The 2016 MLB Trade Deadline: Grading the AL East

The 2016 Major League Baseball trade deadline was one of the more hectic ones in recent history.  It certainly did not disappoint and, not surprisingly, one of the most interesting divisions in the league was right in the heat of it.  How did each AL East team do?  Let's find out. 

Now to be fair, I put these grades together based on what they needed to do at the deadline, whether it be to sell, buy, or stay put.  As always these are just my thoughts but I encourage anyone to tell me otherwise.  

Baltimore Orioles: B

(Rick Yeatts/Getty Images North America)

The Orioles haven’t exactly been the team they were in June, and have played mediocre baseball over the last week or so.  The team wasn’t really in desperate need of anything particular, but found some options to help strengthen the club in Seattle lefty Wade Miley and Steve Pearce, who had previously been an Oriole from 2013 to 2015.  Miley adds another arm to the rotation that hasn’t been great but has pressed along with the help of the offense.  Pearce brings a familiar face back to Baltimore and can be used to fill in as a utility player for several guys in the lineup.  Overall, nothing was heavily expected of Baltimore but they did what they felt was necessary and came out alright.

Boston Red Sox: B

(Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire)

The Sox made two key moves over the last couple of weeks to sure up their pitching.  Back in mid-July, the team shopped its top pitching prospect in Anderson Espinoza to acquire all-star Drew Pomeranz, who has been average since the deal. In addition, Boston brought in Arizona closer Brad Ziegler to help a bullpen plagued with injury. This is old news so I won’t harp, but they were necessary moves no matter how you look at them.  You’ve all heard the analysis, I don’t think I need to say more.  But the lone transaction at the deadline came from Minnesota as the Sox received left-handed reliever Fernando Abad for struggling rookie reliever Pat Light.  The move was another necessary one, allowing the Sox to strengthen their bullpen with a third lefty who has had a very solid season. I gave the B because on one hand the Sox failed to acquire another starter such as Jose Quintana, but on the other hand Dombrowski was smart enough to know he would overpay with prospects that could become VERY impactful.

New York Yankees: A

(Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)

The Yankees won the deadline in the East.  Plain and simple.  For the first time in my lifetime along with many others, the Yankees went into sell mode.  Now, George Steinbrenner is probably rolling over in his grave but the Yankees did exactly what they needed to do this season.  They were not built for the playoffs so they shopped what they had and milked their buyers.  Selling Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller has suddenly given the club a very good farm system, something the baseball world is not usually accustomed to.  The team rightfully moved Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova as well, two guys with value this year that once again brought solid prospects in return.  The Yankees will likely remain stagnant for another year or so, but could do something special like the Cubs soon after with all of this newly acquired talent.  And I heard that kid down in Washington may join 'em too.

Tampa Bay Rays: C+

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Tampa Bay had a very mediocre deadline in my opinion, primarily because they failed to sell Chris Archer.  Archer, along with Chris Sale, was one of the more coveted pitchers on the market but, like Sale, stayed put.  The team was the only other seller in the division, and was able to gain some decent return for Matt Moore, Steve Pearce, and Brandon Guyer but nothing compared to what they could possibly have gotten for Archer.  Matt Duffy will help Evan Longoria in the lineup, and the slew of prospects coming into the organization will hopefully materialize in a way similar to that of 2008. 

Toronto Blue Jays: B+

(Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

The Blue Jays just became the AL East favorites, if they weren’t already.  Offense was never the question, although acquiring Melvin Upton Jr. may prove to help the lineup additionally.  It was their pitching though that had a couple question marks, despite very solid seasons from Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, and Aaron Sanchez.  The team brought in several veteran arms, the biggest being Pittsburgh lefty Francisco Liriano, who was packaged with prospects for Drew Hutchison.  Joaquin Benoit and Scott Feldman will add experience to the Toronto bullpen as well.  With a tremendously upgraded pitching staff, and an offense that can overpower almost any pitcher at any given time, this team will certainly make a strong bid for a second straight division title.