Of all the trade deadlines in the four major sports—baseball, basketball, football, and hockey—baseball’s is the most intriguing.
Why? Simple. The extensive minor league systems allow a contender to trade for a major player without having to give up a piece of the present.
Consequently, trades are made at a rapid pace before the July 31 deadline.
Of course, that doesn’t mean they always work for the team giving up the minor-league prospects. There is a proper time where a long-contending team deals away prospects to extend their run. The trade that brought David Justice to the Bronx in 2000 from Cleveland for prospects Ricky Ledee, Jake Westbrook, and Zach Day is a good example of the sort.
