AL Central
Kansas City Royals
The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline delivered everything baseball fans could have hoped for. Blockbuster aces changed uniforms, contenders loaded up for October, and several franchises made difficult decisions about their futures.
As always, there were clear winners who dramatically improved their World Series chances—and there were plenty of losers who either stood pat or failed to maximize their opportunities.
Here’s our biggest winners and losers from one of the wildest trade deadlines in recent memory.
Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers
Did anyone really think the Dodgers were going to have a quiet deadline?
Instead, they landed arguably the biggest prize on the market in reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, giving an already loaded rotation another legitimate ace. Los Angeles once again showed why they’re baseball’s gold standard when it comes to aggressive roster building.
Adding Skubal to a roster already built for October immediately makes the Dodgers the favorites to represent the National League.
Grade: A+
Winner: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs weren’t content with simply staying in the playoff race.
Chicago aggressively attacked multiple areas of need, adding veteran starter Kevin Gausman, left-hander Braxton Garrett, reliever Ryan Zeferjahn, and later acquiring Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor from the Mets.
Whether every move works remains to be seen, but the Cubs clearly understood the assignment: improve now while the window is open.
Grade: A
Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia once again proved they’re built to win immediately.
The headliner was acquiring batting champion Luis Arraez, giving the Phillies another elite contact hitter to pair with one of baseball’s deepest lineups. They also reinforced their bullpen with additional relief help.
October baseball often comes down to shortening games and putting runners on base—Philadelphia checked both boxes.
Grade: A–
Winner: Seattle Mariners
Seattle quietly addressed one of its biggest weaknesses by adding power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward.
The Mariners have long possessed elite pitching, but offensive inconsistency has haunted them. Ward gives them another middle-of-the-order threat as they chase a deep postseason run.
It may not have been the flashiest move of the deadline, but it was one of the smartest.
Grade: B+
Mediocore: Detroit Tigers
Trading Tarik Skubal was always going to be painful. Trading Casey Mize is…well, why not. Both expiring.
While Detroit reportedly received a significant prospect package, moving arguably the best pitcher in baseball signals a step backward for a franchise that had been trying to establish itself as a contender. And then the other counterpart. Just a yikes.
Prospects may eventually soften the blow, but for 2026, it’s difficult to view this as anything but a massive loss and this team was in the thick of the race.
Grade: C
Winner: Baltimore Orioles
Losing franchise catcher Adley Rutschman marks the end of an era.
Even with Rutschman currently sidelined by injury, moving a cornerstone player sends a strong message that Baltimore is reshaping its roster rather than pushing for another postseason run. The return, however, was a huge overpay from Boston. That will be talked about for awhile.
Grade: A
Loser: New York Mets
The Mets entered the deadline with hopes of competing but instead pivoted toward selling.
They moved key pieces including Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta, effectively waving the white flag on their 2026 season.
Considering preseason expectations, it’s a disappointing outcome for a club with one of baseball’s highest payrolls.
Grade: D
Loser: Teams That Did Nothing
Sometimes inactivity can be just as damaging as making a bad trade.
Several fringe contenders chose to stand pat despite obvious roster holes. With so many rivals improving around them, remaining idle could ultimately cost them a postseason berth.
In today’s MLB, standing still often means falling behind. The Cincinnati Reds arguably the most disappointing of them all.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline further widened the gap between baseball’s true contenders and everyone else.
The Dodgers once again reminded the league that they’re willing to outbid anyone for elite talent. The Cubs and Phillies significantly strengthened already dangerous rosters, while clubs like Detroit, Baltimore, and New York began looking more toward the future than the present.
As always, deadlines aren’t won on paper. But based solely on what happened over the past week, a handful of franchises dramatically increased their World Series odds—while others will spend the rest of 2026 wondering what might have been.
