Let’s start by talking about this picture taken from MLB.com today. Just look at the love in those eyes. And what’s better, the picture or the accompanying text below “LA’s skipper must figure out how best to ride his new slugger to postseason success”? Ahhh… 5th grade homophobic humor.

Anyway, this article got me thinking about what the contenders did to improve their teams this year. I’ll start by taking a look at the American League:

AL EAST
Tampa Bay Rays (1st place, 63-44)
Trades: None.
Analysis: They had a chance to get Jason Bay, but that seems to be as close as they got to making any moves. This shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s the first time they’ve been in a position to make the playoffs and they should be happy to be there - they’re a team built for the future. And regardless, in Baseball Prospectus’ postseason odds report, the Rays make the playoffs in 85% of one million simulations of the rest of the season. That makes it a sure thing, right?

Boston Red Sox (2nd place, 61-48, 3 GB)
Trades: Hahahahaha. Ahem. I mean… OF Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles (NL), OF Brandon Moss and RHP Craig Hansen to Pittsburgh for OF Jason Bay
Analysis: I don’t think the Red Sox should lose too much sleep over Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen. They’re good players, but not elite prospects. Manny, though… They lost their HR leader, his .398 OBP and his 68 RBIs at the beginning of August while they’re hanging onto the Wild Card lead. Bay is as much as they wanted to get back in any Manny trade and is a very good pickup, but suddenly the middle of that lineup doesn’t scare me quite as much. Ortiz and Bay are hitting a combined .195 against lefties this season. Helloooo, Damaso Marte…

New York Yankees (3rd place, 59-49, 4.5 GB)
Trades: RHP Ross Ohlendorf, OF Jose Tabata, RHP Jeff Karstens, RHP Dan McCutchen to Pittsburgh for OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte
RHP Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit for C Ivan Rodriguez
Anaylysis: YES!! He’s gone he’s gone he’s gone he’s gone… Okay, Farnsworth was having a decent season, but this is awesome. The Yankees got Pudge and rid themselves that gun-toting, camo-underwear-loving dickhead who had the audacity to cry when he learned he was traded. Attention Mr. Farnsworth: WE ALL HATED YOU!! Seriously. The guy has given up 26 home runs in three seasons as a Yankee, and I’m pretty sure I’ve predicted five of them - one in person. That, my friends, shows a lack of confidence.
As for the Nady-Marte deal, the Yankees needed a right-handed bat and they got a decent one in Nady. Sure, he’s having a career year, but I’ll take him as an option in the outfield for a season and a half. Marte fills a huge vacancy in the bullpen as a left-handed reliever. They traded four prospects, but the Yankees farm system is full of “eh” pitchers right now, while Tabata has had personal issues this year. Good move. Two very good moves, actually.

AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox (1st place, 60-47)
Trades: RHP Nick Masset and INF Danny Richar for OF Ken Griffey Jr.
Analysis: The White Sox say they “definitely [are] going to have to hit more in the second half” to make the playoffs. For a team that is 3rd in the AL in runs scored per game, that tells me you don’t have a great team. Or you play in a crummy divisi– yeahhhhh. The worst current division leader in baseball (in my opionion) felt they had to do something. So they got Griffey. Adding Griffey to a lineup that already includes Jim Thome, Nick Swisher, Carlos Quentin, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye doesn’t frighten me. But it can’t hurt, right?

Minnesota Twins (2nd place, 60-48, .5 GB)
Trades: None.
Anaylsis: The Twins continue to surpass expectations in the Central. They’ll soon get Liriano back, and I assume they didn’t have much to give up to get a bat. With a few good young players already in the majors, I can’t blame them for staying put.

Detroit Tigers (3rd place, 55-53, 5.5 GB)
Trades: C Ivan Rodriguez for RHP Kyle Farnsworth (hehe)
Analysis: The Tigers are in desperate need for what Joe Morgan would describe as “consistecy”. More so, they needed bullpen help. Farnsworth fills that need. He won’t single-handedly solve their pitching problems, but right now there aren’t too many people who can.

AL WEST
Los Angeles Angels (1st place, 68-40)
Trades: 1B Casey Kotchman and RHP Stephen Marek for 1B Mark Teixeira
Analysis: Damnnnnnnn. Kotchman is good but damnnnnnn. The best team in baseball went out and got one of the best first basemen in baseball. October’s gonna be tough for AL teams that don’t employ the rally monkey.

I’ll talk about Oakland in tomorrow’s NL recap when I focus more the Blanton trade. And no one cares about Texas, do they?

Finally, for a little preview of tomorrow’s NL recap, I’ll offer you this, the goofiest MLB profile picture ever. Keep in mind he’s also 6’ 11”. See you tomorrow. (Can’t wait!!!)