If, like a normal person, you weren't glued to Twitter on Monday afternoon as the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline came and went, you missed a lot.
You could try to catch up on all the wheelings and dealings, of course, or you could just take a look at our winners and losers from the 2016 MLB trade deadline. (Go with the latter.)
Winners
Texas Rangers
Commendably self-aware, the Rangers knew they'd be hard-pressed to stave off the Houston Astros with their roster, as is - they've outperformed their Pythag record by eight wins, after all, and they're 11-15 with a -46 run differential this month - so they went out and added two major offensive pieces and upgraded their deplorable bullpen without parting with Joey Gallo or Jurickson Profar. Now, following the addition of Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy, their worst hitter is Elvis Andrus.
Even if the bullpen remains not awesome (and that's no guarantee, with Jeremy Jeffress in tow, along with Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson), Texas should create enough runs to contend for its first ever World Series title, barring a setback from Yu Darvish or an implosion from Cole Hamels.
New York Yankees
It's been two decades, or so, since the Yankees orchestrated a true deadline firesale, and considering the prospect capital they acquired over the last couple weeks (including Monday's haul from the Rangers), they might not have to do that for another 20 years.
Coming into 2016, their farm system was pretty decent - see: Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Gary Sanchez, Jorge Mateo - but now, with Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, and Dillon Tate in their employ, it's truly elite. They also shed some salary, too, in moving Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Carlos Beltran, putting them in solid position to sign Bryce Harper, the presumed piece de resistance of their burgeoning young core, for $500 million in 2018.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In a trade market where rental relievers cost four prospects and unproven left-handed starters are commanding Anderson Espinoza, nobody could fault a legitimate contender, like the Dodgers, for sticking with what they have. As the deadline grew nearer Monday afternoon, though, the Athletics got desperate and Los Angeles pounced, acquiring ailing left-hander Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick from Oakland for a decidedly underwhelming package. (According to reports, after all, Billy Beane wanted Espinoza, then a Red Sox prospect, for Hill two weeks ago.)
Instead, the Athletics ended up with quantity over upside in exchange for their two best trade assets, and the opportunistic Dodgers now have a veteran lefty with a 201 ERA+ since the start of 2014, as well as a gifted defensive outfielder with a 121 wRC+, to help them keep up with the Giants down the stretch.
Losers
Philadelphia Phillies
Just when it looked like the Phillies were getting a hang of this whole rebuilding thing - if you recall, they shipped Hamels to Texas last July for a huge haul, then moved Ken Giles to Houston for five prospects this winter - they decided to hold on to their gift of a trade chip in Jeremy Hellickson.
Even if the Phillies were convinced Hellickson is worthy of a qualifying offer - which, taking into account his ugly body of work and 4.11 FIP this season, is hardly a given - teams were giving up legitimate assets for mediocre starters in this market. In all likelihood, Hellickson hits free agency at season's end without a qualifying offer, and the Phillies end up getting nothing for him. (They were also remiss not to deal impending free agent David Hernandez, who, with his 26.6 percent strikeout rate, probably could've fetched something.)
Kansas City Royals
At most, the Royals have one more year of relevance before they have to rebuild, given that Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, and Mike Moustakas are all free agents after next season, and, en route to the 2015 World Series championship, Kansas City's farm system was pillaged. But, in reality, they aren't going to contend next season - they have no pitching talent and their offensive pixie dust has worn off - and Dayton Moore likely knows that, given the wealth of trade rumors surrounding Wade Davis (before he landed on the DL), Kendrys Morales, and Edinson Volquez ahead of the deadline.
All those guys are still on the roster, though, and neither Morales or Volquez are locks to receive qualifying offers. Maybe it was pride, maybe it was delusions of a wild-card spot, but the Royals didn't turn their expiring assets into minor-league capital - a decision they'll likely regret in the near future.
