MLB.com reshuffles power rankings, names biggest winners and losers after trade deadline

MLB.com used its Aug. 5 power rankings to sort the immediate winners and laggards from baseball’s trade-deadline rush, with the Dodgers remaining No. 1 after landing Tarik Skubal and several contenders reshuffling behind them. The rankings came two days after the Aug. 3 trade deadline, which MLB.com said produced nearly 50 deals before the 6 p.m. (mlb.com) ET cutoff. Will Leitch’s post-deadline list for MLB.com put the Dodgers first, followed by the Brewers, Rays, Braves, Cubs and Red Sox in the top six. (mlb.com) The piece framed the exercise as an early read on “who’s up, who’s down” after the market closed and clubs turned toward the stretch run. (mlb.com) Sports Illustrated, in separate Aug. 5 deadline coverage, also highlighted the longer-term side of the market, saying six farm systems “received the biggest influx of prospect talent” at the deadline. Its MLB page showed companion stories on the biggest upgrades, missed opportunities and players adjusting to new roles. (mlb.com) ### Why did the Dodgers stay on top? The Dodgers held the No. 1 spot because they got the deadline’s biggest prize. MLB.com said Los Angeles was the team that “went out and did it” by acquiring Skubal, while other top contenders who missed on him turned to other pitching options. (mlb.com) Tarik Skubal made that case quickly. MLB.com reported that the left-hander struck out six over six innings in his Dodgers debut at Wrigley Field on Aug. 4, one day before the new rankings were published. ### Which clubs got the biggest immediate bump? (si.com) The Brewers rose to No. 2 in MLB.com’s rankings after adding Dustin May, while the Rays climbed to No. 3 with Freddy Peralta joining a club MLB.com called the clear favorite for the top seed in the American League. The Cubs moved up to No. 5 after adding Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to a rotation MLB.com said had “barely kept its head above water.” (mlb.com) Jed Hoyer, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, told MLB.com the front office made moves that would “honor” the resilience the team had shown. Alex Anthopoulos, Atlanta’s president of baseball operations, told MLB.com the Braves did not enter the deadline feeling they “have to get this or we have to get that,” after the club slipped to No. 4. (mlb.com) ### Where did the Red Sox and Yankees land? The Red Sox moved to No. 6 in MLB.com’s rankings after the Adley Rutschman trade, with the outlet saying Boston was “going all-in at this point.” MLB.com tied that push to both this season and next, noting Rutschman’s expected impact once he returns from the injured list. (mlb.com) The Yankees dropped to No. 7 in the ranking despite deadline additions. MLB.com separately pointed to one possible upside play in outfielder Heliot Ramos, saying Yankee Stadium could boost his power and that New York especially needed him against left-handed pitching. (mlb.com) ### What changed beyond the rankings themselves? MLB.com’s broader deadline coverage shifted on Aug. 6 from transactions to fit. A separate MLB.com piece listed seven traded players who could benefit from new teams, citing Holmes’ ground-ball profile behind Chicago’s defense, Ramos’ fit at Yankee Stadium and José Soriano’s move to Toronto. (mlb.com) Clay Holmes is slated to make his Cubs debut in Kansas City this weekend, MLB.com said, offering one of the first concrete tests of how deadline logic translates into game usage. Managers across the league are now setting lineups, bullpen jobs and rotation turns with the Aug. 3 deadline complete and the stretch run underway. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2)