Here is a quick and dirty assessment of the NL teams trades at the July 31st deadline - composed from a laundrymat in Fair Haven, VT.
Atlanta B+: Adding Wickman, Baez and Ayber for Wilson Betemit and a low A catching prospect was good 2006 thinking. However, both relievers are free agents and Betemit was the best player involved.
Mets A: Adding Hernandez and Perez after losing Sanchez for the season was wise. Nady had proven himslef to be a .260 AVG/non-OBP hitter - exactly what he was in San Diego.
Washington C: The "A" from the Kearns/Lopez trade brought up the "F" from the non-Alphonso trade.
Florida F: No need for Joe Borowski. Yet they kept him in an alledgedly good market for relievers.
Philadelphia F: Sorry, dumping salary is not a high eneough bar to meet.
Houston D: I'm not enamored of Huff and still having Ausmus, Everett and the pitcher hitting every time through the line-up. No major league team can win with six batters.
STL C: Upgraded 2B but nothing else. Here's to hoping Chris Duncan keeps hitting!
Cubs C+: Izturis is a legitimate fielder and maybe can recapture his 2004 hitting magic.
Brewers A: Mench and Cordero for Lee helps them compete for this year and next. Lee wasn't resigning anyhow. Bell and Graffanino were excellent values.
Reds B-: needed to revamp the bullpen an did that. A much higher bar than the Philadelphia one.
Pirates FFFFFFFF: Littlefield should be fired.
Dodgers A: Similar to the Braves in adding for 2006 but gave-up unneeded players and received Maddux and Betemit. Can't believe there were no takers for Cruz Jr though.
San Fra C: Mike Stanton may be the new closer? Hillenbrand is a good bat and can't be more ornery than Bonds.
Dbacks F: Quentin didn't hit enough in the week prior to merit moving Green? Do they really want to trust Jorge Julio?
Padres B-: Walker made two errors yesterday. The grade may move lower.
Rockies D+: Affeldt and Bautista for Shealy? Affeldt failed in KC as did Bautista. Any chance Colorado will improve that?
.