3 Teams That Stocked up for 2020 at the MLB Trade Deadline

The 2019 MLB trade deadline is officially in the rear-view mirror, with players like Zack Greinke and Nicholas Castellanos finding new homes on teams gunning for a ring in 2019. Some teams, however, are playing the long game rather than trading assets for success in 2019. These three clubs added a couple strong players that should help them compete next year.

3. New York Mets

New York Mets v Chicago White Sox / David Banks/Getty Images

The Mets being the team that pounced on Marcus Stroman, especially at the price of a top pitching prospect like Anthony Kay, left many of us shaking our heads in bewilderment. However, Stroman does have one year left on his deal after this season, and the Mets were widely expected to be contending for a playoff spot before Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz totally busted open at the seams. On paper, the Mets should be in the thick of it, and adding Stroman to their already strong rotation will help make that a possibility in 2020.

2. Cleveland Indians

San Diego Padres v Miami Marlins / Eric Espada/Getty Images

The Indians managed to get two 20-plus home run outfielders, two top left-handed pitching prospects, and a promising young infielder in Victor Nova in exchange for the disappointing Trevor Bauer. Even though Yasiel Puig is a free agent, they still have a Top-100 prospect in Logan Allen, the impressive Scott Moss, and Franmil Reyes' prolific power (and he's locked up for five more seasons). The Indians traded from a position of strength and managed to add players that could help them steal the AL Central crown in 2019 and help them protect it in the future.

1. Arizona Diamondbacks

Miami Marlins v Los Angeles Dodgers / Harry How/Getty Images

Diamondbacks fans probably aren't thrilled about seeing Zack Greinke go, but they managed to set themselves up nicely for years to come. In exchange for a guy hitting .204 in Double-A prospect Jazz Chisholm, they swung a deal with the Miami Marlins for promising right-hander Zac Gallen. In the Greinke deal, they added three top-100 guys in Corbin Martin, JB Bukauskus and Seth Beer, one of which (Martin) has already debuted in the majors. This year might be bleak, but 2020 and beyond should have Arizona fans pumped up.