Well, we believe in exit velocity, bat flips, launch angles, stealing home, the hanging curveball, Big League Chew, sausage races, and that unwritten rules of any kind are self-indulgent, overrated crap. We believe Greg Maddux was an actual wizard. We believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment protecting minor league baseball and that pitch framing is both an art and a science. We believe in the sweet spot, making WARP not war, letting your closer chase a two-inning save, and we believe love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.
With the hindsight of a month’s worth of baseball, which MLB Trade Deadline addition has turned out to be most significant?
Terrence Jordan: I’ve gotta go with Yusei Kikuchi, who has been lights out since the Astros got him from Toronto. Kikuchi has given up just 10 earned runs in six starts with Houston, and the Astros have won every game in which he’s taken the mound. His most recent start was a 12-strikeout, zero-walk masterpiece, but the most encouraging aspect of it might be that he allowed only four fly balls. It’s no coincidence that Joe Espada’s club was a game behind the Mariners at the time of the Kikuchi trade, and are now six games up.
Zachary Rotman: As great as Kikuchi has been, I’m going to go with Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees. He’s been limited to just 24 games thanks to an elbow injury, but he’s been on fire ever since he put on the pinstripes, slashing .333/.374/.667 with nine home runs, 15 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in just 99 plate appearances. He adds a legitimate threat to hit behind the dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, and has done all of this while playing a new position – third base. He’s been extraordinary for a Yankees team that desperately needed more length in their lineup.
Robert Murray: Michael Kopech. When I found out the Dodgers acquired Kopech from the White Sox, my first reaction was: “It won’t be long until he’s one of the best relievers in baseball.” He has always had all the talent in the world. Now, with a contending team capable of developing and maximizing pitching, he was in a strong position to thrive. Kopech has done just that. Since the trade, he’s posted a 0.59 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 15.1 innings. He has pitched like the best reliever in baseball and has been a massive addition to the Dodgers’ bullpen and makes an already dangerous team that much more potent.
Zach Pressnell: I would like to say Jazz Chisholm Jr., but in an attempt to continue keeping this answer diverse, I’ll go with Jack Flaherty. Has Flaherty performed better than Chisholm, Kopech or Kikuchi? No, he hasn’t. But the Dodgers starting rotation is so ravaged with injuries that this pickup is going to continue to be more significant as time goes by. With Glasnow, Yamamoto, and even Kershaw battling injuries, Flaherty is going to be heavily leaned on for the rest of the year. His performance could make or break the rest of the Dodgers’ season.
