MLB Trade Deadline Early Returns: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Randy Arozarena Already Making Impacts on New Teams

The MLB trade deadline always features a flurry of trades, and the truth is some of those trades fail. But the ones that are successful end up helping teams – sometimes helping them reach the postseason, other times helping them win the World Series. This success can be short-term in one rental or long-term in multiple seasons.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the trades that appear to be most successful just after this year’s deadline. For these players, the short time they spent at their new clubs was very beneficial.

Traded from Tampa Bay Rays to Seattle Mariners

Randy Arozarena was one of the biggest names moved at the trade deadline, but given the season he was having in Tampa, the Rays weren’t moving him for maximum value. Still, the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year has shown throughout his career that he can be a force in the lineup and a spark for teams in need of a powerful bat.

Enter the Sailors. Seattle has been desperately searching for offense — not just this season, but the last three. And with the regression of several members of its core and injuries to Julio Rodriguez, Seattle has looked to Arozarena as its spark, not just in 2024 but for years to come.

So far, Arozarena has been everything Seattle could hope for. Her taco was headed in the right direction in her final week in Tampa, and that continued in the Pacific Northwest. The former All-Star is slashing .297/.422/.486 with four doubles, a home run and a 165 wRC+ as a Mariner. He’s fitting in well in the middle of the lineup, and when Rodriguez returns this season and in the future, the task of carrying Seattle’s offense won’t be a burden for Arozarena to carry alone.

Traded from Miami Marlins to New York Yankees

The Yankees and winnings haven’t always gone hand in hand. For a long time, the organization had a traditional, professional and – let’s be honest – boring vibe. But this year, they acquired a player, Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is the opposite of their long-time “image,” and it could be the best-case scenario for both sides when all is said and done.

Chisholm was the definition of “average” during his time with the Marlins, but a new environment and a team where he doesn’t have to be the face of the franchise could serve him well. Having sluggers like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto around probably doesn’t hurt either. That said, other than those two, the Yankees lineup has lacked a real spark all season, and despite a bump here and there, the team’s offensive woes have been very similar to their struggles in recent years.

Since his arrival, Chisholm has shown what his speed-power combination can do for the Bronx Bombers’ offense, with a .922 OPS and four home runs in nine games in New York. And there’s also the defensive versatility he brings to the infield. Chisholm looked comfortable at the hot corner, and if the Yanks allowed Gleyber Torres to walk free, Chisholm could easily slide to second base, where he was an above-average defender in Miami.

Traded from Chicago White Sox to St. Louis

Sometimes all you need is some comfort food, and that’s exactly what Tommy Pham is getting in St. Louis, where he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball since the trade deadline. Pham has played in a variety of places since beginning his career with the Cardinals from 2014-2018, including stints in Tampa, San Diego, Boston, Cincinnati, New York and Arizona. This season he only signed in April when he joined the White Sox and once again proved to be a reliable right-handed bat.

Many thought the Cardinals would be sellers at the deadline, but they surprisingly remained in playoff contention all summer. With the help of a strong season in the rotation, they are still fighting for a spot in the postseason. But offensively, they don’t have much to write home about, as the lineup beyond Alec Burleson, Brendan Donovan and Masyn Winn has struggled to score runs in a poor season for Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt.

But Pham has always enjoyed playing in St. Louis and it’s easy to see he’s excited to be back. The 36-year-old outfielder is an impressive .379/.400/.759 with three doubles, a triple and two home runs in eight games in his old stomping ground. It’s also worth noting that Pham was the D-backs’ best hitter in the postseason last season, with a .772 OPS, and has historically been a very good hitter in October. The Cardinals have a long way to go to get there, but Pham is much more than an addition tied to the Erick Fedde deal.

Traded from Miami Marlins to Arizona Diamondbacks

Some players will be good regardless of where they land, but others sometimes need a change of scenery. And for Josh Bell, Arizona can provide just that. The burly first baseman clearly likes his new skills and has fit in perfectly with the defending NL champions.

Similar to the Guardians, the D-backs have always been known for being shooters, with some timely hitting. But they’ve changed that narrative this season, especially in the last few weeks. Last month, the D-backs led baseball in runs scored as they climbed back into the thick of the NL wild-card race. Even with first baseman Christian Walker hitting the injured list with a strained left oblique, they have played well, thanks in part to the production of their club’s newest member.

On a team that has been out of competition since day one, Bell simply didn’t play well in Miami and didn’t throw many offensive punches. But since he was traded to Arizona, the former All-Star has crushed baseball, with four home runs and an unbelievable .808 slugging percentage in six games.

Walker will still be an everyday first baseman when he comes off the injured list, and with Joc Pederson swinging the bat so well, DH hits could also be difficult for Bell to get. But if he continues to use the hot bat, Torey Lovullo will have a good problem on his hands, with several chess pieces to move as Arizona fights to return to the postseason.