3 Most Impactful Trades Of 2022 That Are Affecting the Postseason

A flurry of trades marked the July 30th deadline this baseball season, some large, some small. But as we take stock now of those moves, let's have a look at the three trades of the 2022 season that are having the most impact now—when it counts the most.

Seattle Mariners Acquire Luis Castillo

The Mariners were in the thick of a playoff chase when they made this deal, and sent a haul of top prospects to the Cincinnati Reds for the ace pitcher. But it paid off in spades for the M's, as Castillo became the unquestioned ace of the Seattle rotation, and helped lead them into the postseason. He was tabbed as their Game 1 starter in the Wild Card series, and duly shut down the Toronto Blue Jays. 

He'd posted a 2.85 ERA in 11 starts with Seattle going into their Game 2 matchup with the Houston Astros on Thursday, striking out 10.2 batters per 9 innings.

Josh Hader Figures It Out In San Diego

It was a rocky transition for Hader coming over from the Milwaukee Brewers, and at first, this deal looked like a disaster for the Padres. But it's all coming together at the right time. Hader hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 11 appearances, and picked up his first multi-inning save in two years in the Padres' crucial Game 2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers to tie their NLDS at a game apiece.

That is why you trade for Josh Hader.

What. A. Game.

We’re going back to San Diego 1-1 🙏

— Padres Nation (@NationPadres) October 13, 2022

Harrison Bader Gets It Going For The Yankees

This trade had every Yankees fan scratching their head for weeks. While pitcher Jordan Montgomery went to St. Louis and looked like Cy Young in his first few starts with the Cardinals, Bader remained on the injured list for the Yanks until mid-September. 

But it's become apparent now that there was a method to the apparent madness of this trade. The hometown kid, Bader hit a home run in the Yankees ALDS Game 1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. But more than that, he's providing an answer in center field that they've been searching for all season. 

He's been getting to balls that Aaron Hicks, or any other Yankees outfielder, wouldn't have been able to, and saved at least a run with a play in Game 1. 

“He changed our dynamic,” said Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake. 

So Jordan Montgomery did not, in fact, make a start in the playoffs, and Harrison Bader just homered for the Yankees' first playoff hit. How about that?

— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) October 12, 2022

The jury might still be out on many of the deadline deals made this year, but all of the above trades are making their presence felt now, in the postseason.

Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports