Some say this trade deadline season was deadly dull. But even in the biggest sellers market maybe ever with a pervasive, unreasonable love of prospects ( , of course) and also a few obvious also-rans inexplicably clutching to players with limited control some teams went beyond the incremental and made real impact. Sure, big names Blake Snell, Tarik Skubal, Garrett Blas Castano Jersey Crochet, Luis Robert, Cody Bellinger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all stayed put. But even if no team hit a grand slam, several scored with moves both buyers and sellers. Heres my list of the best work. 1. Padres They traded 12 of their top 15 prospects while building baseballs best bullpen. Some figure Huntington Stations own Preller is doing this because he needs to make the playoffs to keep his job. I say no. Its just him. (And with beloved late owner Peter Seidlers brother in some power now, its doubtful hes in jeopardy.) The Padres acquired Tanner Scott from the Marlins ahead of the MLB trade deadline. USA TODAY Sports Anyway, the Padres now have a lockdown pen with Jason Adam joining arguably the games best closer Robert Suarez, and an outside shot to win the NL West. 2. Dodgers Maybe they should get the top spot just for helping engineer two three-team trades. Regardle s, theyre just behind the Padres for making good on their promise to go for impact, , the best starter traded. Jack Faherty was the best starter traded ahead of the deadline, The Posts Jon Heyman writes. Getty Images 3. Marlins They did right by reeling in 18 prospects at a time hardly anyone wanted to give up prospects. 4. Rays They gathered 13 prospects and three position players, and beautifully set themselves up for the future. The gue s here is they will get the best out of Christopher Morel, too. More From Jon Heyman 5. Yankees Jazz Chisholm Jr. now that hes in a clubhouse with great profe sional stars Aaron Judge and others. Mark Leiter Jr. is not just part of a family plan (his dad and uncle Al were Yankees, too), though some wonder if the Yankees should have been more aggre sive to add back-end guys with even bigger stuff. Jazz Chisholm Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the Yankees win over the Phillies on July 30, 2024. Getty Images 6. Phillies Though they continue to struggle and confound their own front office, Carlos Estevez bolsters a nice bullpen, and Austin Hays could be the right-handed outfield bat baseballs best-balanced team needed. 7. Royals: Lucas Erceg brings a big arm as K.C. fights to make the playoffs following a 106-lo s season. 8. Cardinals Erick Fedde is a solid back-end starter contracted for next year at a reasonable rate ($7.5 million), and Tommy Pham brings energy and work ethic. 9. Mariners Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner aid an offense better than two teams the Marlins and White Sox. 10. Mets They added many bullpen arms and kept all their best prospects, exactly the right strategy. Mitch Haniger Jersey