MLB posts post-deadline power rankings, spotlights Adley Rut

Major League Baseball used its Aug. 5 power rankings to mark the first full reset after the Aug. 3 trade deadline, with MLB.com framing the stretch run around roster upheaval and new postseason calculations. Will Leitch’s rankings on MLB.com opened with the Dodgers at No. 1 and said the sport could now “take a breath” after the deadline passed. The accompanying league coverage also highlighted a separate set of players who could gain from a change of clubs, including Adley Rutschman, José Soriano and Tarik Skubal. The deadline itself closed at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 3, and MLB.com’s transaction tracker said dozens of deals were completed before the cutoff, including nearly 50 on Monday alone. MLB’s tracker ranked Skubal’s move to the Dodgers as the top trade and Rutschman’s move to the Red Sox as No. 2. ### Why did MLB’s rankings focus so much on Tarik Skubal? Tarik Skubal’s trade to Los Angeles sat at the center of the rankings because MLB.com said the three top teams all had reason to pursue him, but the Dodgers were the club that landed him. (mlb.com) Leitch wrote that the Dodgers remained the team everyone was chasing after the move. MLB’s deadline tracker said Los Angeles acquired the left-hander on Aug. 1, while Detroit received Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith. (mlb.com) The Dodgers’ move also shaped how MLB.com described the clubs behind them. The Brewers stayed No. 2 after adding Dustin May, and the Rays rose to No. 3 after acquiring Freddy Peralta, with Leitch presenting both moves in the context of teams that missed on Skubal and pivoted to other starters. ### Where does Adley Rutschman fit into the post-deadline picture? Adley Rutschman’s arrival in Boston was one of the clearest examples MLB.com used to show how the deadline changed contender needs. (mlb.com) In the rankings, Leitch wrote that when Rutschman returns from the injured list, he is “exactly what this Red Sox team needs” this season and next. The Red Sox were ranked sixth in the post-deadline list. MLB.com’s trade tracker said Boston acquired Rutschman, catcher Jake Rogers and cash on Aug. 3, while Baltimore received Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, Enddy Azocar, Carlos Narváez and a player to be named later. The tracker said Rutschman was on the injured list with left wrist inflammation at the time of the deal. ### Why did José Soriano make MLB.com’s “fresh start” list? José Soriano appeared in MLB.com’s separate Aug. 5 analysis of seven traded players who could benefit from new teams. (mlb.com) Max Ralph wrote that Toronto acquired Soriano from the Angels for Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti and Angel Rivero. Ralph said Soriano had a 3.29 ERA over 22 starts despite cooling after a dominant opening stretch. (mlb.com) Toronto’s case was about fit as much as talent. MLB.com’s piece said some traded players stood to gain from a better roster fit, a different ballpark or a clearer chance to play, and Soriano was included in that group. ### What did MLB say about the Phillies and leaguewide fallout? The Phillies’ deadline activity became one of the clearest examples of immediate fallout from roster churn. (mlb.com) MLB.com reported that Philadelphia acquired Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian and Brooks Raley, after Bryce Harper had said he would play right field again if the club had a chance to upgrade its offense before the deadline. The broader point in MLB’s post-deadline coverage was that the transaction rush had already started changing jobs and alignments around the league. The rankings piece said teams could now assess “how all this roster upheaval ends up playing out,” while the transaction tracker documented the volume and speed of the moves that produced those changes. ### Where can readers track what changes next? (mlb.com) MLB.com’s Aug. 5 power rankings remain the league’s first post-deadline snapshot, and the site’s deadline tracker continues to list every completed deal before the Aug. 3 cutoff. MLB.com also published the separate Aug. 5 “fresh start” analysis naming Rutschman, Soriano and Skubal among players to watch with new clubs. (mlb.com)