While I think it is clear the Texas Rangers have done a lot to improve themselves over the last two months, I am beginning to think that the teams that may have made out the best are the ones that actually traded away the recognizable names.

The Pirates, for example, traded away to guys hitting under .240 and a strong reliever for a major league catcher.  Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby were just sitting on their bench.  The Diamondbacks cleared over $45million dollars in payroll- which they can use next season to fill holes through free agency.  The Cubs got rid of some salary too.  In each case, the teams get to let their younger players play on the big league level and they get to see just what each can do when matched up against major leaguers.  They don’t have to wait until spring training to find out if a AAA player can succeed at the major league level. They can do a lot of prep work for 2011.

Don’t get me wrong.  The Yankees got exactly what they needed, and they won’t be in trouble next spring.  The Phillies got their prize too, and should play deep into October.  They are both winners of the 2010 trade deadline.

And the Diamondbacks and the Cubs still have to spend the money they saved responsibly.  They can’t go giving millions and long-term contracts to Dave Bush’s of the world.  In order for this to be a winning trade season, they need to spend that money so that it pays off in 2011.

The losers might be the teams that didn’t improve themselves or shed payroll.  Think perhaps the A’s, Mariners or even the Twins and Rockies.  All could have gone in one direction or the other, to either make a push for this year or prepare for next.  The Twins will get Justin Morneau back, which will feel a bit like a acquisition.  But none of those teams look like standing pat was the best move.