Trade Deadline poll: Best deals, biggest surprises, more

Days after the Trade Deadline passed, we're still trying to wrap our heads around everything that happened -- and everything that didn't.

To help make sense of it all, we asked 29 MLB.com experts for their thoughts on some burning Deadline topics, including the most impactful additions, the biggest disappointments, the deals no one saw coming and more.

Here are the results.

Which pitcher who got traded during Deadline season will have the biggest impact on the playoff race?

Top choice: Casey Mize, RHP, Padres (8 votes)

Others receiving votes: Tarik Skubal, Dodgers (7); Foster Griffin, Guardians (4); Robbie Ray, Padres (3), Luke Weaver, Pirates (2), Kevin Gausman, Cubs (2); Clay Holmes, Cubs (1); Freddy Peralta, Rays (1); Ryan Zeferjahn, Cubs (1)

It was a relatively quiet Trade Deadline by general manager A.J. Preller’s usual standards, but San Diego still made two hugely important pitching acquisitions. After landing Ray earlier on Monday, the Padres beat the buzzer to snag Mize from the Tigers, reshaping a staff that had been relying on an unconventional pitching plan due to its lack of reliable starters.

Selling was also an option the Padres were said to be considering as they struggled through an extended rough patch that put them as many as three games below .500, sparking significant trade buzz around dominant relievers Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon. However, San Diego reestablished itself as a buyer by winning eight of nine prior to Deadline day, and Preller was able to get not one but two starting pitchers.

Which position player who got traded during Deadline season will have the biggest impact on the playoff race?

Top choice: Luis García Jr., 1B, Yankees (12 votes)

Others receiving votes: Luis Arraez, Phillies (9); Adley Rutschman, Red Sox (5); Daulton Varsho, Astros (1); Jo Adell, Guardians (1); Liam Hicks, Rays (1)

A left-handed-hitting first baseman wasn’t at the top of the Yankees’ Trade Deadline wish list, but with impact bats in short supply and their lineup in desperate need of reinforcement, they made the decision to deal for the NL leader in slugging percentage. A New York native, García made his presence felt immediately with a go-ahead home run against the Cardinals in his Yankees debut, though the club's bullpen -- which wasn’t addressed at the Deadline -- ultimately coughed up the lead.

None of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton or Cody Bellinger seems particularly close to returning from the IL, so the Yankees are likely going to need García to stay hot to have any chance of taking down the Rays for the AL East crown.

Which pitcher who got traded during Deadline season is most likely to be a postseason star this October?

Top choice: Tarik Skubal, LHP, Dodgers (25 votes)

Others receiving votes: Clay Holmes, Cubs (2); Freddy Peralta, Rays (1); Dustin May, Brewers (1); Kris Bubic, Dodgers (1)

The Dodgers hope to have Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow healthy and pitching well by the time the postseason rolls around, but nothing is guaranteed. So when the Tigers finally committed to trading Skubal several days before the Deadline, Los Angeles leapt into action. With a strong performance on baseball’s biggest stage, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner could help deliver the Dodgers their third straight World Series championship and further bolster his free-agent stock before hitting the open market this offseason.

Holmes was the only pitcher besides Skubal to receive multiple votes. Acquired from the Mets for a package headlined by No. 63 overall prospect Jefferson Rojas, Holmes was one of two starters the Cubs added before the Deadline -- Kevin Gausman being the other -- to bolster a rotation that has been decimated by injuries.

Which position player who got traded during Deadline season is most likely to be a postseason star this October?

Top choice: Luis Arraez, 2B, Phillies (9 votes)

Others receiving votes: Luis García Jr., Yankees (8); Adley Rutschman, Red Sox (5); Liam Hicks, Rays (1); Lars Nootbaar, D-backs (1); Curtis Mead, Red Sox (1); Daulton Varsho, Astros (1); Jo Adell, Guardians (1); Tyrone Taylor, Cubs (1)

It took some defensive maneuvering to make room for Arraez, but the three-time batting champion could otherwise be a perfect fit for the Phillies, who are locked in a close battle with multiple teams vying for the final two NL Wild Card spots. With his elite bat-to-ball skills, Arraez should help balance out Philadelphia’s lineup in more ways than one, taking some of the burden off Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper and adding more contact to one of the NL’s most strikeout-prone clubs.

The veteran infielder has spent this season proving his doubters wrong after questions about his game -- from his poor defense to his one-dimensional offensive profile -- dampened his free-agent stock last offseason. The Giants were willing to give Arraez a chance to play second base full time, so he turned down multiyear offers elsewhere in favor of a one-year, $12 million deal with San Francisco. Arraez not only has improved his defense at the keystone this season but also owns a 128 OPS+, which is up from 104 across 2024-25 and would tie a career high. The postseason would give him an even bigger stage to prove his value before he hits free agency again, assuming the Phillies get there.

Which "buyer" team fared the best during Deadline season?

Top choice: Los Angeles Dodgers (10 votes)

Others receiving votes: Chicago Cubs (9), San Diego Padres (3), Boston Red Sox (3), Tampa Bay Rays (2), Cleveland Guardians (1), Pittsburgh Pirates (1)

The Dodgers were an obvious pick in this spot after they landed the trade market's biggest prize with their deal for Skubal. Los Angeles also picked up 2025 All-Star Kris Bubic, who could potentially be a valuable multi-inning reliever for the team if he gets healthy for the playoffs.

The Cubs fell short in the Skubal sweepstakes but still had a successful Deadline, addressing multiple needs with the additions of pitchers Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Ryan Zeferjahn and Braxton Garrett and outfielder Tyrone Taylor.

Which "seller" team fared the best during Deadline season?

Top choice: Los Angeles Angels (11 votes)

Others receiving votes: Baltimore Orioles (10), New York Mets (5), Detroit Tigers (2), San Francisco Giants (1)

The Halos historically have been reluctant sellers under owner Arte Moreno despite not making the playoffs since 2014, but Moreno gave interim general manager John Mozeliak the leeway to take a different approach this year. Although they held onto starter Reid Detmers and shortstop Zach Neto, both of whom appeared to be generating substantial trade interest, the Angels broke from their typical M.O. by completing six deals (five on Deadline day alone) that brought back a glut of young talent.

The Angels’ biggest acquisition was shortstop Arjun Nimmala (MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 overall prospect), who came over from the Blue Jays in the José Soriano deal. They also picked up catcher/DH Moisés Ballesteros from the Cubs for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. Ballesteros had just a .230/.303/.385 slash over 59 games for Chicago in 2026, but he was baseball’s No. 55 prospect entering the season.

The Orioles were also a popular pick after they dealt Adley Rutschman (see below) and Taylor Ward. The Mets received some support, too, following an active Deadline that saw them trade away seven players from their big league roster (eight if you include the David Peterson deal completed in late June). The Tigers, on the other hand, received only two votes despite moving two of this year's most notable trade chips, Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize.

Which contending team had the most disappointing Deadline season?

Top choice: Milwaukee Brewers (10 votes)

Others receiving votes: Atlanta Braves (9), New York Yankees (4), Houston Astros (2), Philadelphia Phillies (2), Arizona Diamondbacks (1), Texas Rangers (1)

The Brewers have made the postseason in seven of the past eight years and led MLB with 97 wins in 2025, but they've continually fallen short of the franchise's first World Series title. With Milwaukee once again in contention for baseball's best record, many were clamoring for the club to go hard after Tarik Skubal -- not only to improve its own title chances but also to keep him away from the Dodgers, one of the Brewers' top competitors in the NL. Alas, Skubal ended up in Los Angeles, while the Crew's Deadline additions consisted of Dustin May, JoJo Romero, Antonio Senzatela and Bo Naylor.

The Brewers' narrowly edged out another Skubal suitor, the Braves, in our poll. The Braves were expected to pursue a starter they'd be able to slot in behind Chris Sale in a playoff series, be it Skubal or someone else. But the only starting pitchers they added were back-end arms Tyler Mahle and Bailey Falter, along with outfielder Lane Thomas and rookie righties Tyler Uberstine and Duncan Davitt.

Which trade made during Deadline season surprised you the most?

Top choice: Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox (18 votes)

Others receiving votes: José Soriano to the Blue Jays (2 votes), Marcelo Mayer to the Giants (2 votes), Liam Hicks to the Rays (2 votes), Kevin Gausman to the Cubs (1 vote), Foster Griffin to the Guardians (1 vote), Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers (1 vote), Luke Weaver to the Pirates (1 vote), Taylor Ward to the Mariners (1 vote)

There were rumblings in the days prior to the Deadline that the Orioles were open to moving Rutschman, but it was still a surprise to see Baltimore actually trade the 2019 No. 1 overal Draft pick -- and to a fellow AL East team, no less. Also surprising was the haul the O’s got back for Rutschman, who is controllable through 2027. Boston traded two of its top five prospects -- right-handers Anthony Eyanson (MLB Pipeline’s No. 49 overall prospect) and Kyson Witherspoon -- along with outfield prospect Enddy Azocar, catcher Carlos Narvaez and a player to be named later for Rustchman, catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations.

Soriano to the Blue Jays was another stunner. It's unusual to see a team make multiple deals as a seller while also giving up one of its top prospects for a veteran player, but that's exactly what Toronto did, trading for Soriano while dealing away Gausman, Daulton Varsho and Jeff Hoffman.