Topps update series for me is a must-collect set because it helps me review the season and I could find some cool All-Star cards or rookie cards. A few weeks ago, I went to a card shop to buy some packs of the 2021 Topps Update series.
I did get some cool rookie cards. However, I also got a baseball card of Willy Adames in the Brewers jersey. Well, he was traded to the Brewers in the mid-season. That makes me think of some trades this season.
Willy Adames did not have a good start in 2021. In the first 41 games with the Rays, he was hitting .197/.254/.371 with 5 home runs and 15 RBI. However, things changed dramatically after he was traded to the Brewers. Adames played 99 games for the Brewers this season, slashing .285/.366/.521. Moreover, he crushed 20 home runs and collected 58 RBI. 20 home runs and 58 RBI each ranked 3rd most in the Brewers lineup during the regular season. In the postseason, Adames had 5 hits, most in the Brewers lineup. While Christian Yelich didn’t bounce back in 2021, adding Willy Adames in the Brewers lineup definitely was a great decision.
The Cubs and Joc Pederson agreed to a one-year deal in February. However, he was batting only .230/.300/.418 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 73 games with the Cubs. He was traded to the Braves in mid-July. With the Braves, he slashed .249/.325/.428 with 7 home runs and 22 RBI in 64 games. Nonetheless, you can’t ignore “Joctober”. Pederson smashed 3 home runs in the playoffs. In particular, he hit a two-run home run off Max Scherzer, tying the game at 2 in the 4th inning of NLCS Game 2.
Adam Duvall played 57 games for the Braves in 2020, batting .237/.301/.532 with 16 home runs and 33 RBI. But, he joined the Marlins this February. Duvall played 91 games for the Marlins, hitting .229/.277/.478 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI. He was traded to the Braves at the MLB trade deadline. After returning to the Braves, Duvall slashed .226/.287/.513. Duvall finished the 2021 season with a career-high 38 home runs and 113 RBI. Duvall had 3 home runs this postseason, particularly, he hit 2 home runs in the World Series.
After being non-tendered by the Twins, Eddie Rosario signed a one-year contract with the Indians. Rosario hit .254/.296/.389 in 78 games with the Indians. Nonetheless, he was placed on the IL on July 7. But, the Braves still decided to acquire him at the MLB trade deadline. Rosario only played 33 games for the Braves during the regular season. Nevertheless, he was one of the most dangerous hitters this postseason. Rosario was hitting .383/.456/.617 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI in the playoffs. In the NLCS, he slashed .560/.607/1.040 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI. Eddie Rosario was named the NLCS MVP.
In 94 games with the Royals, Jorge Soler only hit .192/.288/.370 with 13 home runs and 37 RBI. However, Soler heated up after being traded to the Braves. In 55 games with the Braves, he was batting .269/.358/.524 with 14 home runs and 33 RBI. He missed some playing time in the postseason due to being tested positive for COVID-19. Nevertheless, he came back stronger. In the World Series, Soler was hitting .300/.391/.800 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI and he became the second Cuban-born player to win World Series MVP.
These are some trades that did help the club. Willy Adames used not only his glove, but also his bat to lift the Brewers. In addition, the Braves acquired 4 outfielders after Ronald Acuna Jr. was out for the season. These 4 outfielders each crushed 3 home runs in the postseason. Those home runs and the World Series title made the trades worthwhile.
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