Dodgers receive top grade, Reds receive lowest at 2026 MLB trade deadline

Major League Baseball teams were graded on their trade-deadline activity on July 31, 2026, with the Los Angeles Dodgers receiving the highest mark (A+) and the Cincinnati Reds the lowest (F+). The evaluation considered whether clubs met their stated goals of buying, selling or maintaining roster balance.

The Dodgers added starting pitcher Tarik Skubal from Detroit and reliever Kris Bubic from Kansas City, while also acquiring catcher Hunter Feduccia and prospect Jacob Kmatz from Tampa Bay. The moves were described as a decisive effort to improve a roster seeking a third consecutive championship.

The Reds traded first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to Cleveland for a pitching prospect but retained several pending free agents, a strategy the reviewer called ill-advised.

Other notable grades included the Tampa Bay Rays (A) for acquiring pitcher Freddy Peralta, catcher/first-baseman Liam Hicks and reliever Tyler Wells; the Chicago Cubs (A-) for adding starters Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Braxton Garrett; and the Arizona Diamondbacks (B-) for acquiring outfielder Lars Nootbaar. Teams such as the Atlanta Braves (C+) and Boston Red Sox (B+) received middling scores, reflecting mixed results from multiple acquisitions.

Overall, the analysis highlighted that clubs like the Dodgers and Rays aggressively pursued impact players, while several others, including the Reds and Kansas City Royals, made limited moves that fell short of their competitive aspirations.