For the intrepid general manager, winning the MLB trade deadline is a relatively straightforward proposition. There are exceptions, but generally aggressiveness is hailed, while passivity is panned.
Once the deadline passes however, the real consequences of moves begin to be felt. And while the overall ramifications of a given trade can take a long time to come into focus, for contending clubs the short-term judgment isn't hard to pin down. The question is simply whether or not the players you acquired help you to get into the playoffs.
The San Diego Padres won this year's trade deadline by near-universal agreement.