MLB players reveal what it's like to be traded at the deadline

TORONTO - There's arguably no time more exhilarating for Major League Baseball fans than the weeks leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline.

Contenders are trying to fill holes in their rosters, while clubs out of the playoff picture are selling assets in hopes of future success.

As exciting as the rumor season is, though, it needs to be remembered that there's a human element involved; those midseason transactions can be life-altering for those who are dealt, as well as their families.

Here's how several major leaguers recall their experience of getting traded in the weeks and days leading into the non-waiver trade deadline:

How did you find out you were traded?

DATE: Aug. 1, 2016
TO ORIOLES: Steve Pearce
TO RAYS: Jonah Heim

Steve Pearce. I was like the last guy traded at the deadline. We were sitting in the (clubhouse), and Brandon Guyer got traded right before I did. The reports were coming in live on the TV. We were all sitting and I kind of had a feeling I was going to be traded. You could see the countdown clock ending, and they were like, "And the last one is Steve Pearce back to Baltimore." So it was an interesting day, to tell you that much. We were starting to prepare for a game and there's a chance you might be traded and everybody knew it. I mean all the pitchers, coaches, sitting around us just waiting.

DATE: July 28, 2014
TO DODGERS: Darwin Barney
TO CUBS: Jonathan Martinez

Darwin Barney. I kind of knew. When I was with the Cubs, we tended to sell off in most of the years I was there, so a lot of times during the game, guys are getting taken out in the fourth and you're like, "Uh oh," and a trade went down and you're saying goodbye to guys during the game.

DATE: July 16, 2017
TO ATHLETICS: Blake Treinen, Jesus Luzardo, Sheldon Neuse
TO NATIONALS: Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson

Blake Treinen. I was tapped on the shoulder and pulled into (manager) Dusty Baker's office - (Mike) Rizzo, Bob Miller, Dusty, and Mike Maddox. They told me the direction they were going with, and that they picked up a couple of plus arms from Oakland that they weren't fortunate to have in the first half, and that I was heading out here.

DATE: July 28, 2015
TO ATHLETICS: Sean Manaea, Aaron Brooks
TO ROYALS: Ben Zobrist

Sean Manaea. I was in Double-A in the hotel room. We had just gotten back and were chilling in the room with my roommate, Kyle Zimmer. He kept bringing it up that he was looking on threads and forums and kept seeing my name pop up. I was like, "Dude, I don't want to know all these different things." My hotel phone rings and it's my manager. He says he's going to keep things short. "You've just been traded in the Ben Zobrist trade, we're going to need you to get your stuff from the field and some people from the A's are going to call you." As soon as I got off the phone, Zimmer started going crazy. "Dude, I told you, this is crazy, I knew this was gonna happen!" Then, two seconds later, we saw it on MLB Network.

DATE: Aug. 1, 2016
TO BLUE JAYS: Mike Bolsinger
TO DODGERS: Jesse Chavez

Mike Bolsinger. I got a call from maybe the GM. I was sitting eating lunch. Basically, he told me that you're traded to the Blue Jays, we appreciate everything you've done, we think you have a pretty good opportunity there, and good luck. There wasn't much talking, I packed my bags.

Who was the first person you called?

Bolsinger. It was my wife, to let her know where I was going. Then I told my parents.

Treinen. I texted my wife and just told her what was happening. We reached out to the (Athletics). We talked to (GM David) Forst and he said they would put me in contact with the right people to get me out there, and they would like to have me out there for the next day.

Manaea. I think it was my girlfriend. She's been with me for a few years now and I just thought I'd like to talk to her first. Then I called my parents and let them know what was going on. About that time, everybody was blowing me up. It was a crazy time to know what to think, it was just a whirlwind of emotions - sadness, and overall excitement.

What was the hardest part of being traded?

Barney. Family is tough. That part is tough. First impressions are also a big part of that, too. When you move to a new squad, the first impression is a real thing. How you perform early is important.

Treinen. I mean, you have to uproot your family from a place you were living, but outside of that, you kind of expect it.

Barney. It's never a relief, it's always a shock. People tend to get comfortable no matter what. The idea of change, whether you're used to it or not, is already a little bit rattling, especially when you have family. At the end of the day, it's part of it, it's part of our job, it's still baseball. I don't think anyone wants to be traded - unless something happens where they want to be traded - but when it happens, it's a shock.

What's it like going into a new clubhouse?

Manaea. It was nuts. I kind of just had my bag, walked in, and was like, "Hi guys." I didn't really say much else. Went to the training room, shook the manager's hand.

Pearce. Oh, for sure (it was easier going back to Baltimore). You don't have to get re-acclimated with a new team. There were only like five new guys on that team I didn't know, and out of those guys, four of them I probably played against at one point in my life, so I knew who they were. The transition was cake.

Bolsinger. It's weird. Especially during the middle of the season when you don't know too many people. With the Dodgers, I was pretty comfortable that year, then you have to restart everything, meet new people, learn new things. It's a little nerve-racking.

Barney. It's a lot of different things. I would say it's exciting. It's a little bit hard getting to know new people at a certain time. It's a lot easier going to a winner.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Some quotes have been edited for clarity