Trader pros: The Top 5 buyers of summer

Things just got more interesting, didn't they? Well, if you're into the idea of a Dodgers-Yankees World Series, they sure did. Was that the larger lesson of Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline?
It's too early for that kind of talk. The Nationals and Cubs also got better. So did the Rays, Red Sox and Royals.
Besides, with 19 teams within 5 1/2 games of a postseason berth, it still could come down to who is hot and healthy in October. That said, Monday was everything we could have hoped for in terms of teams positioning themselves for the final three months.
• Every deal made on Trade Deadline Day
No two teams did more to help their chances of winning the 2017 World Series than the Dodgers, who brought in Yu Darvish and a pair of relievers on Monday, and the Yankees, who added Sonny Gray a week after acquiring third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox. These acquisitions matter on two levels. First, they make a club better. Second, new faces -- and new talent -- inject energy into a clubhouse at a time when fatigue, both mental and physical, can be a factor.
Baseball fans of a certain age remember when the Dodgers and Yankees seemed to have rented space in the Fall Classic. We haven't had one of those since 1981, so who knows? Were these two franchises eyeing one another from 2,500 miles apart? Stay tuned.
Winners? We got 'em.

1. Dodgers
Who they got: Right-hander Yu Darvish and lefty relievers Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson.
What it means: What do you give the team that's 43 games over .500 (74-31) and leading the National League West by 14 games? You give them right-hander Darvish from the Rangers, the best pitcher to change teams. His 4.01 ERA is the product of a couple of tough days. Ignore it. Darvish was fourth in the American League in strikeouts, fifth in innings and 10th in WHIP. If the Dodgers get Clayton Kershaw back, Darvish will help make a very good rotation into a championship-caliber one. If Kershaw doesn't return at his best from a back injury, the Dodgers have a No. 1 to slide into his spot.

2. Yankees
Who they got: Right-hander Sonny Gray, left-hander Jaime García, infielder Todd Frazier and righty relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle.
What it means: The Yankees are not passing a chance to win the AL East. Gray and Garcia dramatically upgrade the rotation in front of CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino. General manager Brian Cashman also upgraded his bullpen and his offense with the other moves. If the Red Sox do not get David Price back and Rick Porcello pitching better, the Yanks become the division favorite.

3. Nationals
Who they got: Righty relievers Brandon Kintzler and Ryan Madson and lefty Sean Doolittle.
What it means: The Nationals are good enough to win the World Series after GM Mike Rizzo turned a major weakness into a nice strength. There's still some uncertainty regarding right-hander Stephen Strasburg's health, but the Nats are cruising toward an NL East title with a championship-caliber offense and the NL's best starting pitcher in Max Scherzer. They were already going to be a tough postseason draw. They're a lot tougher after Kintzler joined the mix after Rizzo got Madson and Doolittle earlier.

4. Cubs
Who they got: Left-hander José Quintana and lefty reliever Justin Wilson.
What it means: Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein believes his team is good enough to go back to back. The Cubs were already better as Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and John Lackey got going, but Quintana and Wilson upgrade the Cubs in two areas. The bottom line is that the Dodgers, Cubs and Nationals have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the NL.

5. Red Sox
Who they got: Righty relievers Addison Reed and infielder Eduardo Núñez.
What it means: Reed gives manager John Farrell a proven arm to slot into a setup role in front of Craig Kimbrel, which gives the Red Sox bullpen a significantly different look. Nunez provides cover for both injuries and in case rookie third baseman Rafael Devers struggles. Ultimately, Boston will rise or fall on the rotation depth behind Chris Sale, but president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski gave his team a better chance to go back to the playoffs.

Honorable mentions
Rays
Who they got: First baseman Lucas Duda, righty relievers Sergio Romo and Steve Cishek and lefty reliever Dan Jennings.
What it means: The Rays retooled a problem era with three relievers and added power and lineup depth by getting Duda. And this team was already good thanks to one of the best offenses in franchise history and what still may be the AL East's best rotation. Tampa Bay increased the chances of three AL East teams making the postseason.

Royals
Who they got: Outfielder/designated hitter Melky Cabrera, righty reliever Brandon Maurer, lefty reliever Ryan Buchter and right-hander Trevor Cahill.
What it means: The Royals are 43-28 since a 10-20 start and fighting for a division title or an AL Wild Card berth. Cahill adds much needed depth to the rotation and the two relievers deepen a bullpen that has been one of the best in baseball the last two months. If GM Dayton Moore was ever tempted to break up this group, this hot streak compelled him to add to the mix and give his team every chance for another October run. Kansas City is among the toughest draws in either league at the moment.