The trade deadline is over, and the Phillies, Yankees, and Mets made some pertinent pickups.

Initially, it looked like it might be another year of overblown hype, but all three teams — and other teams — had a flurry of activity in the closing hours.

However, did each team further position themselves toward a World Series title? Or did each of them do what they needed to stay within striking distance of each other?

We’ll take an early look, and see how the final chapters play out.

Also, I’ll look back at a former Tamaqua and Kutztown University product.

You Got It Right ... In a Times News Lehighton Facebook poll, the question was posed whether or not the Phillies should trade for an established closer?

Well, 75 percent of the voters were on the same wavelength as Phillies’ president Dave Dombrowski, who pulled the trigger to get a prime closer.

The remaining 25 percent believed the Phils should have stayed status quo.

Lehighton’s Melissa Hammer Hager wrote and suggested Philly pick up Oakland’s Mason Miller, but he was shipped to the Padres (more on them below).

It was a good suggestion Melissa, and my choice. Thanks for your regular responses each week.

Duran, Duran ... The Phillies did generate some tremors when they acquired 27-year-old Twins’ closer Jhoan Duran for pitching prospect Mick Abel and fellow prospect catcher Eduardo Tait, who is ranked as the 56th overall best prospect.

Yet, the Phillies got their highly coveted closer in Duran. He started slowly in 2024 after an oblique strain after he notched 27 saves with a 2.45 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 62.1 innings in 2023.

Last season, Duran didn’t regain his previous stature as he recorded 23 saves to a tune of a 3.45 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 54 innings. His WHIP jumped from 1.139 to 1.160.

This season, Duran has apparently regained his form with 16 saves in 49 games and 53 strikeouts in 49.1 innings and a 2.01 ERA. Before his Phillies’ debut, Duran had faced 206 batters, and his season high was 266. In 2023, Duran was clocked at 104, and he has been consistently around 100 the last two seasons.

With a change of scenery to a true World Series contender, Duran should regain his dominance of two years ago.

Duran can easily be mentioned in the same sentence with the club’s best closers — Brad Lidge, Jonathan Papelbon, Billy Wagner and Steve Bedrosian as hard throwers.

One immediate good sign about Duran is that he makes a paltry $4 million and is arbitration eligible next season and not a free agent until 2028.

In recent weeks, Duran and Twins’ starter Joe Ryan were rumored to be in the Yankees’ plans.

Can’t Make It Up ... You couldn’t have written a better ending to the Phils 5-4 comeback victory Saturday night.

Duran entered the ninth inning running from the bullpen to a thunderous applause, and he threw just four pitches — the first one a 98 mph splitter — to get his first Phillies’ save.

Stay tuned.

Out in Left Field ... With the acquisition of outfielder Harrison Bader from the Twins, another question the Phils have to answer is who will play left field?

When he was recently with the Mets, Bader played primarily in center field. With the Twins, he played all three outfield positions, hitting .258 with 12 homers, 38 RBIs and an OPS of .778.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking.

Is he the answer for the struggling Max Kepler, who entered Friday’s game with a .203 clip, 10 homers, 33 RBIs, and an OPS of .655? As you likely know, Kepler was in the starting lineup Friday night, and manager Rob Thomson has been reluctant to pull the plug.

A reliable source told me a popular plan is to DFA Kepler, have Bader and Brandon Marsh platoon in center and have prospect Justin Crawford take over in left. Bader could also see some time in left. Johan Rojas (.224) was sent down to Lehigh Valley, and it looks like it could be in motion.

Crawford entered Friday’s game with a .325 average, three homers, 31 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases (in 42 attempts), 69 strikeouts and 48 walks in 329 at-bats with an .836 OPS.

The 21-year-old was mentioned in trade discussions, and he apparently could have landed Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan in a trade.

The Phils have been apprehensive to recall Crawford, as they would like to see him have a full season at Lehigh Valley. But this may be the perfect time to insert him in left field and the leadoff spot in the pennant chase.

Kwan’s Kase ... Both the Mets and Yankees — reportedly more the Yankees — were in hot pursuit of Kwan to fill the same role the Phillies envisioned him.

The 27-year-old Kwan is a three-time Gold Glover and is under contract for two more years. He was hitting .286 with nine homers and 38 RBIs along with a .788 OPS. Kwan has struck out only 38 times in 402 at-bats, and just 225 times over 2,083 career at-bats.

The Yankees wanted Kwan to solve leadoff and left field issues, but they wouldn’t part with top prospects Jasson Dominquez, Spencer Jones or George Lombard.

They may regret not sending Dominquez for Kwan, as the current Guardian does put the ball in play and would set the top of the lineup.

Mets’ Mania ... The Mets may have created the majors’ best bullpen with the pickups of Ryan Helsley, sidearmer Tyler Rogers (Giants) and ex-Phillie Gregory Soto, who are all rentals this seasons. Helsley, the former Cardinals’ closer, is viewed as the setup man for closer Edwin Diaz.

Their new trio gives them a possible seven-deep bullpen card with the likes of Reid Garrett, Brooks Raley, Rico Garcia and Ryan Stanek.

The Mets also solved their lack of offense in center field by getting the Orioles’ Cedric Mullins, who was hitting a modest .229 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs and a .738 OPS.

But Mullins hit .290 in July with three homers, 10 RBIs and 20 hits. He is a career .250 hitter with 101 homers over seven previous seasons with the Orioles. His best season was in 2021 when he hit .291 with 30 homers, 59 RBIs, and a .878 OPS.

The Mets hoped to land White Sox center fielder Luis Robert, but Mullins should solve their problem.

With a deep pitching staff and plenty of offensive depth, the Mets loom as an NL pennant favorite.

Yankees Yearnings ... Like the Mets, the Yankees’ did a much-needed revamp to their bullpen by adding closers Dave Bednar (Pirates), Camilo Doval (Giants) and reliever Jake Bird (Rockies).

Those moves were a quick solution to a shaky bullpen, as closers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver — both free agents at the end of the season — weren’t the answer.

The Yanks didn’t add a big bat — see Kwan above — but their pitching seems more solidified, especially with starter Luis Gil expected back soon.

Still, the Yanks added shortstop Jose Caballero from Seattle and with versatile Amed Rosario, they have a duo that can spell Anthony Volpe, who hasn’t found his mark.

As long as the Yanks stay within striking distance of Toronto, they should be in the postseason. The AL field looks weak.

Gonna Be a Showdown ... San Diego definitely made their intentions clear of gunning for a championship when they retooled their lineup.

Besides Miller, the Padres acquired outfielders/designated hitters Ramon Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn from the Orioles, catcher Freddie Fermin from the Royals, starting pitchers Nestor Cortes (Brewers) and J.P. Sears (A’s), and infielder Will Wagner (Blue Jays).

Manny Machado is having a banner season with 20 homers, 71 RBIs, a .302 average, and an .871 OPS campaign, and ex-Phil Nick Pivetta is 10-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 121.2 innings.

The Padres entered last Friday three games behind the Dodgers, and the two teams each have home three-game sets remaining. San Francisco and Arizona appear to be setting in the West.

Once again, the Dodgers’ season has been marred by injuries. Since they started 6-0 and 21-10 and looked invincible with a deep team, the Dodgers have evened with a 42-36 mark.

Blake Snell will make his first start Saturday since April 2, and Roki Sasaki is expected back soon. Relievers Tanner Scott, Michael Kopech, Tony Gonsolin and Brusdar Graterol should also all return soon.

Third baseman Max Muncy and first baseman/outfielder Kike Hernandez are in their final stages of rehab.

In case you missed it, Shohei Ohtani leads the league with 38 homers, but he is hitting just .269. The Dodgers should also abandon his pitching experiment, as it hasn’t worked out.

Like the Mets and Phillies, this should be a race to the wire.

Scrapbook ... Each column, I’ll turn back the pages and review the career from a former local standout.

Tamaqua’s Bo Rottet was a four-year starter at shortstop and the team’s leadoff hitter. He helped the Blue Raiders to consecutive District 11 championships and state quarterfinal and semifinal appearances.

The 2015 graduate hit .325 for his career, and recorded 103 hits. During his junior year, Rottet hit .446 season, won six games and posted a 2.15 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 39 innings. As a result, Rottet was named the Times News 2014 Player of the Year.

Rottet continued his career at Kutztown University, where he played shortstop and hit leadoff for four seasons. During his junior year, Rottet led the Golden Bears in average (.342) hits (55), stolen bases (9) doubles (11), triples (4), games (47), slugging percentage (.442), walks (18), and on-base percentage (.422).

Overall, Rottet hit .293 with 160 hits, 74 RBIs, .389 on-base percentage, and a .394 slugging percentage over four years.

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