Winners:

Atlanta: They went strong to the hoop….picking up stud first baseman Mark Teixeira and Reliever Octavio Dotel…improving their hitting, defense and pitching.

Red Sox: They strengthen their bullpen with the addition of Greg Gagne and resisted the temptation to overpay for Jermaine Dye.

Rangers: Get rid of Teixeira and Gagne…..two of their few remaining stars….but get back a boatload of prospects back…..including uber-prospects Jared Saltalamacchia and Elvis Andrus. Managed correctly…they could be loaded in a couple of years. Expect Sammy Sosa to be squeezed through waivers in an August trade.

Mets: Keep their top prospects….but add Luis Castillo to their already potent line-up.

LOSERS:

Phillies: The Phillies acquired a bookend for their other domestic abuser Brett Myers by acquiring minor league pitcher Julion Mateo…giving up a journeyman minor league infielder. Previously, they had acquired Kyle Lohse…he of the 4.58 ERA….giving up promising left Matt Maloney in the process. (even our thong-wearing interns know that you never trade away good lefty arms).

To make matters worse….the Phillies were unable to make a trade involving All-Star centerfielder Aaron Rowland….meaning they will likely watch him walk away to free agency this winter! Woohoo!

Yankees: Wilson Betemit? Please. AND they still have Kyle Farnsworth. YUCK!

The NL West: The Padres trade away Scott Linebrink….one of the few coveted players in this year’s trade pool…..and add Morgan Ensberg? Rob Mackowiak? Please. Please. The Giants grab Rajai Davis? Crickets.

Horrible. A few weeks ago…it looked like the NL entrant in the World Series was coming out of the West….now it looks like it’s coming out of the East.

Chicago White Sox: Bidding never heated up for Mark Buerhle….so they resigned him. Bidding never heated up for Jermaine Dye….so they’re stuck with him. This franchise is looking pretty nasty in the next few years.