The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline featured blockbuster trades, aggressive moves from World Series contenders and several surprising deals between division rivals.

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired another Cy Young Award winner, the Boston Red Sox landed a new franchise catcher and the Philadelphia Phillies added one of the best contact hitters in baseball. The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs also made multiple trades to strengthen their starting rotations for the postseason race.

Which teams made the best moves at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline?

BTA Sports ranked and graded the top 10 MLB Trade Deadline trades based on the talent acquired, acquisition cost, roster fit, years of team control and potential postseason impact. Each grade focuses on the team that acquired the headline player.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers Trade for Tarik Skubal

Dodgers received: LHP Tarik Skubal

Tigers received: OF Zyhir Hope, RHP River Ryan and RHP Brady Smith

The biggest trade of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline sent Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Skubal gives Los Angeles another legitimate ace for a potential postseason rotation that could also include Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani. The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner immediately raises the ceiling of a Dodgers team pursuing its third consecutive World Series championship.

Los Angeles paid a considerable price for a pitcher approaching free agency. Zyhir Hope was MLB Pipeline’s No. 25 overall prospect, while River Ryan was ranked No. 68. The Dodgers also included pitching prospect Brady Smith.

Giving up two top-100 prospects for a rental is risky, but Los Angeles is operating within a championship window. The opportunity to add Skubal while preventing another National League contender from acquiring him made this a move the Dodgers could justify.

Dodgers Trade Grade: A+

2. Boston Red Sox Trade for Adley Rutschman

Red Sox received: C Adley Rutschman, C Jake Rogers and cash

Orioles received: RHP Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, OF Enddy Azocar, C Carlos Narváez and a player to be named later

The Boston Red Sox completed one of the most surprising trades of the deadline by acquiring Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles.

Boston entered the deadline receiving some of the lowest offensive production in baseball from the catcher position. Rutschman gives the Red Sox an immediate upgrade and remains under team control through the 2027 MLB season.

The three-time All-Star was on the injured list with left wrist inflammation when the trade was completed. His overall production has also declined from the elite level he reached during his first two major league seasons.

Boston surrendered a major prospect package featuring Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and Enddy Azocar, who ranked second, fourth and fifth in the Red Sox farm system. Rutschman’s positional value and remaining team control make the move understandable, but the acquisition comes with significant injury and performance risk.

Red Sox Trade Grade: B+

3. Philadelphia Phillies Trade for Luis Arraez

Phillies received: 2B Luis Arraez and RHP Caleb Kilian

Giants received: RHP Ramon Marquez and RHP Marty Gair

The Philadelphia Phillies addressed their offensive inconsistency by acquiring three-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants.

Arraez entered the deadline leading the National League with a .324 batting average. He had struck out only 21 times, the lowest total among qualified MLB hitters, while the Phillies ranked among the teams with the most strikeouts in baseball.

Philadelphia already has plenty of power with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm. Arraez brings a different dimension to the lineup with his elite contact skills and ability to consistently reach base.

The trade will force the Phillies to adjust their defensive alignment. Arraez is expected to play second base, with Bryson Stott moving to third, Bohm shifting to first and Harper returning to the outfield.

Philadelphia also received hard-throwing reliever Caleb Kilian, who has multiple years of club control remaining. The Phillies surrendered fast-rising pitching prospect Ramon Marquez, but adding two major league contributors makes this one of the most balanced moves of the deadline.

Phillies Trade Grade: A-

4. San Diego Padres Trade for Casey Mize

Padres received: RHP Casey Mize and INF Gage Workman

Tigers received: LHP Kash Mayfield and LHP Jackson Wolf

The San Diego Padres entered the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline needing starting pitching and acquired one of the best available arms in Casey Mize.

San Diego’s starting rotation had recorded a 4.66 ERA, which ranked among the highest marks in Major League Baseball. Mize provides the Padres with an immediate upgrade and another pitcher capable of starting an important postseason game.

The 29-year-old had a 2.70 ERA through 16 starts and 86 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters were batting only .209 against him, placing Mize among MLB’s most effective starters in that category.

San Diego paid a premium by trading Kash Mayfield, the No. 2 prospect in its farm system, along with Jackson Wolf. However, Mize fills the Padres’ biggest roster need and gives them a potential frontline starter for the postseason race.

Padres Trade Grade: A

5. San Diego Padres Trade for Robbie Ray

Padres received: LHP Robbie Ray

Giants received: RHP Miguel Mendez and SS Joniel Hernandez

The Padres continued rebuilding their rotation by acquiring Robbie Ray shortly after completing the Casey Mize trade.

Ray had posted a 3.08 ERA through 22 appearances and 21 starts for the Giants. He was also one of baseball’s hottest pitchers entering the deadline, recording a 1.09 ERA across his previous eight starts.

The former Cy Young Award winner may no longer produce strikeout totals at the same rate he did earlier in his career, but he remains a dependable veteran capable of pitching near the top of a major league rotation.

Adding Mize and Ray dramatically improves San Diego’s postseason pitching outlook. The concern is the cost. The Padres surrendered two top-10 organizational prospects for Ray, who is eligible to become a free agent after the season.

San Diego improved considerably, but another aggressive trade further reduced the depth of an already limited farm system.

Padres Trade Grade: B

6. Chicago Cubs Trade for Kevin Gausman

Cubs received: RHP Kevin Gausman

Blue Jays received: OF Brett Bateman and INF Ty Southisene

The Chicago Cubs needed starting pitching after injuries depleted their rotation, and Kevin Gausman provides experience, durability and postseason credibility.

Gausman recorded a 4.38 ERA before the trade, but he was Toronto’s best starting pitcher during the Blue Jays’ run to the 2025 World Series. A move to a postseason contender could help the veteran rediscover that form.

Chicago completed the trade without surrendering one of the elite prospects in its farm system. That makes Gausman a reasonable addition despite his inconsistent regular-season performance and expiring contract.

Gausman may not be a true ace at this stage of his career, but he gives the Cubs valuable innings and stabilizes a rotation affected by injuries to Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown.

Cubs Trade Grade: B

7. New York Yankees Trade for Luis García Jr.

Yankees received: 1B Luis García Jr.

Nationals received: RHP Yovanny Cruz, RHP Jake Bird, RHP Jack Cebert and RHP Ben Grable

The New York Yankees added one of the most productive hitters available at the MLB Trade Deadline by acquiring Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals.

García had already established a career high with 23 home runs. He ranked third in MLB with a .560 slugging percentage and fifth with 76 RBIs at the time of the trade.

The 26-year-old provides immediate left-handed power while Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton recover from injuries. García can contribute at first base or designated hitter and remains under team control through the 2027 season.

New York sent four pitchers to Washington but completed the trade without moving one of its most valuable prospects. Adding an impact hitter with multiple years of control makes this one of the Yankees’ strongest deadline moves in recent years.

Yankees Trade Grade: A-

8. Chicago Cubs Trade for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor

Cubs received: RHP Clay Holmes and OF Tyrone Taylor

Mets received: INF Jefferson Rojas

The Cubs continued their aggressive deadline by acquiring Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets.

Holmes had a 2.39 ERA through nine starts before suffering a fractured fibula. He was nearing a return at the deadline and should benefit from pitching in front of one of baseball’s better defensive infields.

Taylor gives Chicago an additional right-handed bat and more outfield depth. He was hitting .241 with a .794 OPS and 10 home runs, including seven homers after the beginning of July.

Chicago surrendered Jefferson Rojas, the No. 63 overall prospect in MLB Pipeline’s rankings. That is a meaningful price, but the Cubs received two players capable of helping immediately.

Holmes carries injury risk, but his versatility and Taylor’s offensive production make the package valuable for a team preparing for the postseason.

Cubs Trade Grade: B+

9. Toronto Blue Jays Trade for José Soriano

Blue Jays received: RHP José Soriano

Angels received: INF Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti and RHP Angel Rivero

The Toronto Blue Jays took a creative approach at the deadline by trading several veterans while also acquiring controllable starter José Soriano.

Soriano had a 3.29 ERA through 22 starts with the Los Angeles Angels. His upper-90s fastball and curveball give Toronto another high-upside starting pitcher to pair with Dylan Cease.

The right-hander is under team control through the 2028 season, making this a long-term investment rather than a short-term deadline rental.

Toronto paid a substantial price by trading Arjun Nimmala, MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 overall prospect. Nimmala possesses significant power potential and could eventually become the Angels’ long-term shortstop.

Soriano has the talent to develop into a frontline starter, but trading a prospect of Nimmala’s caliber creates considerable pressure for him to reach that ceiling.

Blue Jays Trade Grade: B

10. Tampa Bay Rays Trade for Freddy Peralta

Rays received: RHP Freddy Peralta

Mets received: OF Aidan Smith, RHP Gary Gill Hill and 2B Émilien Pitre

After missing out on Tarik Skubal, the Tampa Bay Rays turned to Freddy Peralta as another potential postseason rotation upgrade.

Peralta struggled during his time with the Mets, posting a 4.99 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 113 2/3 innings. However, the two-time All-Star finished among the top five in National League Cy Young Award voting one season earlier.

Tampa Bay has a strong history of helping pitchers improve their performance. The Rays are betting their coaching and development staff can help Peralta rediscover the swing-and-miss ability that made him one of the National League’s better starters.

The Rays surrendered three top-30 organizational prospects for a pitcher who can become a free agent after the season. Peralta offers meaningful upside, but Tampa Bay paid a considerable price for a struggling rental.

Rays Trade Grade: B-

Who Won the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline?

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed the biggest move of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline by acquiring Tarik Skubal. Adding an elite starting pitcher to an already championship-caliber roster gives Los Angeles the highest-upside addition of any contender.

The San Diego Padres may have made the greatest overall improvement. Acquiring Casey Mize and Robbie Ray transforms a struggling rotation and gives San Diego two additional options for a potential postseason series.

The Phillies also improved their World Series chances by adding Luis Arraez without emptying their farm system. His contact-oriented approach should complement Philadelphia’s power hitters and provide more balance throughout the lineup.

Boston’s acquisition of Adley Rutschman could eventually become one of the deadline’s best trades, but the size of the prospect package and Rutschman’s recent injury history make it a riskier move.