Every week in MLB, we ask a selected group of our baseball writers—local and national—to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results.
It is August 5, 2025. Finally, we can stop talking about the trade deadline. Well… after this. We have a little more to say.
Given the number of trades at this year’s deadline—a record 36 on deadline day—it took a few days to fully digest everything that happened. Did you know the Royals traded for Mike Yastrzemski? We did, then forgot, and now we remember again. To simplify things, we’re summing up each team’s trade deadline in one word… followed by a few more words to explain what we meant.
And then, we promise, we’ll stop talking about the trade deadline.
1. Milwaukee Brewers (Average ranking: 1.3)
Record: 68-44
Last Power Ranking: 4
Deadline in a word: Icing
Here are two major additions to the 2025 Milwaukee Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (debuted June 12) and Brandon Woodruff (returned from the IL on July 6).
No team in baseball added two starters of that quality, and it didn’t cost the Brewers a single prospect.
One could (and should) argue that Eugenio Suárez would have been a fun power-hitting addition to the Brewers’ run-and-gun offense. Sure, they have the best record in baseball, but the deadline is about setting up a playoff roster, not just maxing out regular-season fun.
As constructed, Milwaukee has:
- A dangerous rotation
- A fun, effective offense
- A bullpen that isn’t bad (and just added Shelby Miller)
We’ll see how that translates in October!
— Levi Weaver
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (1.8) in MLB
Record: 65-48
Last Power Ranking: 1
Deadline in a word: Underwhelming
What do you get the team that has everything? An extra reliever, another outfielder—pieces like that. Maybe you make a win-later trade with a player who doesn’t quite fit the roster. You have that luxury.
But I’m not sure the Dodgers are that team anymore. Before the season? Sure. But since then:
- Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow haven’t helped.
- Mookie Betts looks lost for the first time in his career.
The Dodgers are still second in the NL in runs scored and winning percentage, so don’t freak out. But there are more flaws than expected. It wasn’t a bad deadline. Just… underwhelming.
— Grant Brisbee
3. Chicago Cubs (3.0)
Record: 65-47
Last Power Ranking: 3
Deadline in a word: Timid
In mid-June, the Cubs were up 6.5 games in the NL Central. Even then, it wasn’t time to coast—because 2025 (perhaps their only season with Kyle Tucker) was meant to be about hunting the Dodgers, not worrying about division rivals.
Instead, the Cubs are looking up at the Brewers.
Willi Castro, Andrew Kittredge, and Taylor Rogers were solid pickups, but the Cubs needed a starting pitcher to pair with Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd for an intimidating playoff trio.
Put another way: they needed to replace Justin Steele. But Michael Soroka isn’t a Steele replacement—he’s a Jameson Taillon replacement (and now Soroka might be hurt too). Taillon will return soon. Steele won’t.
So, does this mean the Cubs trust 23-year-old rookie Cade Horton to be a top-three playoff starter?
Is that the gamble you take in your one wild year with Tucker?
— Levi Weaver
4. Philadelphia Phillies (3.8)
Record: 64-48
Last Power Ranking: 5
Deadline in a word: Dombrowski
A decade ago, when Dave Dombrowski became the Red Sox president of baseball operations, he announced his plan to acquire:
- A top-of-the-rotation starter
- A legitimate closer
- A fourth outfielder
Sure enough:
- Signed David Price
- Traded for Craig Kimbrel
- Signed Chris Young
Three years later, the Red Sox won the World Series.
Now, in his fifth year running the Phillies, Dealin’ Dave made it clear he wanted:
- An outfielder
- A better bullpen
And so:
- Signed David Robertson
- Made a blockbuster trade for Jhoan Duran
- Made a predictable trade for Harrison Bader
Why would we expect anything else? Dombrowski knew what he wanted—and got it.
— Chad Jennings
