jeremy Jeffress from the Brewers and slugger Carlos Beltran from the Yankees. Jeffress is a great acquisition. In 47 appearances this season he’s pitched 44.2 innings. He’s struck our 35, walked 11, and allowed 11 earned runs on 35 hits. He’s notched 27 saves, is 2-2, and has just one blown save. Beltran is hitting .300 with 22 homers and 64 RBI.
The Rangers now have a deep pitching staff that includes starters Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish and one of the most dynamic hitting units in MLB. In fact with their most recent trades, they have become the favorites to win the AL pennant.
Other Pick Ups
There were some other important deals made on the day of the 2016 MLB trade deadline and one big deal that never happened.
A lot of clubs wanted starting LH pitcher Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox). Teams that tried to get him included the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Rangers. But the price was too high in terms of prospects.
The Dodgers did get pitcher Rich Hill, as well as outfielder Josh Reddick from the Oakland A’s. The Red Sox managed a deal for reliever Fernando Abad from the Minnesota Twins. The San Francisco Giants acquired starter Matt Moore from Tampa and Brewers reliever Will Smith. The Dodgers also wanted Moore. LA and SF are locked in a battle for first place in the NL West.
The big winners were definitely the Texas Rangers. The team that decided they would wait until next year, or even the year after, were the New York Yankees.
