Boston was mostly quiet at this year’s non-waiver deadline, only adding reliever Craig Breslow to the mix along with minor leaguer Steven Wright. However, there were plenty of movers and shakers all around the league making big moves to ready their team in the hopes of a deep playoff run.
The Rangers made the biggest spash on the actual day of the deadline, snagging Ryan Dempster from the Cubs in exchange for a couple of minor league pitchers. However, while Dempster should help a pitching staff that had been dealing with some injuries this year, he might not have been the best pitcher shipped off this trade season.
That honor could belong to Zack Greinke, who the Los Angeles Angels grabbed from the Milwaukee Brewers last week. Greinke lost his first start for the Halos, but along with Jared Weaver, C.J. Wilson and (when healthy) Dan Haren, he comprises one of the most dangerous rotations in the majors right now.
Their Los Angeleno neighbor, however, also made a couple of big moves before the deadline. By adding Hanley Ramirez and Shane Victorino, the Dodgers indicated that they’re going for it this season. Along with Matt Kemp, HamRam and the Flyin’ Hawaiian should help pick up an inconsistent Dodger offense.
San Francisco is also looking to go for it in 2012, and have attempted to counter their rival’s moves with a couple of their own. While the Giants already have a strong rotation anchored by Matt Cain, they addressed a need for offense at the deadline by adding former Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence and scooping up former Rockies shortstop Marco Scutaro.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a trade deadline without the Yankees becoming buyers, as they added Ichiro Suzuki to help their outfield depth a little while before the deadline.
