Baseball's trading deadline passed last week, which calls for a clinical examination of which teams "won" and "lost" in the exchange of players.
But first, we pause to acknowledge a human moment in the swell of business. The Houston Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris was sent to the Baltimore Orioles. Two days later he pitched against his former teammates, winning the game with six strong innings.
"To be thrown into the fire … and be able to control my emotions was pretty special," the right-hander, 28, told MLB.com, while admitting how strange it felt when he glanced into the Houston Astros dugout early in the game.
"I told myself, 'Let's not do that again'."
Norris, of course, was one of the deadline winners, going from the worst team in baseball to a play-off contender. Oddly, his new and old teams were winners, as well, in the July trading period.
A look at the field:
Biggest winners
Baltimore In addition to Norris, the starter Scott Feldman and the reliever Francisco Rodriguez joined the O's staff, giving them the pitching help they needed.
Houston They came out ahead by shipping Norris, the closer Jose Veras and the outfielder Justin Maxwell for a truckload of what they are currently "auditioning" for the future - top-shelf prospects.
Boston Jake Peavy was the best pitcher available in what turned out to be a limited market, and the price (the shortstop Jose Iglesias and lesser prospects) was not too steep.
Detroit Adding Veras to the bullpen and acquiring Iglesias to take over if/when shortstop Jhonny Peralta is suspended for his part in the Biogenesis scandal were crucial.
Chicago Cubs Their rebuilding project was aided by dealing away Feldman, and fellow pitchers Matt Garza and Carlos Marmol and, best of all, by the opportunistic dumping of Alfonso Soriano's monstrous contract.
Biggest losers
Philadelphia Out of contention, the Phils gambled that this is just an off year – that the high-priced veterans (and the potential trading pieces) Michael Young, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon and Chase Utley will be part of a big rebound next season.
Pittsburgh Contenders for the first time in two decades, the Pirates failed to add hitting help. A rookie-type mistake for a team not used to being there?
Seattle The non-contending M's inexplicably held on to soon-to-be-free-agents Raul Ibanez and Kendrys Morales when they could have bartered them for cheaper, better fits with their core of talented young players.
Cincinnati Battling for a play-off spot and no moves were made. Such confidence in an under-performing roster.
Arizona Despite being close to the National League West lead, they acted like non-contenders, shipping out the slumping former No 1 pitcher Ian Kennedy.
The good news for the "losers?" This month, the waiver wire comes alive.
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