Peter Gammons chose the Rangers as the most interesting storyline of the deadline.
↵↵↵1.⇥The emergence of the Texas Rangers as a major force in the American League. They awakened on Aug. 1 with the third-best record and the third-best run differential in the league, behind only the Yankees and Rays. General manager Jon Daniels has been so aggressive that he added Cliff Lee, Jorge Cantu, Cristian Guzman and Bengie Molina while the team was bankrupt and had built such a deep, talented organization that he could add four significant pieces and get cash from the Mariners, Marlins and Giants. If the next Rangers owner doesn't appreciate what Daniels has done, perhaps Barack Obama can make him overseer of the National Recovery Act.
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The only point that I would quarrel with is his calling all four parts 'significant.'
↵↵↵Remember, because of the Mark Teixeira trade with Atlanta, Daniels has the closer leading the league in saves and an All-Star shortstop. He traded for the player who is close to the best in the league (Josh Hamilton), signed the best DH (Vlad Guerrero) and since this time last year had the ingenuity to put together a rotation capable of winning the pennant with Lee, converted closer C.J. Wilson, Japanese import Colby Lewis and homegrown Tommy Hunter. Yes, Lee is first and Wilson fourth in the AL in Lee Sinins' Runs Saved Above Average.
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He also points out that no one added significant salary (no one over $5 milliion), despite all of the activity.