Taking stock of the biggest MLB trade deadline deals one month later

The 2021 MLB trade deadline was one of the busiest in recent memory, with many impactful deals taking place concerning contenders in both leagues. Let’s take a look at how the five biggest deadline moves have panned out so far.

5. Joey Gallo to the Yankees

Left-handed slugger Joey Gallo seemed to fit a need when the Yankees picked him up from the Texas Rangers, but he hasn’t made the impact that the Bombers were hoping for.

Gallo is batting a woeful .138 with six home runs over 142 plate appearances. His 180 combined strikeouts this season are pacing baseball.

Meanwhile, the key prospect that New York sent over in this deal – Glenn Otto – has had a brilliant first two starts in Texas. Otto owns a 1.86 ERA and 0.724 WHIP over 9 2/3 innings as a big-leaguer so far.

Winner: Rangers

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4. Kris Bryant to the Giants

The Giants appeared to steal Kris Bryant from the Cubs for two marginal prospects at first glance, and Bryant’s play in the Bay Area has done nothing to change that.

The former MVP is batting .276 with San Francisco over 115 plate appearances, with six homers and 14 RBI. Bryant has given the Giants production they were sorely lacking at third base, and has also provided flexibility with his capacity to play multiple positions.

Winner: Giants

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3. Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox

Days before the deadline, the White Sox came away big winners in a trade with the Cubs for Ryan Tepera. Then, at the last minute, they swung another deal with their crosstown rivals for closer Craig Kimbrel. It appears as if the South Siders pushed their luck a little too far.

Kimbrel owns a 6.08 ERA with the White Sox, blowing one save from only two chances so far (14 games). Meanwhile, the prize prospect the White Sox sent over in Codi Heuer is lighting it up at Wrigley Field.

Heuer is 2-1 with a scant 1.06 ERA over 15 games with the Cubs. When second baseman Nick Madrigal – the other player the White Sox sent over – suits up for the Cubs next season, this trade could become even more one-sided.

Winner: Cubs

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2. Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees

Anthony Rizzo was an instant upgrade at first base for a Yankees lineup that was starved for left-handed hitting.

Rizzo’s .241 average, four homers and 12 RBI don’t tell the story of what an impact he’s made since donning the pinstripes. He’s provided clutch hitting, solid defense, and leadership on a Yankees team that was floundering just before the deadline. Now that Luke Voit is back and hitting well for New York, the Bombers have a useful platoon at first base.

It’s too early to tell if the Cubs were fleeced or not, as they received two low-level prospects, but the Yankees clearly didn’t lose on this deal this year.

Winner: Yankees

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1. Max Scherzer, Trea Turner to the Dodgers

Max Scherzer was the biggest name that everyone knew was on the trading block, but Trea Turner also going to the Dodgers in a deal with the Nationals was a stunner.

Scherzer has made his presence felt in L.A. right away, going 4-0 over his first six starts with a microscopic 1.29 ERA. Turner has seamlessly slid in at second base for the Dodgers, batting .317 with three homers and nine RBI over 112 plate appearances.

L.A. sent over two “ready now” prospects in catcher Keibert Ruiz and pitcher Josiah Gray, but so far their results haven’t been impressive in Washington. Ruiz is batting .150 over his first 20 plate appearances with the Nats, while Gray owns a 6.75 ERA over eight innings of work.

Winner: Dodgers