MLB trades: regrading the 10 biggest deals from last year

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• Mason Miller to the Padres for Top Shortstop Prospect Leo De Vries and Three Arms
• Jhoan Duran Lands in Philadelphia; Twins Receive Catching and Pitching Prospects
• David Bednar Strengthens Yankees’ Bullpen; Pirates Take Two Catchers and an Outfield Prospect
• Josh Naylor Traded to the Mariners; Diamondbacks Add Bullpen Depth
• Carlos Correa Moves From Twins to Astros; Mikulski Heads Back in Return
• Shane Bieber Joins Blue Jays; Khal Stephen Heads to Cleveland
• Griffin Jax Traded to Twins; Taj Bradley Becomes a Long-Term Piece for the Rays
• José Caballero Heads to the Rays; Yankees Get Outfielder Everson Pereira (Then Traded)
• Louis Varland and Ty France Traded to Toronto; Blue Jays’ Bullpen and Depth Flourish
• Dustin May Leaves Dodgers for Red Sox; Dodgers Stock Up on Outfield Prospects

Major League Baseball’s trade market is heating up as the deadline approaches, and fans are sifting through last year’s headline deals to see which teams came out ahead. A year on, some swaps look brilliant while others have underperformed or been derailed by injuries — here’s a fresh take on 10 of the most impactful trades from last season and how they’ve shaken out so far.

Below are revamped profiles of each deal, pairing game-by-game context with prospect progress and a straight-up grade for both sides.

Mason Miller to the Padres for Top Shortstop Prospect Leo De Vries and Three Arms

Last offseason’s blockbuster that sent fiery reliever Mason Miller to San Diego remains one of the most talked-about moves. Miller has been the dominant late-inning arm many expected — touching triple digits and routinely locking down high-leverage innings — while the A’s walked away with one of baseball’s most intriguing prospects in 19-year-old shortstop Leo De Vries.

The Padres, led by president A.J. Preller, banked on a rental/near-term boost to chase a championship. They reached the playoffs in 2025 and remain competitive this year, and Miller still has years of team control left before free agency in 2030. There’s even speculation he could be moved again for another haul, though replacing his elite velocity and track record won’t be easy.

• Athletics angle: De Vries is tearing through Double-A and projects as a near-term call-up candidate in an AL West that could be up for grabs next season.
• Padres angle: Miller’s dominance validates the gamble, but the long-term cost of trading high-end youth remains a lingering question.

Grade — Padres: B. Athletics: A.

Jhoan Duran Lands in Philadelphia; Twins Receive Catching and Pitching Prospects

Jhoan Duran has become a shutdown piece in the Phillies’ bullpen, anchoring late-game innings and contributing to a club that’s firmly in contention. His presence has bolstered Philadelphia’s postseason outlook, and he isn’t reaching free agency until 2028.

The Twins acquired catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel in the swap. Tait, a 19-year-old backstop showing promising power metrics in High-A, remains a patient development project. Abel flashed in Minnesota but suffered an elbow issue that required arthroscopic surgery, which curtailed his progress this season.

• Philadelphians got a reliable late-inning arm and stability at the back of the bullpen.
• Minnesota opted to restock with youth — promising, but with a longer runway to contribution.

Grade — Phillies: A. Twins: B-.

David Bednar Strengthens Yankees’ Bullpen; Pirates Take Two Catchers and an Outfield Prospect

The Yankees added David Bednar and he’s slotted as a high-leverage fixture in New York, arguably among the top relievers in baseball this year. His performance has helped shore up late-game matchups for a club with legitimate championship aspirations — though he’ll hit free agency after the season.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, received catchers Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez plus outfielder Brian Sanchez. Perez has shown offensive improvement in the lower minors, Flores has carved out a backup role in the big leagues, and Sanchez might crack the Pirates’ top-30 prospect list heading into next season.

• Yankees: Immediate bullpen upgrade and postseason value.
• Pirates: Longer-term pieces who could pay off if development proceeds.

Grade — Yankees: A. Pirates: B-.

Josh Naylor Traded to the Mariners; Diamondbacks Add Bullpen Depth

Josh Naylor became a key contributor in Seattle’s 2025 playoff run and later re-signed in free agency. This season has included injury setbacks and uneven production, leaving the Mariners clinging to slim playoff hopes at times.

Arizona got left-hander Brandyn Garcia — who’s been a steady, effective arm in the D-backs’ bullpen and could see postseason action — and right-hander Ashton Izzi, who just reached Triple-A. Both clubs got what they were looking for: Seattle secured a proven bat, Arizona bolstered pitching depth.

Grade — Mariners: A. Diamondbacks: A.

Carlos Correa Moves From Twins to Astros; Mikulski Heads Back in Return

Carlos Correa shifted to the infield and produced at the plate late in the 2025 season, but the Astros missed the postseason. He began 2026 well before suffering a serious ankle injury in May that has kept him out for months. Houston has managed to remain in the hunt despite his absence.

The Twins helped offset salary costs with cash commitments — expected to hit about $33 million paid to Houston through 2028 — and received lefty Matt Mikulski, who the Twins later released in October.

• Correa offered immediate impact when healthy, but his injury altered the Astros’ long-range return on the deal.
• Mikulski never stuck in Minnesota’s plans and was let go, which undercut the Twins’ return.

Grade — Twins: D. Astros: B.

Shane Bieber Joins Blue Jays; Khal Stephen Heads to Cleveland

Shane Bieber provided timely starts for Toronto in 2025’s postseason run, but injuries have limited him to just a handful of starts this year and only a couple of effective outings. The Blue Jays are hopeful he can regain form as the season unfolds.

Khal Stephen, the young right-hander Cleveland received, looked promising in Double-A before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July, a major setback that puts his future timeline out several seasons.

Grade — Blue Jays: A. Guardians: C.

Griffin Jax Traded to Twins; Taj Bradley Becomes a Long-Term Piece for the Rays

This swap looked modest at the time but has taken shape differently as both teams refined roles. The Rays converted Griffin Jax back to a starter, while Taj Bradley emerged as a strong, younger rotation option for Tampa Bay. Bradley’s ceiling and age — he’s about five years younger than Jax — tilt the long-term outlook in the Rays’ favor.

Grade — Rays: B-. Twins: A-.

José Caballero Heads to the Rays; Yankees Get Outfielder Everson Pereira (Then Traded)

José Caballero’s bat cooled this season, landing roughly 15% below league-average offense, but his defense at shortstop has been elite and remains a key asset for Tampa Bay. The Yankees moved Everson Pereira in a separate November deal for Yoendrys Gomez, whose contract was briefly with the Rays before being flipped to Minnesota.

Grade — Rays: D. Yankees: B.

Louis Varland and Ty France Traded to Toronto; Blue Jays’ Bullpen and Depth Flourish

After helping Toronto to the World Series in 2025, Louis Varland has continued his ascent and now ranks among the best relievers in the game, behind only a handful of arms like Mason Miller. He isn’t eligible for free agency until 2031, giving the Blue Jays long-term late-inning security.

On the Twins’ side, Alan Roden has battled injuries and has struggled in limited playing time, while young lefty Kendry Rojas — not yet 24 — has flashed high-upside stuff during brief appearances.

Grade — Blue Jays: A. Twins: C.

Dustin May Leaves Dodgers for Red Sox; Dodgers Stock Up on Outfield Prospects

Dustin May’s time in Boston didn’t move the needle much during the playoff push; elbow soreness limited his postseason availability. He later signed a one-year deal with St. Louis and has delivered a strong stretch of starts, which could make him an attractive deadline chip again.

Los Angeles added outfield prospects James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard, both of whom have produced as Triple-A hitters and deepened the Dodgers’ organizational talent pool. Their development helps explain why Los Angeles felt comfortable parting with a pitcher of May’s caliber.

Grade — Red Sox: D. Dodgers: A.

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