The 2023 Major League Baseball season has reached August, which means it’s time for the trade deadline. This year, the deadline was moved to August 1st from the traditional July 31st, giving teams a bit more time to make moves. As always, the task of picking winners and losers falls upon us, with the understanding that baseball can be unpredictable and assigning winners and losers is subjective.

One of the winners from the trade deadline is the Houston Astros. Despite some struggles with their rotation and offense, the Astros are only a half-game out of first place and have positioned themselves well to make a run for another championship. The addition of Justin Verlander, who is comfortable in Houston and has a strong relationship with the city, strengthens their chances even further. The Astros now have all the pieces they need, they just need some players to step up and a morale boost never hurts.

Another winner is the Texas Rangers. They entered the deadline leading the AL West and made some key upgrades to their rotation and bullpen. With the urgency to end their playoff drought since 2016, the Rangers made it a priority to contend in 2023. With a strong front office and experienced leadership, the Rangers are looking to make a splash in October.

On the other hand, the Baltimore Orioles are seen as a slight loser. While they have a loaded farm system and have seen some success with their MLB roster, they missed an opportunity to use their prospects to obtain established talent to bolster their chances of winning the World Series in the near future. With concerns about their rotation and the goal of making it through October, the front office’s decision not to make a big move is questioned.

Jack Flaherty is another winner from the trade deadline. After several frustrating years with the St. Louis Cardinals, Flaherty has been traded to the Orioles, giving him a chance to start fresh with a legitimate contender. With a 180-inning-plus season under his belt in 2019, Flaherty has the potential to thrive in his new setting and benefit from the Orioles’ front office’s track record in developing pitchers.

The Cincinnati Reds, despite leading their division, are labeled as a loser. They failed to address their rotation issues, which could be a significant weakness in the postseason. While the Reds’ rebuild seems more pointed towards 2024 rather than 2023, the return of injured players Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo could potentially make them a dangerous underdog in October. However, the decision not to address their rotation at the deadline could also result in them missing the playoffs.

As for the traditional powerhouses, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees both made weak efforts at the trade deadline. With both teams struggling in 2023 and barely in playoff contention, their lack of significant moves seems fitting. Similarly, the Minnesota Twins, who currently sit in first place, failed to add any bats to their sub-par offense. While the availability of trade candidates may have been limited, it appears to be a missed opportunity for the Twins.

Overall, the trade deadline brought a mix of winners and losers in the MLB. Some teams made key additions to boost their chances in the postseason, while others missed opportunities or failed to address glaring weaknesses. It remains to be seen how these moves, or lack thereof, will impact each team as they enter the final stretch of the season.