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Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) slides into home plate to score a run against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Best MLB trades from the last decade: National League

By Lauren Amour, Kevin Henry, Taylor Bretl | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 1:18 PM ET

With MLB's trade deadline now behind us, Yardbarker's MLB writers got together this week to identify the best trade each club has made in the last decade (more or less).

(Records and stats are entering play on Monday.)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Atlanta Braves (47-63) | IF Pablo Sandoval to the Indians for OF Eddie Rosario and cash considerations | July 2021 |

Atlanta’s 2021 World Series title wouldn't have been possible without the crucial moves they made at the trade deadline. Rosario was one of the players they acquired, and he earned NLCS MVP honors after batting .560 with three homers and nine RBI to beat the Dodgers.

Miami Marlins (55-55) | LHP Trevor Rogers to the Orioles for IF Connor Norby and OF Kyle Stowers | July 2024 |

Although a bit of a head scratcher at the time, the early return on this trade has been promising, especially as Stowers has had a breakout campaign in 2025, with 25 homers and a .296 batting average en route to his first career All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Norby is on the injured list but has added 18 extra-base hits and 26 RBI in 72 games this year.

New York Mets (63-49) | IFs Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario, OF Isaiah Greene, and RHP Josh Wolf to the Indians for SS Francisco Lindor and RHP Carlos Carrasco | January 2021 |

Since being acquired by the Mets, Lindor has quickly become the face of the franchise. He has finished in the top 10 of the NL MVP voting three times during his New York tenure, adding two Silver Sluggers and an All-Star Game appearance.

Philadelphia Phillies (63-48) | 2B Curtis Mead to the Rays for LHP Cristopher Sanchez | November 2019 |

Against the first-place Tigers on Sunday, Sanchez continued to prove his Cy Young Award case and his value to Philadelphia. He tossed eight shutout innings with six strikeouts and one walk, while Mead was just traded to the White Sox at the deadline.

Washington Nationals (44-67) | OF Juan Soto and 1B Josh Bell to the Padres for SS CJ Abrams, LHP MacKenzie Gore, OFs James Wood and Robert Hassell III, 1B Luke Voit and RHP Jarlin Susana | August 2022 |

Ironically, trading their franchise player wound up being the best move the Nationals could've made at the 2022 trade deadline. Dealing Soto at the height of his young career netted Washington a haul, which is expected to be competitive within the next few years. -- Lauren Amour

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) is on deck in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs (65-46) | RHPs Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger to the Orioles for RHPs Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop | July 2013 |

Arrieta won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award and threw two no-hitters, while Strop posted a 2.88 ERA in the eight seasons he was with Chicago. Both pitchers were also key factors in Chicago’s 2016 World Series win.

Cincinnati Reds (58-54) | RHP Jeff Stevens to the Indians for 2B Brandon Phillips | April 2006 |

Cincinnati parted with Stevens, who finished his MLB career with a 6.27 ERA over 33 games, to land Phillips. Over 11 seasons with the Reds, he'd hit .279 with 191 home runs while winning four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and earning three All-Star selections.

Milwaukee Brewers (67-44) | IF Isan Diaz, OFs Lewis Brinson and Monte Harrison, and RHP Jordan Yamamoto to the Marlins for OF Christian Yelich | January 2018 |

The Brewers acquired Yelich from the Miami Marlins in 2018 for four prospects, none of whom found much success in the majors. Brinson, Diaz and Harrison hit just .191 combined, while Yamamoto posted a 6.05 ERA in 21 games. Meanwhile, Yelich won the 2018 NL MVP, two batting titles, led Milwaukee to its first NLCS since 1982 and became a multi-time All-Star and Silver Slugger.

Pittsburgh Pirates (48-64) | LHP Tony Watson to the Dodgers for OF Oneil Cruz and RHP Angel German | July 2017 |

In a deadline deal in 2017, the Pirates received Cruz from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for veteran reliever Tony Watson. Since his call-up in 2021, Cruz has posted MLB-record Statcast numbers, including the hardest hit home run in MLB history (122.9 mph) and fastest recorded outfield throw (105.2 mph). While still trying to find consistency at the plate, Cruz has slashed .239/.314/.439 slash line with 58 home runs in 344 games, while Watson remained with Los Angeles for just the remainder of the 2017 season.

St. Louis Cardinals (56-57) | IF Elehuris Montero, IF Mateo Gil, LHP Austin Gomber, and RHPs Tony Locey and Jake Sommers to the Rockies for 3B Nolan Arenado and cash considerations | February 2021 |

The Cardinals acquired Arenado for five prospects, while also receiving $50 million from Colorado to offset Arenado’s salary. Montero slashed just .228/.277/387 over 205 games from 2022-24. On the flip side, Arenado has earned three All-Star selections, two Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger since joining the Cardinals. -- Taylor Bretl

NL West

San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) hits a double during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Arizona Diamondbacks (53-59) | IFs Dawel Lugo, Jose King, and Sergio Alcantara to the Tigers for OF J.D. Martinez | July 2017 |

Arizona added Martinez at the 2017 trade deadline in a deal that would help them capture a spot in the postseason. In 62 games with Arizona, Martinez totaled 70 hits and slashed .302/.366/.741 with 29 homers and 65 RBI.

Colorado Rockies (30-81) | OF Corey Dickerson and 3B Kevin Padlo to the Rays for RHP German Marquez and LHP Jake McGee | January 2016 |

The Rockies would acquire Marquez and McGee from the Rays before the start of the 2016 season. The move would set the stage for two postseason runs in 2017 and 2018. Marquez made an All-Star appearance in 2021 when the game was held at Denver's Coors Field.

Los Angeles Dodgers (65-47) | OF Alex Verdugo, C Connor Wong, and IF Jeter Downs to the Red Sox for OF/SS Mookie Betts, LHP David Price and cash considerations | February 2020 |

Since being acquired by the Dodgers before the 2020 campaign, Betts has finished in the top five in NL MVP voting on three different occasions. He’s also led MLB in bWAR during that stretch two different times and has become a centerpiece of the Dodgers’ lineup.

San Diego Padres (62-50) | RHP James Shields and cash to the White Sox for IF/OF Fernando Tatis Jr. and RHP Erik Johnson | June 2016 |

San Diego was looking for a way to unload James Shields’ contract and found a taker in the White Sox, who sent a prospect back to San Diego in Tatis Jr. Since his debut in 2019, Tatis Jr. has become one of the game’s most electric players and has proven his athleticism in the infield and outfield.

San Francisco Giants (56-56) | OF Alexander Canario and RHP Caleb Kilian to the Cubs for IF Kris Bryant | July 2021 |

Would the Giants still have won the NL West in 2021 by one game over the Dodgers if they hadn’t traded for the Cubs’ mainstay? Bryant batted .262 in 51 regular-season games with the Giants, but turned it up in the postseason, slashing .471/.500/.647 in 18 plate appearances in the NLDS against Los Angeles. -- Kevin Henry

Taylor Bretl

Taylor Bretl writes about Major League Baseball with a focus on the Milwaukee Brewers. He is founder of Around the Globe Baseball.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

Lauren Amour

Lauren Amour is a writer and editor based in the Greater Philadelphia area. She works as an editor and writer at Yardbarker, covering MLB and the Philadelphia Phillies.

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