The greatest motivator in baseball, it turns out, is missing the playoffs.
The Royals missed it every year after winning the World Series in 1985 until last year. The Blue Jays have missed it every year since Joe Carter rounded the bases to end the 1993 season. The Mets and Astros are the only teams in baseball without a winning record in each of the previous six seasons.
You now know the teams that did the most at this trade deadline. They wanted it the most, they gave up the most and they received the most to try to play October baseball this year — at the least, Fred Wilpon should have his annual call for meaningful baseball honored.