Deadline passes, as do Sox  —  There was tremendous excitement around Yawkey Way for at least 24 hours, because it appeared that after days of poring through scouting reports and statistical, financial, and medical data, after a couple of deals fell through, after the Yankees had made their big splash …

Trade deadline losers  —  Fans often like to play general manager, thinking the job is easy.  It isn't, but the listlessness of certain teams at the non-waiver deadline will give fresh impetus to all those wanna-be GMs.  —  Orioles  —  It took effort to beat out the Red Sox for the top spot, it really did.

The Left Fielder Stays in the Picture  —  In the end, the Nationals chose to believe Alfonso Soriano's words and, in a sense, trust his smile.  Instead of worrying that they might look like saps in a few months, the Nats took a chance on laying the groundwork for a beautiful friendship.

Prospectus Today  —  Aftermath  —  Bobby Abreu went, Alfonso Soriano stayed, the Yankees and Rangers won, the Pirates lost, and the rumor-to-activity ratio stayed up around the temperatures here in Southern California.  —  With the trade deadline behind us, here's a look at the top ten stories from the extended weekend:

Omar forced to make deals  —  After days of discussions and countless phone calls, Mets general manager Omar Minaya wound up making the deal he had to make rather than the one he wanted to make with time running out before yesterday's non-waiver trade deadline.