Trade deadline recap

It's all done. The Trading Deadline has passed and we can now focus on the playoff race. But first, let's take a look at how the rosters shook up over the past week.

Newark was pretty quiet, opting to stay the course. Only prospect Daric Barton was sent packing to make room for James Shields' return from the DL.

Atop the other division, Vancouver didn't do much more. The Fist only acquired reliever Akinori Otsuka from Sardine City to bolster the bullpen. The Fist were in the market for some starter help too, but none of their deals materialed.

The two second-place teams were probably the biggest upgraders. Las Vegas added All-Star slugger Vlad Guerrero and failed DMBL "ace" Josh Beckett. The Rats certainly have positioned themselves well to make a huge run for it this year, but they have also sacrificed a lot of thier future. The Rat Pack owes 9 draft picks to other teams, while only having one back. The Endzone Animals also added a little bit of punch by grabbing Adam Dunn from Arkansas and bolstering their staff with Blue Ridge's Aaron Harang. The Animals have also sacrificed 9 picks for this playoff run, but they at least have three coming back to them.

Stuck somewhere in between contention and the basement, some teams opted for different strategies. It was difficult to determine what D.C. was planning, as they chose to part with Carl Crawford and Francisco Rodriguez. Yet they acquired some pieces for next year in Dan Uggla and a couple of quality draft picks. D.C. still seems to be going for it as they turned down a rumored deal for Kelvim Escobar in order to stay in contention. Meanwhile Sardine City has been quietly making a creeping toward the playoffs, but they didn't make any huge moves one way or another. Acquiring starter Dustin McGowan will help with their pitching staff, but mostly the moves were made with the future in mind.

Three other teams in limbo decided that a playoff run wasn't in the cards though. Arkansas sold off Adam Dunn for promising pitcher Jonathan Sanchez and a pick. Carolina didn't make any deals but cut lots of players, including Marlon Byrd and Brian Bannister to bolster their keeper list for next year. But it was Blue Ridge who was making headlines all week, completely gutting their team. Altogether, the Bombers added 13 players or picks via trade and 1 via waiver wire.

The cellar dwellers were also busy...well some of them anyway. Marietta made two separate deals, acquiring players to bolster their keeper list. Hoboken sold off a couple of their players for draft picks, including Brian Giles. As many recall, Hoboken cried himself to sleep many a night recalling the first time he dealt Giles to the Mighty Men. Will this trade cut (pun intended) as deeply?

And I have to note that the Sugar Bears happily indulged DMBL fans everywhere in sending David Bush to face the Bushslappers. We can now gleefully report that "Bush was slapped by D.C." to the tune of 6 ER in 3 IP. Note: I'm not saying I am gleeful that the Sugar Bears were pounded, but that I am gleeful that I could finally use that long-awaited pun.