The Houston Astros Were the Biggest Winner of the MLB Trade Deadline; World Series Odds Sit at +338

• The 2017 World Series-champion Houston Astros picked up pitchers Zack Greinke and Aaron Sanchez at the trade deadline
• The Astros starting staff already included Cy Young favorites Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole
• The Atlanta Braves also did well, adding All-Star closer Shane Greene along with Mark Melancon to their ailing bullpen

Based on age-old trade axioms, the Houston Astros won the MLB trade deadline. There’s a long-held theory that the winner of any trade is the team that ends up with the best player. On today’s trade deadline, that team was the Astros.

Houston picked up 2009 American League Cy Young Award-winner Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks to bolster an already deep staff of starting pitchers. Based on a cross-section of leading sportsbooks, the Astros began the day as the second-favorites in the 2019 World Series odds at +338. When sportsbooks re-open their futures, that number will get shorter.

Here’s where the odds stood before today’s flurry of transactions.

2019 World Series Odds

Odds taken on 07/31/19.

The AL East-leading New York Yankees and defending World Series-champion Boston Red Sox surprised by making no major moves prior to the deadline.

Astros’ Monster Rotation

Suppose you’re facing Houston in the postseason. For openers, you stare out to the mound and see Justin Verlander, the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, and the favorite in the 2019 AL Cy Young odds.

In Game 2, you get Gerrit Cole, currently leading the all of baseball with 212 strikeouts.

If you think you’re getting a break in Game 3, well, try on Greinke, another former Cy Young winner, for size.

After trading for Zack Greinke, the Astros now have 4 of the top 15 starting pitchers by ERA this season. pic.twitter.com/mmwIeB2Dvl

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 31, 2019

The Astros didn’t stop there. An intriguing addition to the bottom of their rotation was Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez. He owns an AL-leading 14 losses this season. In 2016, though, Sanchez went 15-2 for the Blue Jays to lead the AL in winning percentage (.884) and ERA (3.00). He pitched extremely well to start this year, too, posting a 2.32 ERA in April, which dipped to 3.75 by the end of May, and then cratered to 6.31 at the start of July.

Reliever Joe Biagini was also added from the Jays. He’s 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA this season and has six games of postseason experience.

In fairness to the Yankees, they were in a different position than the #Astros.

Greinke wouldn't waive his no-trade to go there. And the #Diamondbacks clearly never were willing to lower the price on Robbie Ray.

Still, today was a seismic shift toward Houston in the AL.

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 31, 2019

The Yankees were unable to fix their laboring rotation. The list of 15 teams on Greinke’s no-trade clause included them. The ALCS could come down to a showdown between Houston’s arms and the bats of the Bronx Bombers.

Braves, Nationals Also Did Well

Other winners on deadline day were two NL East teams, the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

#Mariners are reportedly sending relievers Roenis Elías and Hunter Strickland to the Nationals in separate deals for three minor league pitchers, including Washington's No. 21 prospect.https://t.co/2zUteZRPIt pic.twitter.com/jwCn3grkVv

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) July 31, 2019

Both teams suffer from brutal bullpens. Washington relievers are tied for third in MLB with 20 blown saves and have an MLB-worst 5.70 bullpen ERA.

Righties Daniel Hudson and Hunter Strickland, and lefty Roenis Elias aren’t household names but they are reliable relievers.

Here is what Braves fans can expect from Shane Greene pic.twitter.com/V5Gjmada5t

— 960 The Ref (@960theref) July 31, 2019

Atlanta got the best closer to move today, adding Detroit’s Shane Greene. The AL All-Star has converted 22 of 25 save opportunities (88 percent). The Braves bullpen has blown 17 of 46 saves (63.04 percent conversion rate).

The division-leading Braves saw their average World Series odds jump from +767 on July 16 to +1200 by July 29.