Winners and Losers

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is over and most of the contending teams made their respected teams better and some saw their talent drop. I figured that when I got home from work there would have been more transactions on ESPN.com, but a couple of names that will be in Cooperstown someday did make the July 31st deadline day very interesting. Here's a list of my winners and losers during the week of the deadline.

WINNERS

NEW YORK YANKEES - Far and away did the most before the deadline, and for once they made deals that we finally understand and makes sense instead of them just getting the big name just to get one. With key injuries to a couple of starters in their line up the Yankees did what they had to, to make another second half run and win the AL East. Hideki Matsui goes down in comes Xavier Nady. Jorge Posada goes down, in comes former League MVP Ivan Rodriguez. Kyle Fransworth gets traded for Rodriguez because they added Damaso Marte to help fill the void. Not to mention that they added a minor leaguer from the Washington Nationals in relief pitcher Jhonny Nunez to make up for the minor leaguers they gave up to Pittsburgh. I really love what the Yanks did to make their run. They were smart, they didn't get too crazy, and to me they are back as a huge force in the AL, again. The only problem I had with the Yanks was they didn't add a starter, but I guess you can't get everything.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM - The addition of Mark Teixiera from the Atlanta Braves for Casey Kotchman and Steve Marek was a huge move for a team that is already filled with great hitters. For the second straight year Teixiera is a victim of a deadline trade, but last year going to the Braves didn't involve the post-season. The Angels are well on their way to the post-season for another World Series title and have to be very happy with their acquisition of Teixiera. I had already thought that they were the front runners before the trade now I believe if they don't this will be a very disappointing season.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS - The Dodgers have had a very disappointing season offensive up to this point. They play in a wide open NL West where it seems to me that nobody really wants to win. Yet, before the trade deadline, not only did they add 3B Casey Blake who had a great postseason a year ago but they add, in my opinion, the greatest right hand hitter I have ever seen. Manny Ramirez and his entourage in his brain head to LA and gets to play for a coach that knows how to coach players with egos. If I am Joe Torre I am going to get a good night sleep before my weekend series knowing that he will be able to write Manny Ramirez in his line up. Dodgers will now be a major player in the NL West down the stretch, mark my words!

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Ken Griffey Jr. said that he would waive his no-trade clause to play for a contender to finally get a chance to play in the World Series. And he did exactly that! Junior going to the White Sox really shocked me, but I understand why they did it. Paul Konerko hasn't played well at all and they really needed to find a way to get him out of the lineup for the AL Central title run. Junior will be playing center field again, and I really feel he could get regenerated for the chance to play in the postseason again. Now, I realize this isn't the Junior of the '90s but he still has power and hasn't played for a contender for a long time. Time to step up "Kid"!

LOSERS

BOSTON RED SOX - Sorry Red Sox fans but it will be a struggle to make the playoffs now. Acquiring Jason Bay for Manny Ramirez was something that they had to do but like they knew, they couldn't and wouldn't get a good deal. Jason Bay is a great player, great human being, he was an All-Star, and I wish him well. But, when has this kid played for a team that wasn't in last place. It is going to be interesting how he handles playing in Boston, on that field, in the same position of a guy that was traded for him that won them 2 World Series titles. On top of all that, they still had to part ways with minor leaguers that have played in the majors as well. Top prospects RHP Craig Hansen and OF Branden Moss were also dealt in part of this major trade. I guess since none of us "really know" the situation in Boston we can only speculate that Manny was a bigger problem than we thought and they were willing to do anything, including missing the playoffs, to get him out of their clubhouse.

DETROIT TIGERS - I am going to make this short. Please tell me why you needed Kyle Farnsworth and wanted to part ways with a well known leader in your clubhouse in Ivan Rodriguez for a second half run with two teams still ahead of you. Still baffled!

NEW YORK METS, PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, TAMPA BAY RAYS - No deals made before the deadline only means that you are happy with what you have and are ultimately going to live with what you got. I don't want to hear anything from these organizations the rest of the year, especially the Rays! You finally....FINALLY have a contender and you want to save your money and keep the guys you have? You still need bullpen help, and it wouldn't hurt you to go after another big bat or a starting pitcher. You have never made the postseason, AREN'T YOU TIRED OF THAT!!!!!