6 Players We Still Can't Believe Weren't Traded at the MLB Deadline

We know how boring this MLB trade deadline was even with the Zack Greinke deal. There was a surprising amount of inaction from fringe contenders who decided to stand pat rather than sell. Plenty of players who should have gotten a change of scenery didn't, but these are the six players we simply still can't believe didn't get shipped out at the deadline.

6. Ken Giles

The 2019 campaign has been a phenomenal one for Giles. Even though he was hit with injuries at the deadline, he was still one of the best relievers available on the market. On the year, he owns a 1.80 ERA as the closer for the Blue Jays. Though Toronto's farm system is in fine shape, they could have gotten a hefty haul for him, especially considering he's still under team control through until 2021.

5. Kirby Yates

It's a bit confusing as to why the Padres held onto Yates at the deadline this year. Though he's still got one year of control left and the Padres might be legitimate contenders in 2020, there's no denying they could have brought in plenty of talent in exchange for him. He's got a 1.07 FIP on the season and has been worth 3.0 fWAR. San Diego could have gotten a king's ransom for his services.

4. Will Smith

Smith is in the midst of another fantastic year for the Giants. The southpaw reliever has pitched to the tune of a 2.80 ERA this year, and it was even lower at 2.66 at the deadline. He's heading into free agency this offseason, and while the Giants were in the midst of a magical run at the trade deadline, it's simply mind-boggling that they didn't offload him to replenish their barren farm system.

3. Felipe Vazquez

Vazquez was on the verge of being traded for practically the entire last week leading up to the deadline, yet the Pirates inexplicably couldn't get a deal done. He's pitched to the tune of a career-low 1.95 FIP and would have been a welcomed addition to any contender's bullpen. It's inexcusable that he didn't get dealt, as is the case for so many of the top relievers this season.

2. Madison Bumgarner

Magical run or not, it's absurd that the Giants didn't ship Bumgarner to a real contender. Their aforementioned farm system is one of the worst in the MLB and Bumgarner is heading into free agency this year. Regardless of his no-trade list, the Giants needed to find a way to send him to a contender. Instead, he's wasting the last year of his contract playing on a team with no chance of making the playoffs and the Giants will get nothing if he walks.

1. Mike Minor

Talk about not selling high on a player. After a career of rather mediocre pitching, Minor exploded in 2019. He's led American League pitchers in bWAR for practically the entire season and was viewed as one of the best available rotation arms at the deadline. But instead of shipping him out, the Rangers decided to hold onto him. It's especially confusing considering the Rangers went into an 8-16 free-fall in July. They had practically no playoff hopes at the deadline, so this is a big-time head-scratcher.