While a surprising number of teams made minor moves ahead of Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, the Houston Astros may have won the arms race aced the day, literally.
In one of the most surprising moves to be made prior to yesterday’s 4 p.m. deadline, the Astros dealt four prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Zack Greinke, adding the 35-year-old ace to a rotation that already includes All-Stars Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole.
To land Greinke, the Astros dealt away right-hander Corbin Martin, right-hander J.B. Bukauskas, first baseman Seth Beer and infielder Josh Rojas, but it could worth it as Houston is now a co-favorite to win the World Series (tied with the Dodgers for the shortest odds at +275).
The Greinke dead was one of about two dozen that went down on deadline day. Other notable deals include:
- The Washington Nationals adding Daniel Hudson, Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland to bolster their bullpen.
- The Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks swapping top prospects with pitcher Zac Gallen headed to Arizona and minor league shortstop Jazz Chisholm going to Miami.
- The Atlanta Braves improving their bullpen with Chris Martin, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon.
- The San Francisco Giants acquiring veteran second baseman Scooter Gennett and cash from the Reds for a player to be named.
- The Chicago Cubs look to end their troubles against lefties, adding Nicholas Castellanos from the Detroit Tigers.
Though it wasn’t on deadline day, the biggest blockbuster trade to go down was ace Trevor Bauer being sent from the Cleveland Indians to Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday for a package of players highlighted by hard-hitting outfielders Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes.
Following the trade, Bauer told Cleveland reporters he’s been pitching with an assortment of injuries this season.
“It’s been really frustrating,” he said. “One of the things I’m most proud about is I haven’t missed a start this year through two months of probably needing to be on the IL and probably should have missed some starts. I was able to get myself ready and take the ball.”
Just what the Reds want to hear.
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