As with past deadline deals these will be highly scrutinized for many years. Instantly we see and decide who got the better end of the deal, but we really won’t know until at least two or three seasons down the road. The only way to know in real time is if the team getting the established major leaguer goes on to win a World Series. Time will tell if that happens this year with the flurry of names (a few marquee ones) being dealt this July.

Detroit Tigers > Chicago Cubs

P Justin Wilson, C Alex Avila = 3B Jeimer Candelario, SS Isaac Paredes, player to be named or cash

Besides acquiring Jose Quintana earlier in the month from their crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs shored up their bullpen and received a catcher in the process. Not that it was necessary to attach Avila to the trade, but getting a solid backstop who can hit as well wasn’t a bad idea. Wilson is a perfect setup to their closer Wade Davis for the stretch run to October.

New York Mets > Boston Red Sox

P Addison Reed = P Stephen Nogosek, P Jamie Callahan, P Gerson Bautista

Without admitting it, the Mets threw in the towel by trading away their closer to the Red Sox. Boston adds a hard throwing right-hander who can be a solid bridge to their closer Craig Kimbrel.

Minnesota Twins > Washington Nationals

P Brandon Kintzler = P Tyler Watson

This move on its own doesn’t look impressive, but when you couple it with the previous acquisition of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle from the Oakland Athletics. Kudos to the Nationals for turning their biggest weakness into a strength in less than a month.

Toronto Blue Jays > Houston Astros

P Francisco Liriano = OF Nori Aoki, OF Teoscar Hernandez

This trade is only being pointed out to make the observation that the Astros might have some regrets. If the teams they were talking to weren’t being very pro-active in discussions, so be it. If Houston was balking at making a big move to hold on to potential replacements in the future, for shame. Yu Darvish would have been exactly what they needed to cement themselves as the best team in the American League.

Oakland Athletics > New York Yankees

P Sonny Gray = INF/OF Jorge Mateo, OF Dustin Fowler, P James Kaprielian

We expected Sonny Gray to be traded and it finally happened. The Yankees made the move and have solidified their rotation for this season and the next two with Gray having two more years of arbitration. Not giving up their best prospects to make this move shows that GM Brian Cashman is firmly in control of all personnel decisions for this club.

Texas Rangers > Los Angeles Dodgers

P Yu Darvish = 2B Willie Calhoun, P A.J. Alexy, SS Brendon Davis

Like Houston in the American League, the Dodgers had to make a splash to solidify themselves in the National League. Boy did they with the acquisition of Darvish. Just like the Yankees getting Sonny Gray, the Dodgers didn’t give up their best prospects to get Darvish. They also acquired two left-handers for their bullpen in Tony Watson from Pittsburgh and Tony Cingrani from Cincinnati. Los Angeles is the hottest team in baseball and will look to stay atop the standings all the way into October.