When it comes to player transactions, baseball falls pretty far down on the excite-o-meter. Baseball trades and signings rarely offer the same kind of game-changing drama that they do in basketball or even football. Even the most active GM in baseball, Jerry Dipoto, pales in comparison to the madness exhibited by, say, the Los Angeles Lakers.
But one moment in baseball that manages to scratch that armchair GM itch is the period preceding the July 31 trade deadline. It’s not so much about the prospects for me—though that is fun—but the drama of marquee players trading one uniform for another, the thrill of teams going all in for a chance at a World Series title.