Updated Odds to Win World Series After 2020 Trade Deadline

• The 2020 Major League Baseball trade deadline passed on Monday at 4:00 PM ET
• The San Diego Padres were the most active team, acquiring pitcher Mike Clevinger
• How have the World Series odds shifted around now that the dust has settled?

Nothing about the 2020 baseball season has been normal, including the trade deadline. The San Diego Padres were the most active and have seen an uptick in their World Series odds as a result. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from the 2020 trade deadline.

2020 World Series Odds

Odds last updated on Aug. 31st, 2020.

Padres Load Up for Playoff Run

The Padres slow rebuild has finally come to a place where management feels their team can contend. The Padres, who boast a 21-15 record, understandably think they are contenders. They hold a three-game lead in the Rockies for second in the NL West, and the top-two teams in each division automatically qualify for this year’s expanded postseason (plus two Wild Cards in each league). With a playoff spot highly likely, the front office kicked the rebuild into high gear.

The blockbuster move of the day was the Padres acquiring Cleveland Indians ace Mike Clevinger. He might not get the attention that some of the other stud pitchers around baseball receive but Clevinger has the second-best ERA in the American League since the start of 2017 (second only to Justin Verlander).

The move capped off a slew of other trades, including acquiring catches Jason Castro and Austin Nola, first baseman Mitch Moreland, and lots of bullpen help. In a shortened season, given how the roster has been coming together, the Padres have put themselves in fantastic shape to contend in the National League West. Their World Series odds shifted from +2200 to +1600.

A’s Acquire Reinforcements

The Athletics (22-12) clearly see a window of opportunity, currently holding a 2.5-game lead on the Astros in the American League West. They got help in a number of ways, acquiring former All-Star Tommy La Stella from the Los Angeles Angels and pitcher Mike Minor from the Texas Rangers. Both are rentals who will be free agents at the end of the season, making this a rare move for the small-market A’s.

The Oakland A's have acquired left-hander Mike Minor from the Texas Rangers for two players to be named later, sources tell ESPN. A's needed rotation help and get it with a trade for Minor, who's a free agent after this season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 31, 2020

La Stella should offer some pop in the lineup while Minor will give the rotation a boost … hopefully. Minor led the American League in WAR last season but is currently 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA this season. If he can rebound in a new environment, he’ll help the A’s staff, which is currently 16th in the Majors with a 4.84 ERA.

Cubs Try to Bolster Roster

The Cubs made a string of minor moves that might bolster a team that’s currently in first place in the National League Central. The division was supposed to be uber competitive but no other team is currently above .500, so the Cubs see an opening here.

Although the North Siders didn’t exactly do anything mind blowing, they did round out the roster. In the bullpen, they got Andrew Chafin, AJ Ramos, and Josh Osich. These aren’t stars by any stretch of the imagination, but sometimes, throwing more bodies in the bullpen is all that’s needed.

I like the depth the @Cubs acquired over the last 24 hours:

DH Jose Martinez
RP AJ Ramos
RP Andrew Chafin
RP Josh Osich
OF4 Cameron Maybin

Allows them to move on from Almora, Tepera, Sadler, Winkler and Rae or Underwood and Hernan Perez.

— Joe DiGiacomo (@Joeyd51) August 31, 2020

The Cubs also picked up Cameron Maybin and designated hitter Jose Martinez, who is not playing well this season. However, he had a .997 OPS versus left-handed pitching last season, so he could be a useful resource off the bench.