The MLB non-waiver trade deadline saw many busy teams, but some are more poised to win it all this year than others.
Monday saw several teams stock up for the future and others bolster up their rosters for what they hope will be deep October runs. There were a lot of winners at the deadline and some losers, but only a few teams have their sights set on meaningful October baseball and a potential championship ring.
Here are three teams that won the MLB trade deadline and have been fortified for a deep playoff run
3) San Francisco Giants
The Giants have struggled after the All-Star break, but they enter Tuesday on a two-game winning streak and certainly made some moves to improve their club. San Francisco traded with Minnesota to acquire infielder Eduardo Nunez, who enters Tuesday slashing .295/.326/.437.
The Giants also brought in Matt Moore in a deal with the Rays to shore up their rotation. Moore is 7-7 and his 4.04 ERA is a bit high, but he provides depth to a Giants club that ranks sixth in the MLB with a 3.68 team ERA.
It's an even year and just as the Giants won a World Series in 2010, '12 and '14, they've given themselves a chance to do so again in 2016. San Francisco owns a two-game lead over the Dodgers entering Tuesday.
2) Cleveland Indians
The Indians missed out on acquiring a catcher when Jonathan Lucroy opted to veto a potential trade from the Brewers, but they still had a strong deadline. Cleveland acquired Andrew Miller from the Yankees to revamp its bullpen with a new closer.
Miller is having a tremendous year, pitching to a 1.58 ERA as part of what used to be a three-headed monster in New York with Aroldis Chapman, who was traded to the Cubs, and Dellin Betances, who picked up his first save of the season against the Mets on Monday. The Indians also acquired Brandon Guyer from the Rays to provide depth.
Cleveland hasn't won a World Series since 1948, but it enters Tuesday with a four-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central. After LeBron James and the Cavaliers brought the city a title in June, it would be something if the Indians could replicate the feat.
1) Texas Rangers
It's quite clear after Monday's deadline that the Rangers are going for it. Texas made a big splash, boosting its lineup by swooping in and trading for Lucroy from the Brewers after the Indians' deal for him fell through and also adding Carlos Beltran in a trade with the Yankees. Lucroy is batting .299 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs this season, while Beltran led the Yankees in average (.304), homers (22) and RBIs (64) prior to the trade and ranks fourth in the AL in slugging percentage (.546).
The Rangers also shored up their bullpen by bringing in Jeremy Jeffress from the Brewers and previously added Dario Alvarez. Jeffress is set to serve in a set-up role and has a 2.22 ERA in 47 games this season.
Texas has never won a World Series, but after losing back-to-back Fall Classics in 2010 and 2011, this could be their best chance to get back. The Rangers own a 5 1/2-game lead over the Astros heading into Tuesday.
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