In a surprising move, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Paul Sewald, a valuable late-inning reliever, without giving up any key players. Jace Peterson was another addition to the team, providing quality defense and modest production against right-handed pitching. This makes him a suitable choice for a third-base platoon with Emmanuel Rivera until Evan Longoria returns. The Diamondbacks also made late additions with Tommy Pham and Peter Strzelecki, earning them a grade of A.

The Atlanta Braves, although having a strong roster, made solid additions to their bullpen by acquiring Pierce Johnson and Brad Hand. They also managed to turn Taylor Hearn into Nicky Lopez, showcasing their skill in making beneficial trades. While their activity was limited due to their already strong roster, the Braves still deserve a passing grade, earning them a B.

The Baltimore Orioles bolstered their pitching staff by adding right-handers Shintaro Fujinami and Jack Flaherty. These additions align with the team’s approach of upgrading their roster. However, some fans may have hoped to see Baltimore make a more significant move to acquire a front-of-the-rotation arm. Their grade stands at a C.

The Boston Red Sox took a chance on Luis Urías, a player with a down season but a track record of high performance. They also received interesting arms in a trade with the Dodgers for Enrique Hernandez. While their deadline was uneventful, it was still deemed satisfactory, earning them a B.

The Chicago Cubs made Jeimer Candelario their key addition, securing the best third baseman in the market. His presence will give the team a boost at both infield-corner positions. The Cubs also acquired José Cuas, an intriguing right-handed pitcher. While some may argue they could have been more aggressive, their transactions were deemed acceptable, warranting a grade of B.

The Chicago White Sox made significant moves early in the market, acquiring catcher Edgar Quero and pitchers Ky Bush and Nick Nastrini. These players were acquired in return for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, Lance Lynn, and Joe Kelly. Quero is particularly noteworthy as a potential top-50 prospect with a promising bat. Overall, the White Sox’s transactions earned them a grade of A.

The Cincinnati Reds fell short of expectations as they made no significant moves to upgrade their first-place standing. The addition of left-handed reliever Sam Moll was solid, but the team did not find a rotation upgrade. This left fans disappointed, resulting in a grade of D.

The Cleveland Guardians made several trades, including swapping Amed Rosario for Noah Syndergaard. While the rest of their deadline transactions were satisfactory, the decision to trade Rosario did not significantly improve their chances of winning. They earn a grade of C.

The Colorado Rockies made some interesting moves, acquiring promising arms from the Angels and the Braves. While these players may not become significant contributors, the Rockies made a step in the right direction by recognizing the need to trade some players. Their grade stands at C.

The Detroit Tigers managed to trade Michael Lorenzen to the Phillies for prospect Hao-Yu Lee. However, they surprised some by not making any moves regarding their relievers. Their grade stands at C.

The Houston Astros focused on reunions, bringing back Kendall Graveman and Justin Verlander. While they were unable to find a trade for their excess outfielders, the team’s moves were viewed positively in terms of improving their chances of winning the World Series. The Astros receive praise for their efforts.

The Kansas City Royals made a peculiar trade, sending Nicky Lopez to the Atlanta Braves for Taylor Hearn, who had just been acquired by the Braves for cash. The Royals also received Henry Williams from the San Diego Padres for Scott Barlow. This trade left fans questioning the team’s decision-making, earning them a grade of D.

The Los Angeles Angels went into “buy mode” after deciding to keep Shohei Ohtani. Their acquisitions, including Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, C.J. Cron, Randal Grichuk, and Dominic Leone, helped patch some holes in their roster. While their farm system limited their ability to make larger-scale moves, they made the best of their situation, earning them a grade of A.

The Los Angeles Dodgers played it safe this deadline, making mid-tier veteran additions such as Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Amed Rosario, and Enrique Hernandez. They also made a last-minute addition of Ryan Yarbrough. While these moves were generally well-received, the Dodgers were seen as missing a big move, resulting in a grade of B.

The Miami Marlins made some questionable trades, giving up potentially valuable players for what seemed to be lesser returns. The deals for David Robertson and Jake Burger were criticized for their lack of long-term benefits. While the addition of Josh Bell was considered a reasonable move, the Marlins received a grade of D.

The Milwaukee Brewers made sleepy additions with Andrew Chafin, Carlos Santana, and Mark Canha. They surprised some by not prioritizing Luis Urías, leading to speculation that they viewed him as a non-tender candidate. Fans had hoped for more urgency from the team, resulting in a grade of C.

The Minnesota Twins did not engage significantly with the deadline, only swapping out players without making substantial additions. Their deadline decisions were seen as lackluster, earning them a grade of D.

The article concludes by mentioning that the Angels may need to reset soon, which justifies their approach of making trades to address immediate roster needs.