The dust has settled on Major League Baseball’s 2017 trade deadline and it’s time to take a look around at what we’re left with.
In the midst of an improbable playoff run, the New York Yankees signaled to the league that they are all in while the crosstown-rival Mets attempted to play the role of sellers.
The two teams found varying levels of success in the process as we grade just how well they fared over the past few weeks:
New York Mets players acquired
-RHP Drew Smith from Rays
2017 stats (Minors): 1-3, 1.53 ERA, 40 K’s, 47 IP
-RHP A.J. Ramos from Marlins
2017 stats: 2-4, 3.98 ERA, 47 K’s, 40.2 IP
-RHP Gerson Bautista from Red Sox
2017 stats (Minors): 3-2, 5.16 ERA, 53 K’s, 45.1 IP
-RHP Jamie Callahan from Red Sox
2017 stats (Minors): 5-2, 3.21 ERA, 56 K’s, 42 IP
-RHP Stephen Nogosek from Red Sox
2017 stats (Minors): 4-4, 3.06 ERA, 19 saves, 63 K’s, 53 IP
New York Mets players dealt
-1B Lucas Duda to Rays
2017 stats: .250 BA, 21 HR, 41 RBI
-RHP Merandy Gonzalez to Marlins
2017 stats (Minors): 12-3, 1.78 ERA, 89 K’s, 106 IP
-CF Ricardo Cespedes to Marlins
2017 stats (Minors): .243 BA, 1 HR, 15 RBI
-RHP Addison Reed to Red Sox
2017 stats: 1-2, 2.57 ERA, 19 saves, 48 K’s, 49 IP
Mets Grade: C+
The Mets did well to unload Duda and Reed before they become free agents this winter. In return, they replenished their young arms in the minor leagues, which is big for a franchise that has a reputation for developing pitchers.
However, Asdrubal Cabrera and Curtis Granderson are still with the team. Both pending free agents are unlikely to return to the Mets next year, which is a missed opportunity for the Mets to get even more at the deadline.
With Amed Rosario finally making his MLB debut Tuesday night, Cabrera is expendable, as he’s learned while being shifted around the infield and away from his natural shortstop position. Granderson is also the odd man out of a Mets outfield that already boasts Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto and Jay Bruce, who also was a prominent name on the trade market over the last few weeks.
New York Yankees players acquired
-3B Todd Frazier from White Sox
2017 stats: .208 BA, 17 HR, 48 RBI
-RHP David Robertson from White Sox
2017 stats: 4-2, 2.75 ERA, 55 K’s, 39.1 IP
-RHP Tommy Kahnle from White Sox
2017 stats: 1-3, 2.34 ERA, 71 K’s, 42.1 IP
-1B Ryan McBroom from Blue Jays
2017 stats (Minors): .249 BA, 15 HR, 61 RBI
-LHP Jaime Garcia from Twins
2017 stats: 5-7, 4.29 ERA, 92 K’s, 119.2 IP
-RHP Sonny Gray from Athletics
2017 stats: 6-5, 3.43 ERA, 94 K’s, 97 IP
New York Yankees players dealt
-RHP Tyler Clippard to White Sox
2017 stats: 2-6, 4.87 ERA, 47 K’s, 40.2 IP
-LHP Ian Clarkin to White Sox
2017 stats (Minors): 4-5, 2.68 ERA, 62 K’s, 80.2 IP
-CF Blake Rutherford to White Sox
2017 stats (Minors): .283 BA, 2 HR, 33 RBI, 10 SB
-CF Tito Polo to White Sox
2017 stats (Minors): .304 BA, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 28 SB
-IF Rob Refsnyder to Blue Jays
2017 stats: .150 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 40 AB’s
-RHP Dillon McNamara to Giants
2017 stats (Minors): 1-2, 2.63 ERA, 29 K’s, 37.2 IP
-LHP Dietrich Enns to Twins
2017 stats (Minors): 2-1, 1.99 ERA, 47 K’s, 45.1 IP
-RHP Zack Littell to Twins
2017 stats (Minors): 14-1, 1.87 ERA, 109 K’s, 115.1 IP
-CF Dustin Fowler to Athletics
2017 stats (Minors): .293 BA, 13 HR, 43 RBI, 13 SB
-RHP James Kaprielien to Athletics
2017 stats (Minors): Injured
-SS Jorge Mateo to Athletics
2017 stats (Minors):.258 BA, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 39 SB
-RHP Yefry Ramirez to Orioles
2017 stats (Minors): 10-3, 3.41 ERA, 91 K’s, 92.1 IP
Yankees Grade: A-
You have to give credit where credit is due and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman deserves a ton of it. He took advantage of his minor-league depth, managed to keep his best prospects and was still able to address most of his team’s needs heading into August.
The Yankees needed pitching? They go out and get a top-tier arm in Sonny Gray and veteran support in Jaime Garcia while bolstering the bullpen with David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle.
They needed extra pop in the lineup? They acquire Todd Frazier, who is coming off a 40-home-run campaign last year.
The only reason why this grade isn’t an A or A-plus is because of first base. While Chase Headly is mashing right now, it is still a position of need and we’ve seen just how streaky the natural third baseman can be at the plate this season.
