10 Trade Deadline Rentals That Won Their Team a World Series
Trade deadline rentals either fade into obscurity by September or become indispensable by October. These 15 players joined their teams midseason on expiring deals and helped finish the job with a championship.
Steve Pearce – 2018 Red Sox
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Boston needed right-handed pop and got far more. Pearce hit well after the trade, then crushed three home runs in the World Series—including two in the clinching Game 5. His production on the biggest stage earned him the World Series MVP. Not bad for someone acquired in a low-key division trade.
Jorge Soler – 2021 Braves
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Soler didn’t waste time settling in after arriving in Atlanta. His go-ahead moonshot in Game 6 of the World Series traveled over the train tracks and broke the game open. That was his third homer of the series. He walked away with MVP honors and gave Atlanta exactly what they needed.
Johnny Cueto – 2015 Royals
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Cueto was up-and-down after joining the Royals, but his World Series Game 2 outing was a gem. A complete-game two-hitter gave Kansas City control of the series. They rode that momentum through to the finish and ended a 30-year title drought.
Marco Scutaro – 2012 Giants
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Scutaro hit .362 in the regular season after coming over in July, but his playoff performance defined his trade value. He was named NLCS MVP after batting .500 and helped the Giants sweep Detroit in the World Series. His steady presence proved essential during San Francisco’s title run.
Ben Zobrist – 2015 Royals
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Zobrist brought flexibility, but Kansas City actually needed his bat. He delivered by hitting .284 down the stretch and batting .303 in the World Series. Zobrist had key hits scattered throughout the postseason and kept the Royals’ offense moving at a time when every run mattered.
Orlando Cabrera – 2004 Red Sox
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Cabrera didn’t replace Nomar Garciaparra’s bat, but his glove turned Boston’s defense around. The Red Sox went 42–18 after the trade, and Cabrera stabilized the infield as they ended their 86-year title drought. His postseason contributions helped complete one of the most famous turnarounds in baseball history.
Aroldis Chapman – 2016 Cubs
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The Cubs needed a finisher, and Chapman delivered for most of the run. He posted a 1.01 ERA and notched 16 saves after the trade. Though his Game 7 was rocky, his earlier dominance helped Chicago hang on and snap the longest championship drought in American sports history.
Ugueth Urbina – 2003 Marlins
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Florida’s bullpen needed a shot in the arm. Urbina showed up with a 1.41 ERA in 33 games, became the most trusted reliever in the playoffs, and closed out World Series Game 4. The Marlins stunned the Yankees in six, and Urbina was in the middle of nearly all the tense moments.
David Justice – 2000 Yankees
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The Yankees added Justice to boost their offense, and he delivered with 20 home runs in 78 games. His clutch homer in ALCS Game 6 helped eliminate Seattle. New York then beat the Mets in the World Series and gave Justice his second career title and the Yankees their third in a row.
David Cone – 1992 Blue Jays
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Cone joined Toronto in July, made seven starts with a 2.55 ERA, and started Game 6 of the ALCS. The Blue Jays won their first World Series behind a deeper rotation, and Cone’s veteran presence gave them the edge in October. His arrival signaled Toronto’s full-on title push.
Jake Peavy – 2014 Giants
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Peavy stabilized a shaky rotation after being acquired from Boston. He posted a 2.17 ERA over 12 starts and helped the Giants secure a postseason berth. Though overshadowed by Madison Bumgarner, Peavy pitched in all three playoff rounds as San Francisco won its third title in five years.
Mike Devereaux – 1995 Braves
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Devereaux wasn’t exactly a household name when the Braves traded for him in August, but he made his mark fast. His walk-off single in NLCS Game 1 set the tone, and he earned series MVP. He didn’t play much in the World Series, but he helped the Braves finally get over the hump.
César Cedeño – 1985 Cardinals
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Cedeño didn’t arrive until late August, but in 28 games, he hit .434 and drove in 19 runs and helped the Cardinals hold off the Mets. Though he saw limited time in the postseason, his September surge was instrumental in St. Louis reaching—and winning—the World Series.