Winners
Even if the Dodgers didn't make many splashes this trade deadline, they made the splash by acquiring the best pitcher in baseball with Tarik Skubal.
The league and fans everywhere were stunned that all it took for the reigning back-to-back World Series champions to land Skubal were Zyhir Hope (MLB No. 25 prospect), Triple-A pitcher River Ryan, and Single-A pitcher Brady Smith (trade details).
They also added lefty Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals (trade details), although he's on the 60-day IL, along with catcher Hunter Feduccia and relief pitcher Jacob Kmatz. It's not the craziest group of pickups, but Skubal is the headline.
2. Chicago Cubs
They needed pitching, and they weren't shy about getting it by any means necessary. The Cubs brought in starting pitchers Kevin Gausman (trade details) and Clay Holmes (trade details), while also boosting their bullpen with Braxton Garrett from the Miami Marlins and Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels (trade details).
Heading into the trade deadline, their starting pitching was 14th in ERA (4.23) and 23rd in strikeouts (495), while their bullpen was 13th in ERA (3.88) and 22nd in strikeouts (377).
Now, with a revamped pitching staff, the Cubs look to make their World Series push.
They acquired one of the best catchers in baseball with Adley Rutschman, making it a double-whammy that they took him away from a division rival who are in a Wild Card race (trade details).
Rutschman is currently on the 10-day IL, but should be making his rehab assignment this week. The Red Sox also acquired catcher Jake Rogers from the O's, who had a standout three games for them behind the plate, completely revamping a mighty need on the Red Sox roster.
Despite the massive top prospect haul to the Orioles, the Red Sox kept going and landed one of the best relief pitchers on the market in Erik Miller from the San Francisco Giants (trade details) and some outfield depth with Eli White from the Braves (trade details).
They are 28-5 since June 25th. Now the Red Sox just loaded up a roster that's already on fire.
Keeping it in the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays also took advantage of the Orioles and acquired reliever Tyler Wells, who is currently in the midst of a career season (trade details).
The Rays also landed starter Freddy Peralta from the Mets (trade details), who, despite having a down year with the Mets, was an ace for the Milwaukee Brewers just a year ago. Now, he'll boost a starting pitching staff that already ranks fifth in ERA (3.50) and third in hits given up (473).
On top of it, they add Liam Hicks, one of the best-hitting catchers in the league who is hitting .282 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI (trade details). All three of these trades without sacrificing a single top-30 prospect? A masterclass from the Rays front office.
They added power with Jo Adell from the Angels (trade details). They added an All-Star starting pitcher with Foster Griffin, along with Nathaniel Lowe (trade details). And they added bullpen help with Craig Yoho (trade details).
Cleveland are only three games back in the American League Central division, and they made fantastic moves to reclaim that top spot on all levels without giving up too much in return.
Even though the Phillies didn't make many splashes, trading for the three-time batting champion Luis Arraez to give their lineup one of the best contact hitters in the modern era deserves to have them on this list (trade details).
The team hit a nasty slump in July, going 9-15, and were 23rd in batting average (.237) and 22nd in hits (888) heading into the deadline. Bryce Harper will be moving to right field, while Alec Bohm will move over to first base.
Now, Arraez's contact prowess could be just what the Phillies need to turn things around with their hitting. Bringing in reliever Brooks Raley, who is tossing an astounding 1.96 ERA out of the bullpen this year (45 games), only helps.
Honorable Mention: San Diego Padres for acquiring Robbie Ray and Casey Mize.
Losers
It's the O's at No. 1, followed by a very wide gap at No. 2. Getting hosed by your division rival you're in the mix of a Wild Card race with for your star catcher and hometown favorite is embarrassing.
Haul aside, the philosophy of it all goes completely against what the club wanted to establish in the first place. They also traded Taylor Ward, who, despite his nast hitting slump, still led the league in walks heading into the deadline. Then they dealt one of their best bullpen arms, Wells, also to a division rival.
All while not retaining a single major leaguer in any other trade despite just being a couple of games out of the Wild Card spot.
None of what they did made any sense to the point it's almost laughable. Expect a free fall over the next two months.
Having arguably the best farm system in the league gave the Brewers the option to get the best available players this trade deadline, and they watched too many pass by, especially Skubal.
Despite having the best record in baseball (69-42), the Brewers needed to truly beef up their lineup to compete with the Dodgers. Well, they missed their chance.
They acquired Dustin May and JoJo Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals (trade details), but their other trade for catcher Bo Naylor and relief pitcher Codi Heuer with the Guardians (trade details) doesn't move the needle whatsoever.
It's not that they are necessarily bad trades. But for what the Brewers could offer, it's severely disappointing.
Fans wouldn't think the Tigers are only 2.5 games out of the Wild Card spot with how they handled the trade deadline. They gave away Skubal for crumbs, then dealt Mize to the Padres for more crumbs (trade details).
Even if the Tigers weren't intending on signing Skubal long-term, especially with his interest in signing with the Dodgers in the offseason anyway, the American League is drastically average this year. With Skubal, Mize, and Troy Milton, the Tigers undoubtedly could've been a threat if they made the playoffs.
"But then they wouldn't have anything for Skubal or Mize." It almost feels like they don't have anything anyway, even after the trades.
While the Rays and Red Sox beefed up during the deadline, the additions of Heliot Ramos (trade details) and Luis Garcia Jr. (trade details) don't move the needle for them when they needed significant catcher, bullpen, and outfield upgrades.
Garcia Jr. is having a career year, yes, but it's not what they need and causes fielding rotation issues. They still have the second-best record (63-49) in the American League, but their deadline decisions were headscratchers.
They landed veteran outfielder Daulton Varsho (trade details)...and that was it. For a team trying to pull away in the American League West division, they didn't do anything that would necessarily place them in AL contention compared to other teams, especially the three beasts in the AL East.
Houston are third-from-last in starting pitching ERA (5.13), and they didn't take advantage of a market that was selling top-tier options.
While Varsho gives them an outfield bat they needed, will anyone really say they're bonafied contenders with one of the worst starting rotations in baseball?
The top five teams in the National League all made moves at the deadline to try and improve, including two teams beneath the D'Backs (San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates) who are looking to take their spot in the Wild Card.
Yet, all the D'Backs did was trade for Lars Nootbaar (trade details) in the final stretch before the deadline.
Looking at the NL Wild Card race, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if the D'Backs either slip in the final two months, missing the postseason, or get bounced in the Wild Card by a team who did something worth noting at the deadline.