MLB.com posts post-deadline power rankings

MLB.com published its first post-trade-deadline power rankings on August 5, offering a leaguewide reset after a market that closed at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. The list, written by Will Leitch and compiled with input from MLB.com contributors, reorders all 30 clubs after a deadline that MLB.com said produced dozens of deals and major changes to contender rosters. The rankings arrived as the regular-season picture tightened across both leagues. MLB.com’s standings page showed the Milwaukee Brewers at 70-43, the Los Angeles Dodgers at 69-46, the Tampa Bay Rays at 68-46 and the Atlanta Braves at 68-45 entering games on August 5. The post-deadline edition kept the Dodgers at No. 1, followed by the Brewers, Rays, Braves, Cubs, Red Sox and Yankees in the top seven. Leitch wrote that the deadline was the moment to see “who’s up, who’s down” after roster upheaval across the sport. (mlb.com) ### Which teams did MLB.com put at the top after the deadline? Los Angeles remained first after landing left-hander Tarik Skubal, the biggest pitching prize of the market. (mlb.com) MLB.com’s rankings said the Dodgers were the club that “went out and did it” while other contenders that missed on Skubal turned to other starters. Milwaukee stayed second after adding Dustin May, while Tampa Bay rose to third after acquiring Freddy Peralta. (mlb.com) Atlanta slipped to fourth, and Leitch wrote that for a team in strong playoff position, some observers might have expected more activity. ### Why did the Dodgers stay No. 1? Tarik Skubal’s move to Los Angeles anchored both MLB.com’s rankings and its broader deadline coverage. (mlb.com) MLB.com’s trade tracker ranked Skubal to the Dodgers as the No. 1 deal of the deadline and said the Tigers received outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith in return. MLB.com’s separate deadline winners analysis said no club had more incentive to be aggressive than the Dodgers as they chase a third straight World Series title. (mlb.com) That piece said FanGraphs increased Los Angeles’ championship odds from 25.7% to 31.4% after the Skubal trade. ### How did other contenders move after their deadline deals? Chicago climbed to No. 5 after adding Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to a rotation Leitch said had “barely kept its head above water.” Jed Hoyer, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, told MLB.com the moves were meant to “honor” the resilience the team had shown. (mlb.com) Boston moved to No. 6 after acquiring catcher Adley Rutschman in another headline deal. (mlb.com) MLB.com’s trade tracker said the Red Sox also received Jake Rogers and cash from Baltimore, while sending a package that included Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and Enddy Azocar. New York fell to No. 7 from No. 5. MLB.com’s standings still showed the Yankees at 64-50 and holding a strong American League playoff position on August 5, but the rankings placed them behind Boston after the deadline reshuffle. (mlb.com) ### What did MLB.com say about teams that did less? Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos told MLB.com, “We didn’t go into the Deadline with the thought that we have to get this or we have to get that.” The quote appeared in the Braves’ ranking note as MLB.com explained why the club stayed near the top despite a quieter deadline than some rivals. (mlb.com) The rankings were also framed as a check on clubs already turning attention toward next season. (mlb.com) Leitch wrote that the exercise was meant to sort not only postseason threats but also teams “maybe already looking to next year.” ### Where can readers track what changes next? MLB.com’s trade tracker said nearly 50 deals were announced on Monday alone before the August 3 deadline, and the site’s power rankings are positioned as the first post-deadline snapshot rather than a final word. (mlb.com) The standings page continues to update daily as clubs begin the August stretch run with new rosters in place. (mlb.com)