Now that it has been over a month since the MLB trade deadline passed, it is time to take a look at which team made the biggest improvements.
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#3 Texas Rangers
When the Rangers traded for Cole Hamels, it was widely assumed that they did so with an eye toward 2016. They were 49-52, 8 games out of first in the American League West and 4 games out of the second Wild Card spot. Since then, the Rangers have the second best record in the American League. They are currently in the second Wild Card spot and are only a game behind the Astros in the West.
Hamels is 3-1 with a 4.07 and 44 strikeouts in seven starts with the Rangers. In those games, the Rangers have a 5-2 record. The Rangers’ staff now boasts Hamels, Colby Lewis, and Yovani Gallardo at the top of the rotation. Between the fact that the Rangers are back in the playoff race and Hamels is signed through 2018 with a club option for 2019, the team is in pretty good shape.
The Rangers were big winners at the 2015 MLB trade deadline.
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#2 New York Mets
The Mets appeared to be on track to be losers at the MLB trade deadline, not because they backed out of the Carlos Gomez trade, but because of the way everything played out. At that point, they were 52-50, three games behind the Washington Nationals in the National League East, and 4.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot. Things were not looking good for the Mets.
Then, right at the deadline, they traded for Yoenis Cespedes and everything changed. They have the second best record in the National League since July 31 and are in first place in the NL East by 6 games. Cespedes is hitting .307 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI since the trade. And Wilmer Flores, the infielder who was part of the package going to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Gomez trade, is hitting .311 with five home runs and 17 RBI since August 1. It is safe to say that Flores is happy that he is still a Met.
The Mets were definitely winners at the trade deadline.
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#1 Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays were in fourth place with a 50-51 record on July 28. That is the day that they traded for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins. Two days later they traded for David Price. The Blue Jays have been on a roll ever since. Their record since that trade is an incredible 29-8, vaulting them into first place in the American League East.
Tulowitzki is not hitting very well, but that does not matter with this team. What he has provided is stellar defense at shortstop. Price is 5-1 with 2.15 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched, giving the Blue Jays an ace to go along with the best offense in baseball. Hawkins has helped the bullpen in his 13 appearances, only giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 11.
The Blue Jays, at this point, are by far the biggest winners at the 2015 MLB trade deadline.