THOUGHT PROCESS: NYY: Verdugo's salary of $8.7mm & Kahnle's salary of $5.75mm push the team up against the tax threshold, making it difficult to add a FA starter without dumping the cash. While Peraza would find reps in the Bronx, with Volpe, Torres, LeMahieu, Cabrera, and additional MI depth in the minors, losing him doesn't kill the team. Schmidt, though he's under control for more time, is replaced by Burnes for '24 -- allowing NYY to optimize what could be the last year of Soto, Rizzo, Torres, Holmes, & Loaisiga. Effross rocks and has long-term control, but they can survive that hit to get a top-notch starter. Megill takes a spot in the NYY bullpen to help make up for the loss of both bullpen arms. As for the Mitchell acquisition, he's a cheap, athletic, left-handed outfielder who can do what Verdugo was supposed to and more. He's under control and is a long-term insurance option in case Steve Cohen steals Soto from the Bronx after this season. He also adds a different dynamic (speed+defense) to a team that could use it. Payroll-wise, they drop about $17mm before taking on Burnes $15.65mm salary. Not bad. MIL: The Brewers want to compete this year, but they also know that Burnes, Adames, Williams, and more could be gone at season's end. They have a surplus of outfielders for this year and beyond with Yelich, Chourio, Wiemer, & Frelick. So sacrificing Mitchell won't kill 'em. And Burnes -- He's great, but you want to maximize the return you get for him. In this deal, the Brew Crew sets themselves up for success moving forward. They get Oswald Peraza to add to their IF mix, Schmidt to take Burnes spot (not same caliber, but longer-term control) for years to come, and Effross to take over for Williams if/when he departs. They also take Kahnle's salary on (but could be getting a hugely helpful bullpen arm, depending on how he bounces back). Losing Megill isn't a big deal, given the bullpen arms coming in. Vodnik provides a depth option and Goodman gives them one more option at first-base, a position they don't have figured out. The sacrifice of one year of an ace and a lot of years of an expendable outfielder allow them to fill multiple holes cost-effectively for the long term. COL: Verdugo plugs into right field, alongside Doyle & Jones on the grass. This allows Blackmon to stay at DH full-time & Bryant to play 1B full-time to avoid injury. It's a one-year fix, so he doesn't bog down the payroll for the years when the team actually has an eye on competing, but his bat helps the offense and his glove will make pitchers look a little better. Plus, he could be a mid-season trade candidate to bulk back up on prospects. LaGrange adds some pitching depth to an organization that always needs it. And Vodnik & Goodman aren't really key pieces of the future. It might sound silly for the Rockies to invest in a team that won't win...but getting another quality OF onboard for a season impacts the fans and impacts the team. And shows the rest of the West that they're not going to just give up on finding success.

The Brewers want SP for Burnes and Schmidt isn't close to the return they are looking for. This trade does not fill "multiple holes" for Milwaukee. They get much worse at SP, the bull pen is already solid and Goodman doesn't do much to fill 1B. They get an inf. prospect, but get worse in the OF. Milwaukee counters with: Yankees keep Effross & get Vodnik+Goodman. Brewers get Hampton+Gil+V. Gonzalez.