Best postseason bets after deadline moves
With many contenders bolstering rosters with trades, playoff races take on a whole new light
Virtually every contender is at least a little bit stronger in the wake of this week’s non-waivers trade deadline, having picked the carcasses of several teams who have long since given up.
With that in mind, here’s a ranking of the top eight World Series contenders after the flurry of wheeling and dealing subsides:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
What they did: Got Manny Machado early and Brian Dozier late, giving them a power-packed infield flanked by Justin Turner and Max Muncy. All four players, by the way, did not start the season on their active roster. John Axford gives them one more fungible arm for the bullpen.
What they didn’t do: Augment the starting rotation. Ross Stripling is leaking oil, but the Dodgers figure to attack the rest of the season and the postseason with a multitude of arms in a variety of roles. Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood will head the rotation; when it comes playoff time, expect brief bursts from the likes of Stripling, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and the powerful Walker Buehler, be it in abbreviated starts or multi-inning relief appearances.
Why they could win it all: They hit more home runs than anybody and that’s before adding Dozier, who has 16 this season and hit a career-best 42 in 2016. Nobody is deeper.
2. Houston Astros
What they did: Added suspended closer Roberto Osuna and shipped off deposed closer Ken Giles. Acquired catcher Martin Maldonado from the Angels.
What they didn’t do: Add to infield depth in the wake of injuries to Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve. Correa is set to begin a rehab assignment soon; he’s been out since June 25 with a back ailment.
Why they could win it all: Perhaps no team is more complete, and no team can bring it with a starting four of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton. They can cover innings one through nine almost every night with power arms.
3. Boston Red Sox
What they did: Added starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and second baseman Ian Kinsler.
What they didn’t do: Add a lefty reliever – or any reliever – to a bullpen that’s been solid but approaching overuse.
Why they could win it all: They aren’t flirting with a .700 winning percentage by accident – the Red Sox are an at times spectacular team that will flourish in October should ace Chris Sale hold serve early. If Eovaldi isn’t needed in the playoff rotation, he will be a dangerous multi-inning relief threat.
4. Chicago Cubs
What they did: Added lefty starter Cole Hamels and reliever Brandon Kintzler. What they didn’t do: Dig deep for a longer-term rotation solution such as Chris Archer.
Why they could win it all: They’ve won 18 of their last 27 and should pitch the ball better than the Brewers, who lurk just a game back. If Jon Lester’s revival extends to October, they may have a playoff stopper.
5. Cleveland Indians
What they did: Added relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber and outfielder Leonys Martin.
What they didn’t do: Trade for Manny Machado or add to the starting rotation.
Why they could win it all: Jose Ramirez is having an MVP-caliber season, Michael Brantley is an All-Star yet again and the bullpen is once again vaunted thanks to the deal with the Padres to land Hand and Cimber.
6. New York Yankees
What they did: Added reliever Zach Britton and starters J.A. Happ and Lance Lynn.
What they didn’t do: Gaze into a crystal ball to realize Aaron Judge was going to miss a few weeks with a wrist injury. No worries: They still have plenty of outfield firepower.
Why they could win it all: Bullpens rule in October. And landing Britton will give the Yankees the most fearsome relief corps come playoff time.
7. Philadelphia Phillies
What they did: Traded for catcher Wilson Ramos, infielder Asdrubal Cabrera and reliever Aaron Loup. What they didn’t do: Add rotation depth for a starting quintet that may run out of gas. Why they could win it all: A winnable division, a legitimate playoff ace in Aaron Nola and power arms in the bullpen. On paper, the Phillies don’t match up with the Dodgers or Cubs. But should they avoid the wild card, it’s easy to imagine Nola toppling a Clayton Kershaw or Jon Lester and immediately shifting the tenor of the playoffs.
8. Milwaukee Brewers
What they did: Traded for infielders Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop and reliever Joakim Soria.
What they didn’t do: Replace injured starter Brent Suter, who is headed for Tommy John surgery.
Why they could win it all: Power – at the plate and in the bullpen. Moustakas and Schoop add considerable pop to an already good lineup, while the back end of Corey Knebel, Jeremy Jeffress, Josh Hader and Soria shortens games better than anyone this side of the Bronx – and can allow manager Craig Counsell considerable creativity in a wildcard setting.