Not a lot of deals, but a few interesting and quite surprising ones. eek!

Boston, Cubs, Twins, and Expos in a four way deal

Boston gets Meintkiewicz (Twins) and Cabrera (Expos)
Cubs get Garciaparra (what a steal for the cubs!)
Expos get Alex Gonzalez (Cubs)(why?), and minor leaguers
Twins get a minor leaguer

This helps Boston lower its payroll for next season and still have a top-tier SS. I'm not sure why they need Mientkiewicz. This is better than getting nothing for Garciaparra in free agency, but its a problem that management created themselves.
Cubs get a big name that will please fans and is a definite upgrade over Gonzalez. And their improved lineup will help in their run for the wild-card. The Poor Expos lose yet another All-Star and get not much in return, unless the prospects turn out well. Twins unload some salary and get to put a top prospect in the lineup (Morneau)


The Mets acquired starters Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano from the Pirates and Devils Rays respectively. I guess the Mets are trying to make a run to please the fans.


Yankees send Contreras to White Sox for Loiza (I don't get this deal at all from the White Sox. They trade for a weaker and probably older pitcher and they are only 4 GB of the twins)


Steve Finley and Brent Mayne sent to the Dodgers for Bill Murphy (who was acquired from the DoLuca trade) and two more minor leaguers.
Dodgers also sent Dave Roberts to the Red Sox for a minor leaguer and sent reliever Tom Martin to the Braves for pitcher Matt Merricks.


Most improved team from the deadline has to be the Marlins who got DoLuca, Mota, and Encarnacion from the Dodgers for Penny, Choi, and a Pitching prospect.


Dodgers are second overall in the national league and in the last two days have traded LoDuca, Mota, Encarnacion, Roberts, Martin, and some prospects for Finley, Penny, Choi, Mayne, and prospects. I don't recall the last time a first place team has messed with their roster this late in the season. :confused:

Cardinals have to be the clear favourite in the NL now.

The Diamondbacks traded Roberto Alomar to the White Sox today. If July 31 was the trade deadline, how did this deal happen todsy? Or was the July 31 deadline for postseason roster eligibility?

George, the July 31 deadline didn't mean ALL trades couldn't occur; rather, trades without any waivers could occur. Once the deadline passed, trades still could be made, but there are some logistical hurdles to overcome (waivers and all).

I think July 31 is the deadline for a trade without the player having to clear waivers. So Randy johnson is not going to be traded, because any one of a number of teams would claim him off waivers. But Roberto Alomar gets traded because teams will see his name on the waiver wire, say "he's still playing?" and pass.

Dammit, if I had looked at this two minutes earlier I would've gotten the first reply! wink

The postseason roster deadline is still August 31st, I believe.

[ August 05, 2004, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]