Final 2011 Grades on MLB's Top 55 Signings, Acquisitions

Following the completion of the regular season, one of the favorite things for fans and sports writers to do is look back at how each major acquisition performed during the season.

It's inevitable that some major signings or trades will perform better than others and terms such as "steal" and "bust" will be tossed around.

In many cases these are unfair assessments to make given that there are typically years remaining on these players' contracts and they have time to either redeem themselves in the case of a bad year or come back down to earth in the event that maybe they played over their head for an entire season.

Regardless, we're going to ignore that for the most part and take a look at how these players impacted their new teams during the 2011 season.

I did take into consideration remaining years on a player's contract while assigning grades, but I tried to keep it as much to their statistics as I could.

The other important consideration when assigning grades to a team's acquisition of a certain player is: what was expected of that player?

Basically, just as I loved in high school since it saved me on many tests, I chose to grade on a curve.

Think I was unfair or overly generous with a specific grade? Let me know why in the comments.

David DeJesus Traded to the Oakland Athletics

In one of the first high-profile offseason moves last winter, the Oakland Athletics traded pitching prospects Vin Mazzaro and Justin Marks to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for David DeJesus on November 10, 2010.

Taking the shortsighted approach, this trade really did not work out well for either team on the big league level in 2011.

Mazzaro made just four starts for the Royals and posted an ERA of 8.26.

Meanwhile DeJesus had a very uncharacteristic season for the A's, posting a batting average of just .240, 46 points lower than his career average.

DeJesus did provide the A's with good defense in right field and managed to hit 10 homers for a power-strapped A's lineup though.

Taking the more long term approach, this deal still should benefit the Royals down the road if Mazzaro rebounds and shows the stuff that once made him a top prospect in the A's system or if Marks develops into a serviceable Major League pitcher.

For the A's this trade amounts to only the compensation pick they will get when DeJesus signs elsewhere thanks to his Type-B free agent status.

Final Grade: D+

Dan Uggla Traded to the Atlanta Braves and Signed to Extension

The Atlanta Braves traded Michael Dunn and Omar Infante to the Florida Marlins for the power-hitting Dan Uggla.

Although Uggla saw his average drop from .287 in 2010 to .233 in 2011, he managed to post his fifth straight season with more than 30 homers and sixth straight season with more than 80 RBI.

After the costly errors by Brooks Conrad in the playoffs last season, the Braves needed to make a change at second base. Although Uggla definitely could not be considered a defensive upgrade, he is unquestionably an offensive upgrade.

The players the Braves gave up for Uggla went on to have good seasons for the Marlins.

Michael Dunn appeared in 72 games in relief for the Marlins, posting a 3.43 ERA. Omar Infante posted a .276 batting average with eight homers in 148 games while looking like a Gold Glover compared to the defense Marlin fans had become accustomed to with Uggla manning the position.

Despite my own personal belief that Uggla is one of the most overrated players in the league, this trade definitely provided the Braves with the offense they were seeking, while still leaving something to be desired.

Final Grade: B-

Victor Marinez Signs 4-Year Contract with Detroit Tigers

Thanks to the emergence of Alex Avilla as the Tigers everyday catcher, Victor Martinez has taken over the designated hitter role.

He hit for a very impressive .330 batting average in the first year of his four-year deal with Detroit, although his homer total dropped from 20 in 2010 to just 12 this season, a number you'd like to see a little higher from your DH.

His RBI total rebounded back into triple-digits as he finished with 103 for the season.

Although he will likely play out the majority of his contract in the DH role, he did still look capable of manning the catcher position and playing first base when called upon.

Not knowing if the Tigers had intended to shift Martinez into the DH role in favor of Avilla behind the dish is the only thing holding me back from giving this a higher grade. Everything certainly worked out for Detroit with this signing, but I have to wonder if that was a lucky bounce as Avilla seemingly came out of no-where.

Final Grade: B

Miguel Tejada Signs 1-Year Contract with San Francisco Giants

Following the departure of Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria this past offseason, the San Francisco Giants needed to replace production and fill the shortstop position.

Their answer the problem was to sign Miguel Tejada and hope to catch lightning in a bottle and see if Tejada could turn back the clock to his earlier years of production with the A's, Orioles and Astros.

It was a bad decision from the start as Tejada did nothing in his time with the Giants to prove he was still capable of being an everyday Major League shortstop.

He batted just .239 with four homers while playing poor defense prior to being released after a feud with his manager and third base coach over being asked to bunt (and a general unhappiness over how he was being utilized).

Final Grade: F

Javier Vazquez Signs 1-Year Contract with Florida Marlins

Javier Vazquez made the most of the one-year make-good contract he signed with the Florida Marlins this past offseason.

He posted a 13-11 record with a 3.69 ERA while falling just short of tossing 200 innings. He had a 7.6 K/9 ratio and just a 2.1 BB/9 ratio for the Marlins this season as well.

It was certainly a nice rebound season from the 10-10 season with a 5.32 ERA in 2010 for the Yankees.

Posting a winning record with a very respectable ERA for a team that finished 18 games under .500 makes this signing a win for both sides.

Final Grade: B+

Adam Dunn Signs 4-Year Contract with Chicago White Sox

For the sake of the Chicago White Sox and their fans, I hope this was just a horrible down season for Adam Dunn.

His first season in the American League was about as ugly as it can get.

After seven straight seasons of at least 38 homers, Dunn only managed to connect for 11 this season while knocking in an also career low 42 RBI.

To make the season even worse, his never-impressive batting average dropped all the way down to .159 this season.

Luckily for Dunn, and perhaps not so luckily for Chicago, this deal still has three years remaining.

Time can change this grade, but so far it's not looking good for this signing.

Final Grade: F

Lance Berkman Signs a 1-Year Deal with St. Louis Cardinals

This one-year contract worked out so well that the St. Louis Cardinals extended Lance Berkman for another season before the year even ran out games.

It's definitely easy to see why they wanted Berkman back so bad. He reestablished himself as an everyday star by batting .301 with 31 homers and 94 RBI for St. Louis.

Berkman played almost exclusively in the outfield this season although his experience at first base makes him a very valuable insurance policy in the event Albert Pujols decides to depart via free agency this coming offseason.

This was certainly a win for both sides.

Final Grade: A

Jayson Werth Signs 7-Year Deal with Washington Nationals

So far this signing is one the Washington Nationals would probably like to go back and rethink. Too bad for them they inked that seven-year deal last offseason and are now stuck living with it.

Jayson Werth just simply couldn't replicate the stats he produced while batting in a Phillies lineup that offered him plenty of protection.

Finally the guy in the lineup, Werth struggled in 2011, batting just .232 while watching almost all of his stats drop to their lowest totals since 2005.

He managed to hit 20 homers this season, but drove in just 58 runs.

The signing would not have been so bad based on the production this year if not for the length of the deal and the total dollar amount, seven-years and $126 million.

Perhaps the eventual promotion of Bryce Harper to the Majors as protection for Werth will help him resuscitate that stat line and make this deal look a little better. He was at least drastically better than Adam Dunn was with his new deal, although that was not hard to beat.

Final Grade: C-

Aaron Harang Signs 1-Year Deal with Mutual Option for 2012 with San Diego Padres

It's hard to imagine either side turning down their mutual option for 2012 following the season Aaron Harang had for for the San Diego Padres in 2011.

Harang took advantage of playing in the very pitcher friendly PETCO Park by posting a 14-7 record and 3.64 ERA, his best season since 2007 when he finished fourth in Cy Young voting.

At just a $3.5 million contract for this season, Harang was a steal, and one of the few bright spots for the Padres lost season.

The mutual option makes this deal even stronger.

Final Grade: B+

Shaun Marcum Traded for Brett Lawrie to Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers mortgaged a bit of their future to help them succeed this year by trading minor league second baseman Brett Lawrie to Toronto in exchange for Shaun Marcum.

Marcum held up his end of the bargain, posting nearly identical stats to his 2010 line with the Blue Jays in the American League. He finished the season with a 13-7 record and a 3.54 ERA while eating up 200.2 innings for the Brewers this season.

Lawrie, blocked in Milwaukee by Rickie Weeks, posted impressive numbers in his 43 games this season for Toronto. He batted .293 with nine homers and 25 RBI.

The trade definitely helped the Brewers win the NL Central division title and get into the playoffs.This trade will look much better if Marcum has a solid postseason and the Brewers wind up winning the National League pennant and heading to the World Series.

Since it was essentially a mercenary move with a shortsighted goal of winning a title, this trade definitely worked out. If Lawrie goes on to turn into a star for a long time, it may make this deal look a little less successful, but a World Series title would negate all of that discussion.

Final Grade: B

Mark Reynolds Traded to Baltimore Orioles for 2 Relievers

The Baltimore Orioles made this trade looking for some thump to their lineup. They knew the type of player Mark Reynolds is and were willing to sacrifice batting average and some defensive ability in exchange for a true middle of the lineup threat.

In that sense, Reynolds did not disappoint.

He finished the season with a .221 batting average (23 points higher than his 2010 final average), 37 homers and 86 RBI.

This trade served its purpose exactly how the Orioles had hoped, without a drop-off from switching leagues or playing in the competitive AL East, helping their grade significantly.

Final Grade: B+

Adrian Gonzalez Traded to Boston Red Sox and Given Extension

The Red Sox gave up a good amount of talent, four prospects in total, to acquire Adrian Gonzalez. They clearly got an MVP-caliber player in return though.

Gonzalez, signed through 2018 following a seven-year extension he signed upon joining Boston, batted .338 this season while collecting a league-high 213 hits with 27 homers and 117 RBI.

There really isn't much not to like about this deal, especially given Gonzalez is just 29 years old and in the middle of his prime.

Boston should enjoy the rewards of this trade for several more seasons.

Final Grade: A

Jeff Francouer Signs 1-Year Deal with Mutual Option with Kansas City Royals

Jeff Francouer rewarded the Kansas City Royals for signing him by providing his best season since 2007 when he was still with the Atlanta Braves.

His .285 average, 20 homers and 87 RBI are his best totals since that '07 season in which he batted .293 with 19 homers and 105 RBI.

To add some value to his 2011 stats, Francouer stole a career-high 22 bases, or basically matching his career total prior to this season (23 career steals before this season).

This low-risk, high-reward $2.5 million signing was a definite win for the Royals this season.

Final Grade: A-

Carlos Pena Signs 1-Year Contract with Chicago Cubs

The Carlos Pena signing falls into the same type of scenario as the Mark Reynolds trade.

The Cubs knew they were getting a one-trick pony in Pena when they signed him, and for the most part he held up his end of the bargain.

Pena is all thump, no average when it comes to his approach at the plate. He batted .225 this season (a 29 point jump from his 2010 total) and connected for 28 homers and 80 RBI, practically matching his 2010 totals.

Was he worth the $10 million they guaranteed him last offseason though? Not considering where they finished in the win-loss category and standings.

Final Grade: C+

J.J. Hardy Traded to Baltimore Orioles as Part of 4-Player Deal

Welcome back to relevance J.J. Hardy!

After a pair of down seasons that saw him leave the Milwaukee Brewers and spend just one season in Minnesota, the offseason trade that sent Hardy to the Baltimore Orioles was met without much attention nationwide.

Hardy reestablished himself in a big way this season though, batting .269 while knocking 30 homers out of the park and driving in 80 runs to match his career high.

The fact that Hardy is signed through 2014 makes this deal look even better, especially if Hardy can prove this season was not merely a fluke and he posts similar numbers next season as well.

Final Grade: A-

Melky Cabrera Signs 1-Year Contract with Kansas City Royals

Melky Cabrera, like Jeff Francouer, made the Kansas City Royals look like geniuses this past offseason.

Cabrera signed for a very affordable $1.125 million and rewarded the Royals in a very big way.

He had a career year, batting .305 while collecting 201 hits, 18 homers, 102 runs and 87 RBI, all career highs. He also provided the Royals with solid defense in center field this year, taking over for the traded David DeJesus.

There is really nothing here to justify not grading this move very high.

Final Grade: A

Jack Cust Signs 1-Year Contract with the Seattle Mariners

Following a second straight offseason of being non-tendered by the Oakland Athletics, Jack Cust took a one-year contract offer to be the big offensive signing by the Seattle Mariners last offseason.

And just like many of Cust's at-bats, the Mariners took a big swing and a miss on Cust, eventually releasing him in the middle of the season to cut their losses.

Cust batted just .213 and hit only three homers during his Mariner tenure.

His contract was a reasonable $2.5 million, but that hardly redeems the signing given his production.

Final Grade: F

Carl Crawford Signs 7-Year Contract with Boston Red Sox

I'm not going to go as far as to say that Carl Crawford was a bust, but the first year of his seven year deal with the Boston Red Sox certainly did not go as planned.

Coming off a season when Crawford finished seventh in MVP voting, won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award, he managed to bat just .255 this season.

He had 29 doubles, only one away from his 2010 total, seven triples and 11 homers. His stolen base total dropped from 47 in 2010 to just 18 this year.

Crawford certainly did not live up to his own standards he set throughout the first nine years of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He is given the benefit of the doubt that he was just pressing trying to live up to the new huge contract, and thankfully he has six years left to redeem himself.

Still, based solely on this year, it was definitely not a win for Boston. It just also wasn't a total loss.

Final Grade: D+

Hideki Matsui Signs 1-Year Contract with the Oakland Athletics

It is hard to quantify Hideki Matsui's actual effect on the A's organization with his one-year contract.

Matsui was two entirely different players this season for the A's. Under manager Bob Geren he was completely useless to the A's lineup. Following Geren's dismissal and the hiring of new manager Bob Melvin, Matsui transformed into his former self and became a force in the second half of the season.

His final batting totals are not reflective of how he finished the season, with a final average of .251 with 12 homers and 72 RBI.

His presence had an impact on the team's exposure and financial impact on the small market A's. As has been well documented, Matsui is an international superstar with huge marketing upside.

The early portion of the season drags down his final grade, while the finish brings it up to middle of the pack.

Final Grade: C+

Brandon McCarthy Signs 1-Year Deal with the Oakland Athletics

On the same day the A's signed Hideki Matsui, they also made a move that flew under the radar, signing Brandon McCarthy to a one-year contract.

The oft-injured McCarthy wound up being the most consistent pitcher on the A's staff this season.

Although his numbers don't necessarily reflect his efficiency this season, McCarthy pitched through poor run-support to produce a 9-9 record with a 3.32 ERA and tossing five complete games along the way.

McCarthy is arbitration eligible for the final time in his career, making it very likely he will return to the A's in 2012, making his signing even more valuable.

His $1 million salary this season was an absolute steal for the production he gave the A's rotation.

The only downside to his season was the inevitable, albeit brief, trip to the disabled list this season.

Final Grade: A-

Cliff Lee Signs a 5-Year Deal with the Philadelphia Phillies

Cliff Lee spurned offers from both the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees last offseason to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he had spent part of the 2009 season.

Lee joined a rotation that was picked by many people as the early favorites to represent the National League in the World Series in 2011. So far, they have succeeded in making the postseason, running away with the NL East division title, a definite step towards their ultimate goal.

Lee had a 17-8 record this season and a career best 2.40 ERA. He also posted a career best K/9 ratio at 9.2.

It's a little hard to imagine Lee being worth the $25 million per season he will earn in the final two years of his contract, but for now that is out of sight and mind and has no bearing on how the contract looks in year-one.

Final Grade: A

Russell Martin Signs 1-Year Contract with New York Yankees

The one-year deal signed by Russell Martin with the New York Yankees effectively bridged the gap between Jorge Posada and Jesus Montero as the Yankees catcher.

Martin batted just .237 (the lowest average of his career) but collected 18 homers and drove in 65 runs while earning an All-Star nod this year for the Yankees.

He would like to return to the Yankees and still has a year of arbitration remaining should New York want him back as insurance in case Montero struggles with the everyday duties in 2012.

Final Grade: B

Josh Willingham Traded to the Oakland Athletics for Henry Rodriguez

Josh Willingham became the most productive A's hitter since Frank Thomas in 2006 following his trade to the A's this past offseason.

The A's dealt from a position of strength, dealing reliever Henry Rodriguez to the Washington Nationals along with minor leaguer Corey Brown, to acquire the slugging outfielder.

Willingham set a career high in homers this season with 29 and a career high with 98 RBI.

The only downside to this deal is that it is unlikely the A's will be able to retain Willingham's services beyond this season.

All things considered, though, this was a good trade for the A's. Had the rest of the offense played to their potential, Willingham would have been the bat that put the A's over the top for the first time since 2006.

Final Grade: B+

Kerry Wood Signs 1-Year Deal with Chicago Cubs

Kerry Wood signed a very team friendly $1.5 million contract to go home and sign with the Chicago Cubs last offseason, the team that he started his career with.

Wood was coming off a very successful second-half of the 2010 season in which he had been traded to the Yankees. With the Yankees, he posted a 0.69 ERA down the stretch.

This season with the Cubs, Woods went 3-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 55 appearances. He posted a 10.1 K/9 ratio.

The only downside to this signing was the fact that the Cubs, as a team, were not able to play up to their potential and failed to make any semblance of a bid at the postseason.

Final Grade: B

Zack Greinke Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers

Zack Greinke is another piece to the Milwaukee Brewers puzzle of putting together a World Series contender during the past offseason.

Along with Shaun Marcum, Greinke represents the other Brewer rotation upgrade they chose to make.

He responded by posting a 16-6 record with a 3.83 ERA and 10.5 K/9 ratio this season, helping the Brewers reach the postseason as the NL Central division champions.

He's signed through next season as well, adding value to the signing if the Brewers are able to put together another run next season.

The only downside to this trade is that the Brewers mortgaged even more of their future to make a run now. Four players were traded to Kansas City in exchange for Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt.

Final Grade: B+

Rich Harden Signs 1-Year Deal with the Oakland Athletics

The Rich Harden signing did not work out as well as the Brandon McCarthy deal, but it did provide the A's with some value in the second half of the season.

Harden spent the first half of the season on the disabled list with a muscle strain he suffered in spring training.

Upon making his return from the DL he did not miss a start the remainder of the season.

He showed flashes of dominance and suffered from a few bad outings, giving him mediocre pitching stats including a 4-4 record and 5.12 ERA.

Due to significant injuries to the A's pitching staff, Harden was useful eating up innings though.

Final Grade: C

Adrian Beltre Signs 6-Year Contract with Texas Rangers

Adrian Beltre turned a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2010 into a very impressive season that earned him a six-year mega-deal last offseason with the Texas Rangers.

Beltre couldn't quite match his batting average from 2010 (.321), but he did bat .296 with 32 homers and 105 RBI for the defending American League Champions.

It is yet to be determined if Beltre earns his third Gold Glove this season or not, but he was solid defensively at the hot corner for the Rangers.

Whether or not he lives up to his contract over its entirety is still to be determined, but he made a great first impression on Rangers fans this season.

Final Grade: A-

Derrek Lee Signs 1-Year Deal with Baltimore Orioles

Derrek Lee's Baltimore Oriole career lasted just barely over a half season.

The signing, a one-year deal worth $7.25 million was one of many moves the Orioles made to upgrade their offense.

Lee batted .246 with 12 homers and 41 RBI in his 85 games for Baltimore before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline for Aaron Baker (more on that deal later).

The signing did not exactly go as planned, but they were able to parlay Lee into a 24-year old first base prospect that may one day pan out for them.

Final Grade: C

Edgar Renteria Signs 1-Year Contract with the Cincinnati Reds

The reigning World Series MVP signed a one-year deal to leave the San Francisco Giants and join the Cincinnati Reds this past offseason.

The Reds were likely counting on getting more than 96 games and a .251 batting average out of Renteria.

He only connected for five homers and 36 RBI all season.

The low $2.1 million salary makes it easier to live with his low-production this season, but the deal still was not a good one for the Reds.

Final Grade: D

Brad Penny Signs 1-Year Deal with Detroit Tigers

Following an abbreviated 2010 campaign, Brad Penny signed a one-year make-good deal for $3 million last offseason with the Detroit Tigers.

Penny had a healthy season in 2011, making 31 starts and posting an 11-11 record and 5.30 ERA for Detroit.

His K/9 ratio was a career-low 3.7.

Penny did eat up innings, 181 of them to be exact, this season and definitely provided value to the Tigers as they advanced to the American League Central division title.

$3 million for a back of the rotation arm is not a bad investment at all.

Final Grade: C+

Rafael Soriano Signs 3-Year Contract with the New York Yankees

It's going to be hard to judge Rafael Soriano's true value to the New York Yankees as long as Mariano Rivera is still closing games for them.

He makes too much money ($10 million this season) for the production he gave the Yankees.

His salary escalates to $11 million in 2012 and $14 million in 2013 as well.

He posted a 2-3 record with a 4.12 ERA in 42 appearances out of the bullpen this season.

It was certainly a different line than the 1.73 ERA and 45 saves he posted for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010.

It's easy to see why Brian Cashman opposed the signing while they still had Rivera to close out games.

Still, the signing adds depth to the bullpen, which should be useful in the postseason for the Yankees this fall.

Final Grade: C+

Grant Balfour Signs 2-Year Deal with Option with Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics added bullpen depth this offseason with a pair of signings, former closer Brian Fuentes and Tampa Bay Rays star Grant Balfour.

Balfour represents the signing that worked out for the A's out of the two.

In 62 appearances this season he posted a 2.47 ERA and a 5-2 record. Despite being slightly misused in the beginning of the season under former manager Bob Geren, he also wound up with two saves.

This signing should really pay dividends for the A's in 2012 in a full season under manager Bob Melvin with proper use of a bullpen and pitching staff.

Final Grade: A-

Bobby Jenks Signs 2-Year Contract with Boston Red Sox

The first year of the two-year agreement between Bobby Jenks and the Red Sox did not go as either side had imagined.

Jenks, following six successful seasons with the Chicago White Sox, put together an abbreviated season of just 19 appearances in which he had a 2-2 record and a 6.32 ERA.

Hopefully it works out better for both sides in 2012, but it was a waste of $6 million this season.

Final Grade: D

Vernon Wells Traded to the LA Angels in a 3-Player Deal (including Mike Nappoli)

The big story at the time of this trade was Vernon Wells switching teams. The fact that the Angels dealt away a pair of productive players in Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera was really rarely mentioned at all.

The Toronto Blue Jays didn't even hold onto Napoli after all, flipping in a separate deal to the Texas Rangers.

With the Angels, Wells batting average dropped all the way to .218, although he did hit 25 homers and drive in 66 RBI.

Meanwhile, Napoli went on to bat .320 with 30 homers while driving in 75 RBI for the Rangers, making the swap look bad for the Angels (and the Jays who did not hold onto Napoli).

Final Grade: D-

Johnny Damon Signs 1-Year Deal with Tampa Bay Rays

Johnny Damon represents the one signing the Rays made on January 31 that actually worked out for the team (there were two signings, can you guess who the second was?).

While helping the team upset his former team, the Red Sox, on the final game of the season in claiming the Wild Card and advancing to the postseason, Damon posted a .261 batting average with 29 doubles, seven triples and 16 homers this year.

He knocked in 73 runs and added 19 stolen bases to his statistics as well.

His $5.25 million contract turned out being a bargain for the Rays as Damon overachieved based on comparison to his 2010 stat-line (.271, eight HR, 51 RBI).

Final Grade: B+

Manny Ramirez Signs 1-Year Deal with Tampa Bay Rays

If I'm using a booking photo in the slide you probably already have a pretty good idea that the final grade won't be very good.

If that booking photo is of Manny Ramirez, who was busted a second time for using performance enhancing drugs and retired rather than face a 100-game suspension, you can probably safely assume that the signing was an absolute and total bust for the Rays.

Not much further to add to this explanation of the final grade.

Final Grade: F-

And yes, it really does deserve the minus...

Vladimir Guerrero Signs 1-Year Deal with Baltimore Orioles

Vladimir Guerrero represents yet another offseason acquisition the Orioles made geared towards adding some offense to their lineup.

Vlad was unable to replicate his impressive 2010 season though. He finished the 2011 season with a .290 batting average and just 13 homers. Both his home run and RBI totals dropped from last season actually.

He still proved he can hit and has some pop left in his bat though. I doubt he will be back with the Orioles next season, but there should be an American League team that takes a chance on him again next season as a DH.

The move was far from a bust for the Orioles but it also did not go as they had hoped it would.

Final Grade: C+

Ubaldo Jimenez Traded to the Cleveland Indians for 4 Prospects

Ubaldo Jimenez needed a change of scenery from his struggles pitching at home with the Colorado Rockies this season.

The Cleveland Indians provided that change of scenery by trading four prospects to the Rockies in exchange for the struggling ace.

Unfortunately, Jimenez's struggles continued in his 11 starts with the Indians, posting a 4-4 record with a 5.10 ERA.

His contract is very team friendly through 2014 though and Jimenez still has the "stuff" to turn things back around next season and anchor the Indians rotation as they look to stay in contention longer than they did this season.

This final grade is reflective only of the impact it had this season and does not represent what I feel was a good trade for the Indians long term.

Final Grade: C

Michael Bourn Traded to Atlanta Braves for 4 Prospects

The Braves answered their need for a speedy center fielder at the trade deadline this year by sending four prospects to the Houston Astros in exchange for Michael Bourn.

After his trade to the Braves Bourn batted .278 and stole 22 bases (he combined to steal 61 bases this season between his time with the Astros and Braves).

He is still arbitration eligible and will remain under team control next season for the Braves.

Bourn is a true antagonist at the top of the lineup and will help beyond his production down the stretch this season.

Final Grade: B

Mike Adams Traded to Texas Rangers for 2 Prospects

The Texas Rangers wanted bullpen depth heading into the trade deadline as they looked to defend their American League Championship in the second half of the season and through the playoffs.

Adams was absolutely dominant for the Padres before being traded, posting a 1.13 ERA in 48 appearances.

After being dealt to the Rangers he posted a 2.10 ERA in 27 appearances.

The Rangers already had the offensive fire power to match up with any team in the postseason, the acquisition of Adams helps them to keep runs off the board as they try to work their way through the playoffs and return to the World Series.

Adams is arbitration eligible this offseason and will return to the Rangers in 2012.

Final Grade: A

Ryan Ludwick Traded to Pittsburgh Pirates for a Player to Be Named Later

The Pittsburgh Pirates tried to capitalize on their rare situation of finding themselves in contention deep into July by adding some offense.

Unfortunately, adding Ryan Ludwick was a failed attempt at finding an offensive upgrade.

Ludwick batted just .232 with a pair of homers after joining the Pirates.

He is a free agent following this season and unlikely to re-sign with the Pirates, meaning the player to be named later essentially was a throw-away to the Pirates this season.

Final Grade: D-

Erik Bedard Traded to the Boston Red Sox in a 4-Player Trade

After failing to reach a deal with the Oakland A's at the trade deadline for Rich Harden, the Red Sox turned their attention to Seattle and acquired Erik Bedard for a second half run.

Bedard proved healthy and had put together a 4-7 record with a 3.45 ERA for the Mariners prior to the trade.

With the Red Sox he posted a 1-2 record with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts.

Ultimately the deal didn't pan out as the Sox missed the postseason, but trading for Bedard was a good depth move that would have panned out well in a postseason series.

Final Grade: B-

Brad Ziegler Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks for 2 Prospects

Brad Ziegler was in the middle of a good season for the underachieving Oakland A's at the time of his trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks, who unseated the San Francisco Giants as NL West Champions, needed some reinforcement arms down the stretch and Ziegler did not disappoint.

In 23 appearances for Arizona, he posted a 1.74 ERA.

He is affordable and remains under club control through the 2015 season, making this a very good trade for the Diamondbacks.

Final Grade: A

Rafael Furcal Traded to St. Louis Cardinals for Double-A Prospect

You could consider the Cardinals trade for Rafael Furcal to have been a gamble given his .197 batting average through 37 games at the time the deal was made.

Furcal put together a respectable stretch with the Cardinals though, batting .255 with seven homers to improve his season numbers to: .231 with eight homers and 28 RBI.

He didn't exactly light the world on fire with his performance, but the Cardinals gamble definitely paid off.

It was a low risk trade for the Cardinals since Furcal is only signed through this season. They can exercise his team option for next season at $12 million if they choose to, although it seems unlikely at this point.

Final Grade: B-

Derrek Lee Traded to Pittsburgh Pirates for Double-a Prospect Aaron Baker

The Pirates really were trying to add offense to keep themselves in contention and make a deep run towards the postseason.

In addition to the trade for Ryan Ludwick, the Pirates also acquired Derrek Lee from the Baltimore Orioles.

Lee batted .337 in his 28 games with Pittsburgh, he also connected for seven homers and drove in 18 runs.

The Pirates were unsuccessful in their attempt to make the postseason for the first time since 1992, but their trade for Derrek Lee did add production to their lineup without hurting their future.

Final Grade: B

Orlando Cabrera Traded to San Francisco Giants for Thomas Neal

Trying to fill the void created when Freddy Sanchez was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, the Giants traded outfield prospect Thomas Neal to Cleveland for Orlando Cabrera.

Cabrera was having a mediocre, bordering on disappointing, season with the Indians. He was batting .244 with four homers and 38 RBI in 91 games at the time of the swap.

With the Giants his season unquestionably dipped into the disappointing category.

In 39 games for San Francisco he batted just .222 and added only one homer and 13 RBI.

The move wound up not improving the Giants at all and they missed the postseason largely due to their inept offense.

Final Grade: D

Koji Uehara Traded to the Texas Rangers for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter

Like the Mike Adams trade, the Rangers acquired Koji Uehara to bolster their bullpen and try to help hold some leads and keep runs off the board.

Uehara was having a great season with the Baltimore Orioles, posting a 1.72 ERA in 43 appearances prior to the trade.

During his few months in Texas, Uehara made 22 appearances and posted a 4.00 ERA.

He will be arbitration eligible this offseason and will remain under club control through the 2015 season, adding another quality arm to the Rangers arsenal for a few seasons to come.

Final Grade: B-

Jason Marquis Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks for Zalk Walters

After posting quality stats for the Washington Nationals, the Diamondbacks acquired Jason Marquis hoping that he could provide them some similar quality innings in their quest for a National League West division title.

Unfortunately, in three starts Marquis posted a 0-1 record with a 9.53 ERA.

He will be a free agent this offseason and did not have provided much in terms of production for the Diamondbacks. His season was cut short due to injuries.

Final Grade: C-

Doug Fister Traded to Detroit Tigers in Part of 4-Player Trade

I don't think even the Detroit Tigers realized what they were getting when they traded for Doug Fister.

Fister had posted a 3-4 record with a 4.13 ERA for the Mariners in 2009, a 6-14 record with a 4.11 ERA in 2010 and a 3-12 record with a 3.33 ERA this season prior to being dealt to Detroit.

Following the trade, Fister went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA and his K/9 ratio jumped from consistently being around 3.0 to 11.40.

Fister was absolutely dominant for the Tigers down the stretch and he remains under club control through the 2016 season.

Based on his career as a Detroit Tiger, this deal was a grand slam.

Final Grade: A+

Jerry Hairston Traded to Milwaukee Brewers for Eric Kamatsu

Looking to add some depth at the trade deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers made a deal with the Washington Nationals to acquire veteran infielder Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Hairston came over to Milwaukee and posted a respectable .274 batting average in 138 total plate-appearances.

It's hard to argue with any of the moves the Brewers have made in the past season since they won their division and are favorites to win their divisional series in the postseason and advance to the National League Championship Series.

Final Grade: B-

Kosuke Fukudome Traded to Cleveland Indians for a Pair of Prospects

Kosuke Fukudome was the Indians answer to injuries in their outfield and necessary insurance for a lineup that was keeping the team in contention towards the trade deadline but looked like it may struggle down the stretch.

Fukudome had a .273 batting average but just three homers at the time of his trade to the American League.

Following the trade his average dipped to .249, but he did manage to hit five homers, improving on his power from the National League.

Although he is a potential non-tender candidate this offseason, he would remain under club control through 2014, adding some value to the deal.

Final Grade: C

Wilson Betemit Traded to Detroit Tigers for Pair of Prospects

The Kansas City Royals were willing to part ways with Wilson Betemit to provide further development time for their younger talent awaiting in Triple-A.

The Tigers needed an upgrade at third base and made a deal with the Royals to acquire Betemit for a pair of prospects.

He proceeded to bat .292 with five homers and 19 RBI for the Tigers while playing solid defense during his opportunities at the hot corner.

Betemit is a solid option as a starter as well as a very valuable player to come in off the bench, giving the Tigers some options to take advantage of his versatility.

Final Grade: B

Carlos Beltran Traded to San Francisco Giants for Zack Wheeler

Aside from Hunter Pence, Carlos Beltran was the other biggest name on the trade block this year leading up to the trade deadline.

Beltran was having a season worthy of comeback player of the year consideration with the Mets, batting .289 with 15 homers and 66 RBI.

The Giants expected him to put the team on his shoulders and carry them down the stretch, a task Beltran was not up to.

He posted good stats with the Giants, a .323 batting average, seven homers and 18 RBI, but was also injured and missed time during a crucial stretch of their playoff drive (which they ultimately fell short of).

They gave up a top pitching prospect for a player they may not be able to re-sign, hurting the value of this trade since they fell short of the postseason.

Final Grade: B

Francisco Rodriguez Traded to Milwaukee Brewers for 2 Players to Be Named Later

The Brewers added another shut-down arm to their bullpen by acquiring Francisco Rodriguez from the New York Mets prior to the trade deadline this season.

Rodriguez was forced to shift into a setup role, giving up his prized role as one of the game's top closers, but he thrived in the position.

Following the trade, K-Rod posted a 1.86 ERA in 31 appearances.

He should improve the value of this trade if he is able to eat up a few innings and keep the runs off the board throughout the playoffs.

Final Grade: A

Hunter Pence Traded to Philadelphia Phillies for 4-Prospects

The Phillies pulled off one of the season's biggest blockbuster trades in acquiring Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros in exchange for a package of four prospects.

Pence was batting .308 with 11 homers and 62 RBI in 100 games with the Astros prior to the trade.

In 54 games with the Phillies he batted .324 with 11 homers and 35 RBI, giving a combined season line of: .314 with 22 homers and 97 RBI.

Pence is under club control through 2014, giving the Phillies a valuable bat for the next few seasons.

Final Grade: A