MLB trade deadline grades: Live tracker, analysis of every deal on deadline day – USA Today

Counting down to Major League Baseball‘s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Thursday, the deals are starting to come together with contenders making a flurry of moves in the final 24 hours.
The Seattle Mariners got the top bat on the market overnight, landing old friend Eugenio Suárez in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The NL East race got even more interesting with the New York Mets (Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers) and Philadelphia Phillies (Jhoan Duran) each making significant bullpen upgrades.
Wednesday’s hot stove action also included an interesting in-division deal between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, with third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes heading to Cincinnati.
As teams scramble to get deals done in the final hours before the deadline, follow along for grades and analysis on the biggest deals of deadline day:
Toronto Blue Jays acquire RHP Shane Bieber; Cleveland Guardians acquire RHP Khai Stephen.
Toronto is going for it! Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young winner, still hasn’t pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery early in 2023 and hit some speedbumps in his rehab but the Blue Jays get a high-upside starter who is under team control through next year. Bieber has a $16 million team option (with a $4 million buyout) for 2026, which could end up looking like a steal.
Bieber gets traded before making his Cleveland return, a huge bummer for fans 30-year-old right-hander who was drafted by the organization in 2016. A second-round pick last year, Stephen was considered one of the Blue Jays’ top five prospects and is 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 91 ⅔ innings across three levels this season, currently in Class AA. Unfortunate that the Guardians had to let him go, but a nice return in the one-for-one swap.
Seattle Mariners receive 3B Eugenio Suarez; Arizona Diamondbacks receive 1B Tyler Locklear, RHP Juan Burgos and RHP Hunter Cranton.
They got the top hitter available and it’s telling that the Mariners liked Suárez enough to bring him back after less than two years apart – despite his struggles in Seattle. That puts a ton of pressure on the slugger who is a free agent after the season. Mariners third basemen have totaled just five home runs and 35 RBIs this season, bottom-five in the majors in both categories, so it’s a move they had to make.
Pretty good return, plucking three of Seattle’s top 20 prospects in Locklear (No. 9), Cranton (16) and Burgos (17). Locklear, 24, will likely find himself getting a run-out in Arizona’s lineup sooner rather than later. The first baseman made his big-league debut last season and has nothing left to prove in the minors (.316/.401/.552, 19 HR, 82 RBis in Class AAA).
Philadelphia Phillies receive RHP Jhoan Duran; Minnesota Twins receive C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel
Dave Dombrowski seized on his opportunity to get 2½ years of one of the best relievers in baseball in exchange for just a pair of prospects. It’s a huge addition for the Phillies, with Duran presumably assuming the ninth-inning role and taking a ton of pressure off the club’s other high-leverage guys. Philadelphia has the 27-year-old flamethrower under team control through 2027.
It’s hard to believe that this is the best return the Twins could have gotten for the most desirable reliever on the market. That said, Tait is only 18 years old and rising fast on prospect boards, while Abel is a good candidate for a post-hype bounce back.
Cincinnati Reds receive 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes; Pittsburgh Pirates receive LHP Taylor Rogers, SS Sammy Stafura
Surprising move for Cincinnati, which is buying fairly low on Hayes, who remains one of the best defensive third basemen in the game. Maybe Hayes will benefit from a move to Great American Ball Park, one of MLB’s most hitter-friendly parks? It’s certainly a lower-risk move for the Reds taking on the remainder of Hayes’ salary – $30 million from 2026-2029 plus a $6 million buyout for 2030 – but third base isn’t usually a position that you’re willing to sacrifice offense at.
Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said Hayes “might be the best defender in baseball,” but wasn’t as bullish on his new third baseman’s bat. “We know where the hitting has been,” Francona said. “Sometimes a change of scenery − I don’t want to get too far ahead because I’ve barely talked to him but he seems excited and we’re excited to have him and see where it goes.”
It’s naive to believe the Pirates will seriously reinvest the Hayes savings into winning games in the years to come, but the club cleared itself of a long-term deal with a guy who didn’t turn out to be what they expected. Credit where it’s due for Pittsburgh investing in Hayes with an eight-year, $70 million extension back in 2022 – and maybe they’re giving up too early on the 28-year-old at a low annual cost – but the deal nets $36 million in savings after the 2025 season. That said, the Pirates probably could have gotten a better return this winter.

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