The MLB Trade Deadline is complete. Let’s take a look back at how last season’s deals have played out one year later.
Multiple players were moved before today’s 4 PM Eastern MLB Trade Deadline. How those deals will impact the rest of 2018 is yet to be seen. Let’s look back at the top 25 deals of the 2017 MLB Trade Deadline:
2017 MLB Trade Deadline: NL East
The Nationals really emphasized their bullpen in their 2017 deadline, picking up three pitchers who all had closing experience. Doolittle ended the season in that closing role, but each player finished well. Madson posted a 1.37 ERA over 19 2/3 innings, Kintzler had a 3.46 ERA over 26 innings, and Doolittle saved 21 games over 30 innings with a 2.40 ERA.
This season, Madson has struggled, with a 4.54 ERA over 37 2/3 innings. Kintzler has thrown to his career norms, with a 3.59 ERA over 42 2/3 innings. Doolittle has been brilliant, saving 22 games, with a 1.45 ERA and a 49/3 K/BB ratio over 37 1/3 innings.
Kendrick became a productive piece of the bench for Washington, a leader in the clubhouse, hitting .293/.343/.494 in 2017, and this season before he was injured and lost for the season, Kendrick hit .303/.331/.474.
Of the players the Nationals gave up, the big pair were in the deal with the A’s, as Treinen has been on par with Doolittle in his excellence in the closer’s role this season, and Luzardo has become one of the elite pitching prospects in the entire game, jumping all the way to AA.
Watson has been promoted to high-A after opening the year in low-A, his ERA not great, but underlying stats showing much better production. Mills has emerged as one of the Phillies pitching prospects that gets plenty of buzz as a guy on the verge of a breakout. He’s showing well in the Florida State League this year.
The Mets initially made moves to compete and then ended up selling off. Ramos ended up not being able to do what they needed, pitching to a 4.74 ERA and strugglign with his control. He’s had worse luck this season, pitching to a 6.41 ERA on 19 2/3 innings with 15 walks and is now out for the season with labrum surgery.