MLB Trade Deadline Winners and Losers: Padres, Yankees Shine

The MLB trade deadline has led to significant changes in DraftKings' odds for World Series contenders. The San Diego Padres have emerged as winners, bolstering their roster with All-Star players and moving from 35-1 to 20-1 odds to win the World Series. Conversely, the Arizona Diamondbacks have lost ground, selling off key players and seeing their odds drop from 350-1 to 600-1. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees have improved their odds from +1000 to +850 to win their 28th World Series, thanks to recent bullpen acquisitions.

The MLB trade deadline, which concluded on August 1, has significantly altered DraftKings' odds for World Series contenders. The San Diego Padres have emerged as a standout winner, bolstering their roster with All-Star players and improving their odds from 35-1 to 20-1 to win the World Series [3]. Conversely, the Arizona Diamondbacks have lost ground, selling off key players and seeing their odds drop from 350-1 to 600-1 [3]. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees have improved their odds from +1000 to +850 to win their 28th World Series, thanks to recent bullpen acquisitions [3].

The Padres' aggressive moves included acquiring All-Stars such as closer Mason Miller, DH Ryan O'Hearn, starting pitchers JP Sears and Nestor Cortes, and other key players like Freddy Fermin, Ramon Laureano, and Will Wagner [5]. These additions have propelled the Padres into contention, with a five-game winning streak and a 3 1/2-game lead on Cincinnati for the National League's last wild-card spot [5]. The Padres are also only three games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West [5].

The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, decided to sell off almost anyone they could, including key players like Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners [3]. This strategy has left them with worse odds to win the Fall Classic, dropping from 350-1 to 600-1 [3].

The Yankees have bolstered their bullpen with multiple reliever additions, which has improved their World Series odds from +1000 to +850 [3]. Despite their improved odds, the Yankees are still waiting on MVP/All-Star/heart-and-soul-of-the-team Aaron Judge to come off the 10-day IL [4]. They are also four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and only 2.5 games ahead in the wild card standings [4].

The trade deadline has seen significant shifts in the betting odds, with the Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees remaining favorites to win the 2025 World Series [2]. The Yankees and Mets have bolstered their bullpens, while the Astros made a significant move by bringing back Carlos Correa [2]. The Mariners and Padres have been among the busiest teams this trade season, looking to bolster their playoff chances [2].

References:
[1] https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/shareable-stories/analyzing-mlb-trade-deadline-impact-on-world-series-odds/video_b2330ba1-71ee-5202-8d8e-a6e4fba474a3.html
[2] https://nypost.com/2025/08/01/betting/dodgers-remain-heavy-2025-world-series-favorites-after-busy-mlb-trade-deadline/
[3] https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/biggest-winners-losers-mlb-trade-deadline-according-draftkings
[4] https://www.si.com/betting/mlb-world-series-odds-every-team-after-trade-deadline-01k1h041cam3
[5] https://www.reuters.com/sports/baseball/with-new-additions-padres-seek-subdue-cardinals-2025-08-01/