An absolutely insane trade deadline has come and gone as the contenders in a wide-open American League race rushed to add arms and some teams burned it to the ground to start over again. This article will focus on just the American League teams, with Rhys White tackling the NL side. To clarify, any interleague trades will be included for the league of the “buying” team. Let’s dive in!

Houston Astros Receive

  • Carlos Correa, 3B/SS
  • Cash Considerations ($33 million)

Carlos Correa, 3B/SS

The Astros had a big hole at 3B after Isaac Paredes tore his hamstring and was ruled out for the season and Houston decided that trading for Ramon Urias wasn’t enough to fill that hole. Carlos Correa was only going to waive his no-trade clause for one team, the Houston Astros. Before we get into the baseball end of this, getting the former World Series champ back in Houston will unquestionably provide a lift in the clubhouse and certainly among the fans as well. It’s not the most important thing, but the human element is a factor in this deal. 

The Twins covered $33 million of the money remaining on Correa’s contract, which goes through 2028 and has club options from 2029-2032. However, the questions about how Correa will age have only intensified since his FA agreements with the Mets and Giants went up in flames over medicals. Playing 3B long-term instead of shortstop will help, but it’s been a really disappointing season offensively so far. So far in 2025, Correa is hitting just .267/.319/.386 and while he’s still hitting the ball hard (47% hard-hit rate), he’s hitting it straight into the ground. His GB rate of 48.5% is his highest mark since 2016 and really hampers his value at the plate. Could playing 3B instead of SS take a little wear and tear off his legs and let him get back to hitting for power more? There’s a good possibility that happens and that’s what the Astros are banking on. Yes it’s still an expensive contract for Houston, but at least they can cut ties after three more seasons if Correa disappoints and they gave up nothing to get him back.   

Minnesota Twins Receive 

  • Matt Mikulski, LHP 

Matt Mikulski, LHP 

The return for Minnesota is irrelevant since this is a total salary dump, but the 26 year old Mikulski just has not been able to stay healthy and has had major control problems throughout his pro career. Once a highly-regarded amateur out of Fordham, he was a second round pick by the Giants in 2021 that was intriguing due to his mid 90s fastball, wipeout slider, and low arm slot. He’s a reliever now and the Twins will see what they can do with this lottery ticket, but there’s a good chance Mikulski is out of affiliated ball soon if he can’t turn it around quickly. 

Summary

Beyond the whole Correa returning to Houston storyline, this is a big swing by Dana Brown in hopes they can get their former star to hit the ball in the air again and stay healthy. The Astros hope a move to 3B can keep him healthy and get his offense back to where it used to be. It’s an expensive contract still for the next three seasons, but if it doesn’t work out Houston can always cut ties after 2028. They gave up nothing in this Twins salary dump and the reward is quite high if Correa can return to form.  

Seattle Mariners Receive

  • Eugenio Suarez, 3B

Eugenio Suarez, 3B

Suarez has been the talk of this deadline for the last month and for good reason, he was the best bat available. The Mariners are going for it and have really struggled getting any offensive production at 3B this season from Ben Williamson. Williamson is a terrific defender, but Seattle needs power from the corner infield spots and with the additions of Josh Naylor and Suarez, they now have it. 

Suarez is having a career year at 34 years old, hitting 36 home runs already with a career-high 143 wRC+. He’s not going to walk and he will strike out a lot, but the Mariners certainly do not care if he can hit for that type of power. Having two potential 50 home run hitters in the same lineup between Suarez and Cal Raleigh is pretty unprecedented and makes this suddenly deep Seattle lineup into a force. Home runs win in October and the Mariners have as good of a chance as anyone to make a run at the World Series this year with the starting pitching they have. Yes he’s a rental, but the time to go for it is now for Jerry DiPoto and he had a fantastic deadline.  

Arizona Diamondbacks Receive 

  • Tyler Locklear, 1B
  • Hunter Cranton, RHP
  • Juan Burgos, RHP

Tyler Locklear, 1B

Locklear is the headliner here and while he’s a solid prospect, there’s no question Diamondbacks fans were hoping for more. However, other than Spencer Jones, Locklear has been the hottest hitter in the minor leagues over the last two months. He had a miserable month of May, but starting in June he lowered his hands pre-load to get back to lifting the ball again. The change has worked to perfection and Locklear has absolutely raked since, hitting .353/.437/.711 with 16 HR since June 1st.

Locklear’s extended hot stretch in Triple-A is intriguing, but his first big league stint in 2024 with Seattle was miserable, going 7-for-45 with 20 strikeouts. He did only strike out at a 22% clip in the minors this season, but PCL numbers always have to be taken with a grain of salt. Locklear’s power should play a lot better in Arizona than it would have in Seattle, but there’s going to be swing and miss and the power has to carry the profile. He’s not a very good defensive 1B from my in-person looks this year either. The hope is the swing change carries over and Locklear becomes a 25 HR hitter in the big leagues and he will get the chance to be the everyday 1B for the rest of the season in Arizona. As the headliner for the best bat on the market though, it seems a bit underwhelming. 

Hunter Cranton, RHP

Cranton is a relief prospect who has missed a ton of bats in limited action this year (missed time with a concussion). He’s dominated in High-A in just eight innings of work, but seems destined to get bumped to Double-A very quickly and rise quickly through Arizona’s system. 

Pretty simple profile here, an electric fastball and a slider that needs a lot of work. The fastball might be a 70 grade offering in the upper 90s with high vert and it explodes on hitters thanks to his ability to hide the ball well. It’s his calling card and out pitch. Cranton has a gyro slider as well that’s in the upper 80s and can flash plus but is inconsistent right now. It’s a max effort delivery with only two pitches so there’s no doubt that the 24-year-old sticks in the bullpen. If the Dbacks can maximize the slider and make it an average pitch, this is a future big league reliever with high-leverage upside due to how elite the fastball is. 

Juan Burgos, RHP

Burgos is another relief prospect who got a few appearances in the big leagues with Seattle this season. Most of his time came in Double-A in 2025 where the 25-year-old absolutely dominated, posting a 0.64 ERA in 28 innings with seven walks to 29 strikeouts. 

The righty has a five-pitch mix, leading with his cutter and sinker mostly while also mixing in a sweeper, curveball, and changeup. The sinker sits 94-97, while the cutter is 90-93 mostly. He throws enough strikes to make it work, but likely doesn’t miss a ton of bats at the big league level long term. Burgos is a middle reliever if it all works out, but at least he can help Arizona’s upper minors pitching depth and figures to get an extended big league chance down the stretch. 

Summary 

Suarez won’t hit for as much power in Seattle, but is still a major addition to the Mariners lineup and gives them a huge offensive upgrade at 3B. He was the best bat on the market and Seattle was likely more than happy to give up a 45 OFP guy in Locklear with two future relievers to go for a World Series run now. I don’t think it’s a terrible return for Arizona, but it is a bit underwhelming and Seattle knocked this one out of the park. 

New York Yankees Receive

  • David Bednar, RHP

David Bednar, RHP 

After a down 2024 season, Bednar has returned to form this year in Pittsburgh and is back to being his dominant self. This season, the change has been very simple. The curveball is Bednar’s best pitch, so throw it more. That’s exactly what the righty has done in 2025, throwing 15% more curveballs, 10% less fastballs, and 7% less splitters and it’s done wonders. Bednar has posted the highest K rate of his career along with his lowest walk rate, usually a pretty good recipe for success. The Yankees desperately needed bullpen help and Bednar is a perfect fit and also under control for next season.  

Pittsburgh Pirates Receive 

  • Rafael Flores, C
  • Edgleen Perez, C
  • Brian Sanchez, OF

Rafael Flores, C

I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but the Yankees are pretty good with this whole developing catchers thing. Flores is the next one up, with big raw power and elite framing skills. He spent the second half of 2024 and the first half of 2025 with Double-A Somerset and tore it up at the plate, hitting .281/.351/.505 with 30 HR in 153 games there before being moved up to Triple-A. It’s been a slow start in Triple-A so far in 10 games, but he’s going to hit for power. 

There are major contact issues here though and that’s what has stopped Flores from becoming an elite prospect. He had a contact rate of just 69.8% in Double-A this season, regressing after making some improvements there in 2024. He doesn’t move great behind the plate, but the framing skills are excellent and that will be enough to keep him at catcher. Making enough contact will be the question and the Pirates don’t exactly have a track record of developing catchers. 

Edgleen Perez, C

Perez was a highly regarded catcher in the Yankees system due to his athleticism, but he has struggled mightily at the plate in Low-A this season. He’s still young at 19 years old and only chases at a 21% clip, but has only eight XBH in 83 games in 2025 and has not shown any sort of pop to the pull side. Perez was also notably the subject of Jeff Passan and Doug Mientkiewicz’s Twitter battle, where Passan referenced that he makes excellent swing decisions. Perez has an above average arm, but this one seems more like a lottery ticket for Pittsburgh, who hopes they can develop the bat more. I’m not as hopeful though, it’s been a tough year and Perez’s stock has dropped pretty dramatically. 

Brian Sanchez, OF

Sanchez isn’t a particularly notable prospect yet, but he’s hit well at every level so far and gets traded for the second time after being a part of the return for Jake Bauers before last season. He’s got a projectable frame at 6-3 170 pounds and can run as well, going 24 of 28 in stolen base opportunities so far with Tampa. He is 21 years old already though so a promotion to High-A should probably happen pretty quickly. 

Summary

The Yankees did really well here, getting a major bullpen upgrade in Bednar without having to part with any of their big trade chips. Devin Williams will still be the closer for now, but Bednar can easily step in if needed and could be the Yankees closer next season if they don’t bring back Devin Williams (Doval could be as well). The Pirates are banking on Flores to solve their catching woes and hope they can fix what’s going on with Perez at the plate this season. I would have liked to see the Pirates get a more polished second piece along with Flores here.