MLB posts post-deadline power rankings

MLB.com on August 5 published its first power rankings since the August 3 trade deadline, recasting the league around a market that sent Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox. Will Leitch wrote that the post-deadline edition was designed to sort through “all this roster upheaval” as clubs turn toward the stretch run. The Dodgers remained No. 1, followed by the Brewers, Rays, Braves, Cubs and Red Sox. MLB.com’s deadline tracker said dozens of trades were completed before the 6 p.m. ET cutoff on Monday, with nearly 50 deals announced that day alone. ESPN’s recap described the deadline as a flurry of late activity and highlighted the Dodgers, Red Sox and Phillies among the clubs that made the biggest splashes. ### Why did the Dodgers stay at the top? The Dodgers held the No. 1 spot because they landed Skubal, the biggest arm moved before the deadline, according to MLB.com and ESPN. (mlb.com) MLB.com wrote that the top three teams in its prior rankings were all in position to pursue Skubal, but “the Dodgers are the team that went out and did it.” ESPN called Los Angeles the deadline’s “big winner” after the club acquired the left-hander from Detroit. (mlb.com) ESPN said Skubal gives Los Angeles a potential Game 1 starter for October while also insulating the club against uncertainty around Shohei Ohtani’s pitching status and the returns of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. MLB.com’s transaction tracker listed the Dodgers’ return to Detroit as Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith. ### Which teams moved up behind Los Angeles? (mlb.com) Milwaukee ranked second in MLB.com’s list after adding Dustin May, while Tampa Bay rose to third after trading for Freddy Peralta. MLB.com said the Rays had looked like a logical Skubal destination but turned instead to Peralta, whom it said made them the “clear favorite” for the top seed in the American League if he settled in. (mlb.com) Chicago climbed to fifth after adding Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, moves MLB.com framed as a reward for a club that had stayed in the race despite rotation issues. Jed Hoyer, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, told MLB.com the front office made moves it felt would “honor” the team’s resilience. ### How much did the Rutschman trade change Boston’s outlook? (mlb.com) Boston moved to No. 6 after acquiring Rutschman from Baltimore in one of the deadline’s most surprising deals. MLB.com said the Red Sox sent Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, Enddy Azocar, Carlos Narváez and a player to be named later to the Orioles, while also receiving catcher Jake Rogers and cash. (mlb.com) ESPN called the Rutschman move one of the deadline’s signature shocks and said it came as Boston was already surging. MLB.com wrote that Rutschman, once he returns from the injured list, is “exactly what this Red Sox team needs,” while the league standings showed Boston at 62-51 through August 5, on a seven-game winning streak and within range in both the AL East and wild-card race. (mlb.com) ### Where did the Yankees, Phillies and Mets fit into the fallout? The Yankees remained in the top tier of contenders discussed around the deadline, even though the biggest headline moves went elsewhere. ESPN’s deadline coverage repeatedly grouped the Yankees with the Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox and Phillies among the clubs under the most scrutiny as the market developed and closed. (mlb.com) Philadelphia also drew attention after adding Luis Arraez, a move ESPN listed among the most important deals completed on deadline day. The Mets, by contrast, appeared more often in coverage as sellers: MLB.com’s rankings referenced Tampa Bay’s addition of Freddy Peralta from New York, and ESPN listed Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver among the notable names moved or discussed. (espn.com) ### What should readers watch next? August 6 and the days immediately after the deadline are when the rankings begin to be tested by results, debuts and returns from the injured list. MLB.com’s standings showed the Brewers at 71-43, the Braves at 69-45 and the Dodgers at 69-46 through August 5, with Boston, the Yankees, Cubs and Phillies all still in active postseason races. MLB.com said its post-deadline rankings were meant as a first snapshot after the market closed, and its transaction tracker continues to log the deals that reshaped the pennant races. (espn.com) The next changes will come on the field, starting with this weekend’s games and with players such as Rutschman moving toward their first appearances for new clubs. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2)