There used to be the waiver deadline and then the non-waiver deadline 30 days later. Most baseball fans really never knew what either meant, only that their team got a second chance to pick up a new player for the playoff run…or lose one as management called it quits on the year.

This year, no second chances. One singular trade date: July 31.

There have been trading deadlines and then there was this day: a day with 13 of 15 National League teams within eight games of a playoff spot and only about half of them with any real shot.

The new trade deadline saw 18 different trades. Here’s a ranking of the more notable ones.

1.) Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar goes to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Jake Faria. Faria has missed two months this year, after struggling last year. Maybe he can help in the bullpen. So far’s only thrown 10 innings. Aguilar meanwhile has had arguably his worst season as a professional after being an integral part of the Brewers play off run last year. Tampa’s 19th in home runs. Aguilar will help with that. Winner: TAMPA BAY

The Houston Astros give up three of their ten top prospects to get pitcher Zack Greinke from Arizona.

First baseman/outfielder Seth Beer looks like the real deal. Besides having a great last name, he’s hit better than .300 at a whole host of minor league spots in the last three seasons. Right handed pitcher Corbin Martin has done well at every level at which he’s pitched, excluding a very small sample size in the bigs. Infielder/outfielder Josh Roja is in AA this year instead of AAA, but it can’t because of his hitting (better than .310 in both places). JB Bukauskas is a right handed pitcher who can one day say he was traded for one of the best pitchers of this generation. If he doesn’t do a better job finding the strike zone that’s about all he’s going to be able to say.

Winner: BOTH. Astros in the short term, but they gave up a lot of talent to get Greinke. Considering Arizona was picked to be in the basement this year, this is quite an accomplishment to be able to get a haul of young talent for a pitcher who wasn’t going to carry them to the playoffs.

2.) Toronto gave up three players, right handed pitchers Aaron Sanchez

and Joe Biagini and outfielder Cal Stevenson to get… Derek Fisher?
Stevenson has hit .325 with seven homers in 149 games in low-level minors. Fisher has hit .201 with 10 home runs in 112 big league games. That alone would have me wondering, but to top it off, the Blue Jays threw in reliever Joe Biagini (3.78 ERA in 50 games this year) and Aaron Sanchez, who won 18 games in 2016 before blister issues derailed his 2017 and he hasn’t been the same since. 

Still, that’s two producing players in trade for one who’s not.

Winner: ASTROS

3.) Arizona’s top-60 prospect Jazz Chisholm goes to the Marlins. He has been wildly inconsistent in the minors.

The Marlins give up right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen, who’s been a stud at all levels of baseball. This is a steal for Arizona and will likely be used as an example for years to come why the Marlins are a poorly-run franchise.

Winner: DIAMONDBACKS

3.) Reds send outfielder Yasiel Puig to the Cleveland Indians.
Franmil Reyes goes from the San Diego Padres to the Indians, Reds get Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer (9-7 3.79 ERA). The Padres get Taylor Trammell.

The Indians lose a power arm but probably have the depth to make up for it, especially if Corey Kluber’s return from the Injured List has him start looking like the Kluber of old. Right now, they need power bats (20th in home runs) and Puig (22 homers) and Reyes (27) fit the bill. And, Cleveland picks up Scott Moss who has looked quite serviceable as a starter as he’s made his way up through the minors.

The Reds get a pitcher who is having a nice season but who’s not indispensable. Throwing a ball over the center field wall before getting pulled probably caused flashbacks for manager Terry Francona of beer and chicken wings in the Red Sox bullpen.

I could be way off here, but what in the wide wide world of sports is San Diego doing getting rid of a masher with 43 homers in his first 640 at-bats as a pro? Granted, his defense isn’t exactly spectacular, but that can be improved. Trammell isn’t exactly lighting it up in the minors.

Winner: INDIANS

4.) Los Angeles Dodgers get an injured Jed Gyorko from the Cardinals. It’s a curious move because right now, the Dodgers need gloves with utility infielders/outfielders Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor out with injury.

I would’ve rather seen the Dodgers move Joc Peterson back to right field where he belongs and play Cody Bellinger at first.

Loser: DODGERS

Nicholas Castellanos from Detroit to Chicago? Closer Shane Greene from Detroit to Atlanta? The players Detroit got from the Cubs aren’t even close to sniffing the big leagues and the Braves gave up “TBD” according to CBS Sports. The whole point of a rebuild is to get lots of good young players. “TBD” better be something special or Detroit looks like they really don’t know what they’re doing.

Loser: TIGERS

The Giants might not win trader of the year for 2019, but this July 31st might have many happy returns later on. Second baseman Scooter Gennett is a .287 career hitter, but has been hampered by a groin injury this year. If he gets healthy and stays in San Francisco, this could be the trade Cincinatti fans talk about for years to come when they talk about how Joey Votto never had a chance to be on a winner. The Reds get cash according to CBS.

Winner: GIANTS

The Giants also sent to Milwaukee Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black.Not only did San Francisco get rid of a struggling Pomeranz, they convinced the Brewers to give up a AAA infielder hitting .333 with 16 homers, Mauricio Dubon.

Winner: GIANTS

Philadelphia gets outfielder Corey Dickerson as Pittsburgh sends a left fielder in his prime to in-state rival Philadelphia. Need I say more?

Winner: PHILLIES

One day to trade. It was pretty apparent who was ready…and who wasn’t as Major League Baseball marks just 60 games left in the season.