And so ends one of the most entertaining trade deadlines I can remember. This time around, the rumored deals of big names quite frequently came to fruition, and we even finally saw deals consummated for a few players who had been the subject of whispers for years, such as Troy Tulowitzki.
Unlike the playoffs, an invitation-only event, the trade deadline is one in which all 30 teams get to participate. While players can still be traded after the July 31 deadline, August trades more commonly feature the less exciting and the more overpaid, because players must pass through waivers first.
With everybody in a transactin' mood, it's an important time for teams to fulfill their short- and long-term goals. How did each team do? Let's rank 'em all from best to worst.
1. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have the best run differential in the American League, but by mostly sticking around the .500 mark, they've underperformed this season. Toronto is in win-now mode more than most teams in baseball, so paying a heavy price for David Price, who shores up the team's weakest part, makes sense. The Tulowitzki trade, just as big as the Price trade, is one that will benefit the Jays beyond this season, so even if they've traded away some of their future, Tulo gives them some of that future back. Even if the Jays are right to think they're a better team than the one they've played like -- and I think they are -- they have ground to make up and need an excellent August/September run to have a shot at catching the Yankees. Ben Revere gives them another league-average outfielder, and while LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe won't make any big headlines, they will shore up the bullpen depth.