Inside the Deadline: The Most Impactful Trades of 2025

With the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline in the books, let’s reflect on some of the biggest moves from the deadline. 

“Winners” and “Losers” of the Deadline

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Baseball has seen its fair share of wild deals in recent years, and each season, fans wonder which blockbuster trades will stun them the most during MLB’s infamous Trade Deadline. Who’s buying, who’s selling, and which teams are actually going to fill the holes in their roster? Whether teams welcomed new faces or shipped some out, every deadline has its designated “winners” and “losers.” 

Among the buyers, the San Diego Padres were clear winners of this year’s deadline. The Padres were aggressive and made many notable additions. The club acquired Mason Miller and JP Sears from the A’s, snagged Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano from the Orioles, and added catching depth with Freddy Fermin. Quite impressive acquisitions if you ask me. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Minnesota Twins were ultimate sellers, trading away some key players. One of the most astonishing moves of this deadline? Trading Carlos Correa back to the Houston Astros. They also sent Jhoan Duran and Harrison Bader to the Philadelphia Phillies. Duran was a great pickup for the Phils, considering they were in need of some high-leverage bullpen help. With a handful of their key players gone, it looks like the Twins might be heading into a rebuild this offseason. 

Moves You Didn’t See Coming

Courtesy of MLB

Possibly the most impactful deal of this year’s deadline not already mentioned was Eugenio Suárez – the stud third basemen from the Arizona Diamondbacks heading back to the Seattle Mariners. Suárez was widely considered the top prize in this year’s trade market, returning to Seattle with 36 home runs – the fifth most in the majors. Suárez may be just what the Mariners needed to boost their postseason berth, filling a major hole in the now stacked lineup. 

Another huge move was Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays – the current leaders of the AL East. The Jays have beefed up their lineup and added another veteran, Cy-Young caliber starting pitcher to their rotation. Although Bieber is currently hurt, he has begun his rehab assignment and is expected to be a major asset to the Blue Jays’ roster once he returns. 

Continuing the AL East pitching pickup theme, Dustin May was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox. Although the Sox did not make big moves this deadline, this was a significant, sneaky grab. May is a solid addition to their starting rotation and could be the factor to keep them atop the division and in the run for a postseason spot this October. 

There were so many incredible moves this deadline that it’s impossible to cover them all. From the New York ball clubs acquiring several new notable relievers of their own – Ryan Helsley to the Mets and Camilo Doval to the Yankees – to surprising returns of familiar faces in old places, this year's MLB Trade Deadline was one to remember. What were some of your favorite (or least favorite) moves from the deadline?