The St. Louis Cardinals strengthened their bullpen by acquiring Shawn Armstrong from the Tampa Bay Rays, showing their determination to enhance pitching depth even post-deadline, with the potential of targeting recently DFA'd Rafael Montero from the Astros. Similarly, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, both active around the trade deadline, are also considering Montero to add veteran depth. The Yankees, busy with significant trades, including acquiring Jazz Chisholm Jr., are in a prime position for a strong playoff push but face future decisions regarding free agents, notably Juan Soto. Soto's former hitting coach, Kevin Long, believes that Soto's move to the Yankees was beneficial, as he thrives in a winning environment. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have shown a commitment to improving their team with multiple acquisitions, aiming to bolster their playoff chances despite recent struggles in closing games.