One word encapsulated the MLB trade deadline Monday: mayhem.
Several trades took on multiple iterations before being finalized, a slew of top players changed teams and a few squads dramatically upgraded their rosters.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports perhaps summed it up best:
For a full list of Monday's moves, be sure to check out Bleacher Report's MLB Trade Deadline Tracker.
The deadline bedlam centered on a New York Mets-Cincinnati Reds trade that included Jay Bruce and seemed like a done deal before it hit some bumps in the road.
The original swap would have sent Bruce to the Mets for a package of prospects that included 23-year-old outfielder Brandon Nimmo, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.
It hit a snag in the afternoon, however, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
The Mets, though, were the only suitor for Bruce with the framework of a deal in place, as Passan reported:
And then the trade changed altogether, per the Mets:
"The only thing to do now is go play baseball," Bruce said of being traded, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. "I'm a baseball player, and that's what I'm going to do."
But the Bruce saga didn't provide the only deadline intrigue.
The Los Angeles Dodgers swung a huge deal, acquiring slugger Josh Reddick and starter Rich Hill from the Oakland Athletics for pitching prospects Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas, per the team.
Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times broke down the prospects heading to Oakland:
The Dodgers upgraded their roster without giving up their top prospects, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted:
On the other hand, both Reddick and Hill are set for free agency after the season, which Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times couldn't ignore:
That trade presented another question: Would Yasiel Puig be on the move?
Rosenthal and Buster Olney of ESPN suggested that acquiring Reddick opened the door for a Puig trade:
The Dodgers didn't trade Puig, and he wasn't the only big name who wasn't moved, as Passan joked:
The New York Yankees continued to be sellers, meanwhile, sending Carlos Beltran to the Texas Rangers in exchange for 2015 No. 4 overall pick Dillon Tate and two other prospects, Erik Swanson and Nick Green, according to Jack Curry of YES Network.
It was a great deal for both teams, per Passan:
Passan added the "Yankees are in better position with money, prospects than they've been in decade-plus."
Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball liked the veteran presences of Beltran and Adrian Beltre in Texas:
The Rangers also nabbed catcher Jonathan Lucroy and closer Jeremy Jeffress in exchange for top prospects Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz, per T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
"Thank you, Brewers fans, for everything!" Lucroy tweeted Monday afternoon. "Nothing but love and respect from our family. You will always have a special place in our hearts!"
He added: "Now, moving on to the Rangers. Let's take this bad boy to the 'ship! Really excited and can't wait to get after it!"
Monday's haul put Texas in excellent position, per Passan:
Then there were the San Francisco Giants, who paid a big price to acquire reliever Will Smith from the Brewers, giving up starting pitcher Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac, per Fox Sports.
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reported the Giants were ready for the fallout after they traded their top prospect:
San Francisco continued to bolster its pitching Monday, landing starter Matt Moore, according to Passan:
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer couldn't believe the Giants pulled off the deal—and the backlash that followed:
All in all, it was a wild day.
The Mets, Dodgers, Rangers and Giants all made big moves in pursuit of the World Series, albeit perhaps at the expense of their farm systems. Texas looks to have improved the most, while the Mets made a much-needed upgrade to the middle of their lineup and the Dodgers bettered their outfield and starting rotation.
The next question is just how much the trade deadline will affect the postseason. Will the teams that sacrificed vaunted prospects for short-term additions reap rewards? Or will fanbases lament the losses of those prospects while their teams falls short?
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