MLB Power Rankings: Post trade-deadline rankings

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 31: Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Brian Dozier (6) hugs his new manager Dave Roberts in the dugout during a MLB game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 3, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

After a very busy trade deadline, we evaluate the MLB power rankings heading into the month of August and the home stretch of the season

Multiple big names moved during the MLB Trade Deadline period over the last month-plus. How have those moves affected the MLB power rankings?

We’ll start with those in the most dire spots:

30. Kansas City Royals

33-73 record, 25 GB in AL Central
The Royals don’t have the worst record in the league, but they really didn’t do much at all to improve the long-term health of the team at the deadline with a number of pieces that could have moved beyond just Herrera and Moose.

29. New York Mets

44-60 record, 13.5 GB in NL East
Their won-lost record is the one thing that keeps propping them up, but it’s not going to be enough eventually. Especially when you lose games to divisional rivals by 20+ runs on the same day you had complete inactivity in the trade market with a real chance to improve the long-term health of the organization.

28. Baltimore Orioles

32-75 record, 42 GB in AL East
Yes, the Orioles have the worst record in the league. The Orioles are nearly twice as far from their division lead as any other team in baseball. Yet, they made smart moves for the short-term and long-term health of the franchise this week, cutting much deeper into the franchise than many thought they would, and for that, they’ll at least get this temporary bump – unless they spend that international money on a 31-year-old three true outcome first baseman!

27. Chicago White Sox

37-69 record, 21 games back in AL Central
The White Sox were another team with curious choices on players that were kept on the roster, specifically starter James Shields. There was a market for him, so hopefully, they can pull the trigger in August.

26. Miami Marlins

46-63 record, 14 games back in NL East
The Marlins didn’t make ALL the moves they could have made, but they were quite active near the deadline, and it could be a very busy August in Miami.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 29: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the six inning at AT&T Park on July 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

25. San Diego Padres

42-68 record, 18.5 games back in NL West
The Padres are in a great position. They should start bringing up a number of young players to finish out 2019, and they also have enough guys close that they were legitimately competing for some of the young, controllable players on the market at the MLB trade deadline.

24. Texas Rangers

46-63 record, 22 games back in AL West
The Rangers were an enigma in July. They fell completely out of the race overall, yet they swept a series against the Astros. They moved their top starter and their closer, yet they seemed to have their price too high on a number of position players that are in built-up positions within their organization.

23. Detroit Tigers

46-62 record, 13 games back in AL Central
The Tigers held onto their ace and their closer rather than moving either, in spite of plenty of interest. With very good contracts on their veteran guys, it would not surprise if Detroit is very busy by August 31st.

22. Minnesota Twins

49-57 record, 9 games back in AL Central
Yes, they’re less than 10 games out in their division, but the Twins have now traded a key bullpen and rotation member, along with two huge cogs in the infield. The focus is on 2019.

21. Toronto Blue Jays

48-58 record, 25.5 games back in AL East
The Blue Jays held onto their biggest chip, Marcus Stroman, but they moved a bunch of pieces, including beleaguered closer Roberto Osuna. Now will be interesting if they can get Josh Donaldson healthy in August and moved before the end of the month.

20. Washington Nationals

53-53 record, 5.5 games back in NL East
No, they’re really not THAT far out, but with the injury to Strasburg this week, the on-again, off-again Harper stuff, and now the heavy discussion about clubhouse issues, this team is one that really should just need to be blown up. Anyone miss Dusty yet??

19. Cincinnati Reds

48-59 record, 13.5 games back in NL Central
The biggest guy traded away from one of the better performing teams since Jim Riggleman took over was a guy who was part of a four-man rotation in the outfield. Now the Reds can really focus their outfield rotation and should remain quite fun to watch.

18. Los Angeles Angels

54-54 record, 13.5 games back in AL West
The Angels have seen their pitching absolutely decimated by injury, and no matter what Pujols, Trout, and Ohtani do offensively, they simply cannot overcome that lack of pitching. Moving Kinsler opens the door for CTTP favorite David Fletcher to play every day.

17. St. Louis Cardinals

54-53 record, 7.5 games back in NL Central
The Cardinals made the moves to trade away a number of pieces out of their bullpen, though there are plenty of whispers that a key pitcher was not moved that many thought should have been. Seeing the Cardinals in sell-mode is oddly uncomfortable, however!

16. San Francisco Giants

55-54 record, 5 games back in NL West
The Giants are just 5 games back, but there are three teams ahead of them just in their division. That’s why you heard rumbles of the Giants shopping McCutchen and others, and with confirmation of Cueto’s Tommy John surgery, don’t be surprised if the Giants are very active in August.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 28: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies plays shortstop against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

15. Tampa Bay Rays

54-53 record, 20 games back in AL East
The Rays traded off a few pieces through the deadline, and they seemed to keep themselves in a spot where they’ll likely have some very exciting baseball to watch the last two months as they audition pitchers and players through Tampa.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates

56-52 record, 6 games back in NL Central
One of the hottest teams in the National League over the last month, the Pirates got the biggest name arm on the market in Archer, as well as one of the top relievers in Kela, adding elite arms to a pitching staff that was needing top-end performance.

13. Cleveland Indians

58-48 record, 1st place in AL Central
The Indians have some significant needs in the outfield and really didn’t address them at the deadline. It will be interesting to see how they may address these needs in August.

12. Colorado Rockies

58-48 record, 0.5 games back in NL West
The Rockies have been incredibly hot over the last few weeks, and their big money bullpen has finally been producing. The questions with the rotation remain, however, and how those will work out as the season closes will be intriguing to track.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks

60-49 record, 1st place in NL West
The Diamondbacks made some impressive moves for their bullpen, and it could be argued that they have the deepest bullpen in the entire National League. Getting consistent offensive production will be vital.

10. Atlanta Braves

57-47 record, 0.5 games back in AL East
The Braves made some big moves around the deadline, acquiring a quality starter, bullpen pieces, and a big power bat from the left side to come off the bench. With young pitchers pushing through and making their major league debuts, you’ll start to see that top farm system shine through in Atlanta.

9. Seattle Mariners

63-44 record, 4 games back in AL West
The Mariners did an excellent job of adding bullpen depth over the deadline, though they would have loved to grab a top-level arm if one would have been available and reasonably priced.

8. Los Angeles Dodgers

59-49, 0.5 games back in NL West
With the big moves made in July, the Dodgers have an absolutely loaded roster. Now they simply need to play like it!

7. Milwaukee Brewers

63-47 record, tied-1st, NL Central
Offensively, the Brewers added two huge pieces in Schoop and Moose, but how those players will be used defensively remains in question and something to keep an eye on.

6. Philadelphia Phillies

59-48 record, 1st place, NL East
The Phillies made two very important acquisitions with Ramos and Cabrera into their offensive mix. The pitching will be interesting to watch, and the Phillies could be active in the August relief market.

BOSTON – JULY 29: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi pitches during the first inning in his Red Sox debut. The Boston Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins in a regular season MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on July 29, 2018. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

5. Oakland Athletics

63-46 record, 5 games back in AL West
Yes, they’re not in the playoffs at all right now, but the Athletics have been surging up the MLB Power Rankings because of not just their winning ways, but the way they’re playing even in their losses. Many A’s fans would have preferred to see the team add a few big names during the deadline, but instead, Oakland remains in a prime position to compete for those players who clear waivers, with a loaded farm system to use as bait.

4. Chicago Cubs

61-45tied-1st, NL Central
While they’re still tied for first place in their division, it could be argued that the Cubs really belong as high as #2 in the MLB power rankings right now after really playing well, even without Bryant in the lineup, and now picking up some big pieces to help their pitching in former closer Kintzler and veteran lefty Hamels. They very well may not be done adding pieces, either.

3. Houston Astros

68-41 record, 1st place in AL West
There is a reason that teams struggle to repeat. Even with a young, talented team, there are issues with injury (Altuve recently) and getting too cute in trying to find the last pieces to the team that typically lead to a team not having that same chemistry as their championship season when they enter the next year’s postseason. Adding Osuna feels like a major wrong step in that chemistry.

2. New York Yankees

68-37 record, 5 games back in AL East
Second place in their division, but still the second-best record in baseball. The Yankees made some very smart moves, adding more for depth and versatility than breaking the bank over the biggest name out there. Whether that will be enough is going to be the question.

1. Boston Red Sox

75-34 record, 1st place in AL East
The season’s juggernaut simply keeps chugging along, adding perfect pieces that fit right into the team’s clubhouse (Kinsler) and give them even more depth in areas they didn’t even know they needed help in (Eovaldi brought in just ahead of Sale’s DL time). This has the look of a team that gets to the postseason running on all cylinders. Whether they’ll keep that train rolling all the way through October is going to be something to watch.

Next. Reviewing the 2017 trade deadline. dark

So that’s our MLB power rankings for the first of August. Who is too high? Too low? Comment below!

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MLB Power Rankings: post-deadline