As the MLB Trade Deadline looms close, the always-exciting frenzy of teams making potentially season-altering moves has begun.

After Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto announced they had made their first deadline deal - a three-player trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, acquiring righty flamethrower Jordan Hicks in exchange for RHPs Adam Kloffenstein (AA, unranked) and Sem Robberse (AA, #7 prospect).

Though having struggled in 2021 and 2022, Hicks has turned it around this season posting a 3.67 ERA and a 3.02 FIP. His K/9 rate also significantly increased, jumping to a whopping 12.7 - the highest of his career. His previous high was in 2019, with a 9.7 K/9. His H/9 rate has risen, however, while his BB/9 and HR/9 have remained roughly the same in years past. With Jordan Romano being placed on the IL, alongside Chad Greene’s recovery being in full swing, Hicks will likely be the de facto closer for the foreseeable future - and a part of a great bullpen overall.

Heading the other way are two right-handed pitching prospects, Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse. Kloffenstein was a 3rd-round pick in 2018 and has had success in Toronto’s system reaching AA this year and posting a 3.24 ERA over 89 innings (17 starts). He’s only 22, and although he doesn’t have the mega-strikeout numbers one might expect for a 6’5” starter (105 K’s this season), Kloffenstein has mastered the art of weak contact. Robberse, like Kloffenstein, has been a member of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats rotation in 2023 and has posted a 4.06 over 18 starts (88 ⅔ innings). He’s 21, and - notably - from Zeist, a town in the Netherlands with a population of roughly 65,000. Robberse was terrific with Vancouver last year and is on pace for a third straight season with 100+ innings pitched.

As Jordan Hicks joins Toronto’s roster, righty Mitch White has been DFA’d by the club. If nobody claims him, he shall report to AAA Buffalo. Toronto also announced that recently-DFA’d RHP Trent Thornton has been dealt to the Seattle Mariners, in exchange for INF Mason McCoy.

Alongside Jordan Hicks being moved, a number of other deadline deals have already been made as is outlined below:

RANGERS - LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Chris Stratton

CARDINALS - LHP John King, RHP Tekoah Roby (#11 prospect), INF Thomas Saggese (#14 prospect)

BRAVES - INF Nicky Lopez

ROYALS - LHP Taylor Hearn

RANGERS - RHP Max Scherzer, Cash Considerations

METS - INF Luisangel Acuna (#3 prospect)

ANGELS - OF Randal Grichuk, 1B C.J. Cron

ROCKIES - LHP Mason Albright (#28 prospect), RHP Jake Madden (#8 prospect)

ASTROS - RHP Kendall Graveman

WHITE SOX - C Korey Lee (#5 prospect)

DODGERS - RHP Lance Lynn, RHP Joe Kelly

WHITE SOX - OF Trayce Thompson, RHP Nick Nastrini, RHP Jordan Leasure

MARLINS - RHP David Robertson

METS - INF Marco Vargas (#18 prospect), C Ronald Hernandez (#21 prospect)

BREWERS - 1B Carlos Santana

PIRATES - INF Jhonny Severino

ANGELS - RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Reynaldo Lopez

WHITE SOX - C Edgar Quero (#2 prospect), LHP Ky Bush (#3 prospect)

DODGERS - SS Amed Rosario

GUARDIANS - RHP Noah Syndergaard

MARLINS - RHP Jorge Lopez

TWINS - RHP Dylan Floro

DODGERS - UTL Enrique Hernandez, Cash Considerations

RED SOX - RHP Nick Robertson (#25 prospect), RHP Justin Hagenman

BRAVES - RHP Pierce Johnson

ROCKIES - RHP Victor Vodnik, RHP Tanner Gordon

ORIOLES - RHP Shintaro Fujinami

ATHLETICS - LHP Easton Lucas

Sportstree will provide a comprehensive list of all MLB Trade Deadline moves following the closing of trading on August 1st.