With 2 months to go, who will be the difference makers?
A few of baseball's biggest names changed uniforms in the days leading up to Thursday's nonwaiver trade deadline. Now it's time to sit back and watch to see which moves turn out to be the best.
These 10 players could be difference makers over the last two months of the season, ranked in order by their potential to impact the pennant races down the stretch.
1. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
The Dodgers needed a big bat in the worst way and got one of the best in the business in Ramirez, although one can only guess how much more Manny can be Manny in Hollywood.
Before Ramirez arrived, the Dodgers had 29 losses while scoring 1 run or less, and their leader in home runs was Matt Kemp with 12.
"Manny beats to his own drummer, but I like him," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "He's one of the best four or five hitters in baseball."
2. CC Sabathia, Brewers
The Brewers got a dominating workhorse for the top of the rotation, gambling that the free agent to be could get them to the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
Sabathia won his first four starts with 3 complete games before getting a no-decision against the Cubs last Monday.
With a 1-2 punch of Sabathia and Ben Sheets as starters, the Brewers shouldn't have many prolonged slumps.
3. Rich Harden, Cubs
You've got to like general manager Jim Hendry's acquisition of Harden, particularly looking ahead to the playoffs, as the No. 2 starter behind Carlos Zambrano.
Harden has struck out 39 in his first 4 starts with the Cubs, allowing 3 runs in 24.1 innings.
4. Mark Teixeira, Angels
The Angels have it on cruise control in the AL West and the addition of Tiexeira should only serve to speed up the clinching.
The Angels needed another strong right-handed bat to go with Vlad Guerrero, whose numbers are no longer eye-popping.
5. Ivan Rodriguez, Yankees
Needing a catcher after Jorge Posada went down with season-ending shoulder surgery, the Yankees got a pretty good one from Detroit. And all it cost them was Kyle Farnsworth straight up?
Rodriguez should fit in well with the Yankees, a leader and proven winner who also led the American League in hitting going into the weekend.
6. Jason Bay, Red Sox
The pressure is on Bay to replace Ramirez in one of the most famous left fields in baseball. It won't take long for Bay to realize he's not in Pittsburgh anymore.
"I'm not trying to replace anybody, but I think that's how people are looking at it," Bay said. "I'm not trying to be Manny Ramirez. I'm not going to hit 50 home runs. I try to be solid."
7. Xavier Nady, Yankees
Another nice pickup by the Yankees that might have been overlooked.
Nady was hitting .330 with 13 homers and 57 RBI with the Pirates and gives Yankees manager Joe Girardi another outfield option, particularly with Hideki Matsui sidelined.
8. Ken Griffey Jr., White Sox
How much Junior has left and how much he wants to help the White Sox get to the World Series will determine the impact of this pickup by GM Kenny Williams.
Griffey is nowhere near the player he once was, but he remains above average defensively and still has some home run pop. Can he play center field on a consistent basis? We shall see.
9. Chad Gaudin, Cubs
Go ahead and question this one if you must. But getting Gaudin with Harden from Oakland was a shrewd move by Hendry, who insisted on Gaudin as part of the deal as long as the A's needed Sean Gallagher to make the trade happen.
Gaudin can pitch in any situation out of the bullpen, and he is proving to be particularly valuable with Kerry Wood on the disabled list with a finger blister.
10. Damaso Marte, Yankees
Left-handed pitchers out of the bullpen are invaluable down the stretch, and the Yankees needed one. Marte can be inconsistent, but he also has his strong moments as well.