Power Ranking MLB Contenders After Wild Trade Deadline
By Michael Luciano
The 2019 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and the division and pennant races have been turned on their heads thanks to some blockbuster moves, chief among them the move that sent Zack Greinke to Arizona. Now that the dust has settled, it's time to take stock of the contending teams in the league and determine who has the best shot at the 2019 title.
10. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were on the verge of getting shutout at the deadline before Theo Epstein pried Nick Castellanos away from the Detroit Tigers at the 11th hour. With versatility and gap power, Castellanos should be in line for clutch at-bats down the stretch. The Cardinals might be in first place right now, but the Cubs have too much talent to be considered an underdog in that division.
9. Boston Red Sox
Boston's bullpen remains a laughingstock, but that lineup is just as stacked as it was last year, so the Red Sox can't be counted out in the AL pennant race. As long as Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Rafael Devers, and Xander Bogaerts keep mashing and bailing that rotation out, they should be able to slug their way to a few more wins and keep pace with the Rays and Yankees.
8. Oakland Athletics
They may not have the star power that their AL compatriots have, but Bob Melvin always seems to have his A's in the thick of the playoff hunt. The additions of Jake Diekman, Tanner Roark, and Homer Bailey have injected new life into their pitching staff, and their bullpen remains unhittable on any given night between Diekman, Liam Hendriks, Lou Trivino and Blake Treinen. The Astros might have separated themselves from the pack, but Oakland should be right in the thick of the Wild Card hunt.
7. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays made some under the radar trades rather than going for the big fish, but Trevor Richards and Jesus Aguilar should help stabilize their rotation and add some much-needed pop to a team that isn't going to win too many slugfests. Tampa will lack Blake Snell as he is on the IL, but the plucky little Rays continue to win games, and could end up in the Wild Card if they keep playing at this level.
6. Cleveland Indians
As surprising as the Trevor Bauer trade was, Cleveland managed to reload in a pretty interesting way, adding two sluggers to their outfield in Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes. With Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber slated to return soon, their starting rotation needs to hold it together for just a few weeks before they can get back to 100 percent. In the mean time, Cleveland will be content with demolishing AL Central pitching, as adding Puig and Reyes to a lineup that already has Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez in it is going to be a show.
5. Minnesota Twins
The Twins' mojo has sputtered of late, as their home run-heavy squad can't keep up with a pitching staff that has been getting tossed around. Jake Odorizzi and Jose Berrios can only do so much, and that staff needs to sort themselves out if they want to fend off the Indians in the AL Central. The lineup is outstanding, as Nelson Cruz, Eddie Rosario, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler could carry them deep into the postseason.
4. Atlanta Braves
Brian Snitker finally got the ninth inning figured out when he acquired All-Star closer Shane Greene from the Detroit Tigers. Not to mention they acquired Mark Melancon and Chris Martin as well. With their biggest question now answered emphatically, Atlanta has emerged as the biggest competitor to the Dodgers in the NL. As long as Ronald Acuña and Freedie Freeman keep slamming home runs and Mike Soroka remains unhittable, the Braves can't be discounted as a legit World Series contender.
3. New York Yankees
Even with Brian Cashman's inability to land a frontline starter at the deadline and their recent slide against the Red Sox, the Yankees have more than enough bats in the lineup and arms in the bullpen to win the AL East and make a run at the World Series this year. With Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Severino, and Dellin Betances still on the mend, more cavalry could still be on the way, meaning the Yankees could get the shot in the arm they need to break their recent skid and reorient themselves.
2. Houston Astros
The Yankees have been top dog in the AL for most of the summer, but the Astros loudly snatched that title away from them by trading for Zack Greinke. In they're hypothetical four-man playoff rotation, Houston could throw Greinke, Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Wade Miley at their opponent. Pair that with the Ryan Pressly/Roberto Osuna endgame duo and a lineup led by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, and you have a new favorite in the AL.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Their deal for Felipe Vasquez fell through, which leaves a hole at the back end of the bullpen, but the Dodgers are still clicking on all cylinders and are the overwhelming favorites to get to the World Series yet again. With the best rotation in baseball, a deep lineup led by an MVP candidate in Cody Bellinger, and oodles of payoff experiences, they are still the team to beat.