The trading deadline has passed and it was no surprise that Manny Ramirez is finally out of Boston.

That was only one of the big trades that have transpired in the ongoing 2008 MLB baseball season. Baseball teams have begun their preparations for a run to the World Series title and we’ll find out soon enough if these teams improved their rosters or just fucked it up even further.

Of course, as I already mentioned, one of the more notable deals that transpired before the end of the trading deadline was the acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers to future Hall of Fame slugger Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox in a three-way deal that also moved Pittsburgh’s Jason Bay to Boston.

The Pirates received two prospects from each team, including reliever Craig Hansen and third baseman Andy LaRoche. July 30 was the day when New York Yankees sent Kyle Farnsworth to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Ivan Rodriguez. The Yankees are in need of a starting catcher since Jorge Posada decided to undergo season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder, hence the Yankees picked up a 13-time Gold Glover and 14-time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez to work behind the plate the rest of the year.

The Yankees’ setup job had been increasingly filled by Jose Veras, and the addition of Damaso Marte gave them two pitchers to fill the role, making Farnsworth expendable. The right-hander, who was with the Tigers in 2005, will join a beleaguered Detroit bullpen.

Another major trade that happened was the trade between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves. Angels gave up Casey Kotchman and RHP Stephen Marek for 1B Mark Teixeira. With the game’s best record and a history of standing pat, the Angels figured to be quiet this summer. So much for that, they merely went out and acquired one of the game’s top switch-hitting sluggers when they traded for Teixeira.

Considering he might be a two-month rental, it’s not without risk for the Angels. The Atlanta Braves got a skilled batsman in Kotchman, whose power doesn’t compare to Teixeira but the rest of his game isn’t that far removed, and a Double-A reliever in Marek.

The Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics also made some trading news. The Cubs wasted no time answering division rival Milwaukee’s acquisition of CC Sabathia, acquiring ace right-hander Rich Harden and fellow righty Chad Gaudin from the A’s in exchange for four young players, including well-regarded catcher Josh Donaldson, slugger Matt Murton and righty Sean Gallagher.

Also, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Carlos Santana and Jon Meloan for Casey Blake of the Cleveland Indians. The two players acquired from the Dodgers could become solid big leaguers as well.

Carlos Santana, who had 96 RBIs in 99 Class-A games this year, could become an every-day major league catcher by 2011. Right-hander Jonathan Meloan has a live fastball, a devastating secondary pitch and a bulldog mentality. He had 19 saves in Double-A in 2007 but struggled as a starter this year in Triple-A.

The Indians, who lack a closer in the worst way, might want to convert Meloan back to the bullpen and get him to the big leagues next season.

Which team will win the 2008 MLB World Series? AcesAce sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Red Sox +300

New York Yankees +400

Cleveland Indians +1,000

Los Angeles Dodgers +2,000

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Manny Ramirez Boston Red Sox