MLB trade deadline grades: How pundits across baseball rated A's moves

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The MLB trade deadline is over and Noah Syndergaard is not a member of the A's. 

Homer Bailey was acquired by the Royals on July 14th to begin the process, but the Green and Gold wasn't done adding to the rotation. 

The team acquired a starter in Tanner Roark on Wednesday in a trade sending prospect Jameson Hannah to the Cincinnati Reds. There were also cash considerations in the trade.

Jake Diekman also was acquired from the Royals a few days ahead of the Wednesday cutoff time in a trade for two prospects to add some bullpen relief. 

With all the transactions the A's made, or didn't make, how did the organization do overall? Here's how others across the baseball world rated the A's front office's efforts to acquire Roark.

Grades

Dayn Perry, CBS Sports
Grade:
B
What they're saying: "By recent Oakland standards, this was a strong contender's deadline. Tanner Roark upgrades the rotation, and Homer Bailey gives them depth, at least theoretically. As well, Jake Diekman gives them a third lefty in the bullpen. Catching the post-Greinke Astros in the NL West is a longshot, but the A's solidified their grip on a wild-card spot."

Emma Baccellieri, Sports Illustrated
Grade:
B-
What they're saying: "Oakland’s big move of the day was picking up Tanner Roark, which feels extremely on-brand—a middle-of-the-rotation addition to bolster an unexpected playoff run is just as A’s as an A’s move can be. It’s practical, if not very exciting. But Oakland’s rotation is shaky enough that it really could have benefitted from adding an extra arm here, and Roark doesn’t quite do the trick."

Zachary D. Rymer, Bleacher Report
Grade:
B+
What they're saying: "We liked the idea of an A's trade for Roark. It's nice to find out that they thought so, too.
Roark will slot into a staff that's done fine with a 4.10 ERA but had a clear need for a reliable veteran innings-eater. That's Roark in a nutshell. He only has a 4.24 ERA this season, but his pitch-to-contact style should work well with Oakland's strong defense and huge home ballpark.
Roark, 32, is making a hefty $10 million in his final season before free agency, but Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that $2.1 million of that will be on the Reds."

Winners or Losers?

David Schoenfield, ESPN: Neither, but he liked it
What they said: "This is not a comprehensive review of every trade, but I did like the A's picking Tanner Roark in the most A's trade the A's could make."

Eric Stephen, SB Nation: Loser (Tanner Roark)
To preface, Roark discovered of his trade to the A's while he was at an Arby's.

What they said: "Roark was driving ahead to Cincinnati’s next stop, in Atlanta, when he learned he had been dealt to the A’s. His delicious processed meat was rudely interrupted with the news of his new destination. By sending minor league outfielder Jameson Hannah to the Reds, the A’s were able to meat Cincinnati’s demand. It’s just too bad that Roark’s roast beef quest was interrupted, even briefly."

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