It’s never too early to evaluate trades made at the deadline or moves not made. I think when most of us evaluate such moves we naturally assume that what a newly acquired player does for the new team, would have happened had he been moved elsewhere. In assessing trades, we necessarily have to look at the raw numbers and not the hidden emotional boosts a team gets when adding a player.

Furthermore, some veterans are acquired specifically for the boost they’ll provide in the postseason. I’ve already suggested that the Cubs might be better off, not having traded prospects to the Pirates for starter, Mitch Keller. In four August starts, he posted a 9.00 ERA with a 1-2 record in only 18 innings. I’m not sure he would be that bad for the Cubs, but it’s the assumption we always make in assessing trades. While he might have pitched better for Chicago, he lacks a postseason pedigree.

While there was talk of Keller coming to Chicago, he wasn’t the primary deadline object of everyone’s fancy. That distinction was left to Eugenio Suarez, Arizona third baseman re-acquired by Seattle. His pre-deadline numbers were impressive, 36 homers and 87 RBI, but he has failed miserably in his second stint with the Mariners. In 20 games, he’s only hit four homers with 11 RBI. I won’t even bother with his Mario Mendoza like splits. The testimonials on Suarez’s clubhouse impact were almost like Mary Richards-an ability to light up any room. During the month of August, Seattle is 11-8. What impact does Suarez and Josh Naylor have on the pennant race?

Every year there are dozens of trades made at the deadline, and most don’t pan out for the better, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t evaluate each on their own merits.