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Some trade deadlines are more noise than signal, but the 2014 non-waiver deadline somehow managed to surpass the hype, as headline-grabbing swaps abounded. Now let's all don our tuxedos (no novelty cummerbunds, please), brandish our snifters and hand out some awards for the deadline that just passed us by. Bear in mind that only Thursday trades are eligible for the nonexistent hardware to come ...  

Most important trade

Trade details
ATHLETICS get: RED SOX get:
P Jon Lester
OF Jonny Gomes
Cash considerations		 OF Yoenis Cespedes
Competitive balance pick

This is a pretty fascinating one. Not only do the Athletics land a front-of-the-rotation lefty in Lester, but they also add depth -- depth that's important to a rotation with the untested-by-heavy-workloads and formerly injured likes of Sonny Gray (the former), Jesse Chavez (the former, mostly) and Scott Kazmir (the latter) as principals. They can also pair Lester with a skilled pitch-framer in Stephen Vogt, since that's precisely what Lester was accustomed to in Boston with David Ross. 

On the Red Sox side, the right-handed, fly-ball power of Cespedes offers tantalizing possibilities in Fenway. That's especially the case considering the power-sapping home park he's leaving. He's also signed through next season at a nominal cost, and there's also that supplemental draft choice to be considered. 

It's a compelling deal on both sides and one with World Series implications in the here and now. 

Most overrated trade

Trade details
TIGERS get: MARINERS get: RAYS get:
P David Price OF Austin Jackson P Drew Smyly
SS Nick Franklin
SS Willy Adames

Yes, I'm calling the Price blockbuster overrated. Note, however, that "important" and "overrated" are not necessarily mutually exclusive. First and foremost, while Price is obviously better than the outgoing Drew Smyly, I think the extent to which Price is better than Smyly -- especially once money is taken into account -- is being wildly overstated in many quarters. Smyly is a good starting pitcher who's young enough to get better. To be sure, this trade from the Tigers' standpoint was about adding a certifiable ace to their playoff rotation, and mission accomplished on that front. Taking the longer view, though, this trade is less of a clear win.

From the Rays' standpoint, this is, to my mind, a roundly unimpressive return for a former Cy Young winner still in his prime who isn't due for free agency until after 2015. I like Smyly, as noted above, but the shine has come off the once highly touted Franklin. The market is what the market is, but I'm left suspecting that the Rays could've done better if they had either traded Price earlier this month or waited until the winter. 

Let it be said that I do like this deal from Seattle's perspective. Jackson addresses a gaping hole in the Mariners' lineup, and he'll also be under the tutelage of his former hitting coach, Lloyd McClendon. That said, the Mariners' angle in this is the least notable one. 

Important trade, but an overrated one. 

Most underrated trade

Trade details
NATIONALS get: INDIANS get:
SS Asdrubal Cabrera SS Zach Walters

Nice job adding middle-infield depth by the Nationals , but mostly I like this one from the Indians' standpoint. Similar to Thursday with Justin Masterson, GM Chris Antonetti was able to flip an established piece for a young "upsider" without compromising his team's hopes at making the playoffs this year.

Shipping off Cabrera for the promising Walters is nifty enough, but doing so also makes room for top prospect Francisco Lindor to take over shortstop in Cleveland. It may not happen right away, but it will soon. He'll give the Indians a stretch-drive boost and improve their chances of repeating as a wild-card entrant. Not bad for a "seller." 

Best performance by a buyer

Trade details
CARDINALS get: RED SOX get:
P John Lackey
P Corey Littrell
Cash considerations		 P Joe Kelly
OF Allen Craig

The Cardinals. John Lackey isn't as eye-grabbing as Jon Lester or David Price, but he gives the Cardinals an above-average arm in the rotation and depth to sustain them until Michael Wacha returns. As well, let's not forget that Lackey's contract calls for him to the pitch the 2015 season at a salary of $500,000. Obviously, that's a huge bargain for guy capable of 200 innings and an ERA comfortably better than the league mean. He'll enjoy pitching in Busch and out of the DH league.

As well, the Cardinals were able to upgrade the rotation without parting with phenom Oscar Taveras. They instead parted with Allen Craig, but that has the benefit of clearing the way for the lavishly gifted Taveras to play every day. As mentioned in this space, Mike Matheny and outfield depth have been a bad mix thus far in 2014. Jettisoning Craig, who has been in a steady state of power decline since 2011, helps that situation. 

Best performance by a seller

The Red Sox. My colleague Matt Snyder has adroitly deconstructed the Red Sox's novel approach to the 2014 deadline, and I'll second his hosannas for GM Ben Cherington.

In broad terms, the Sox in swinging the deals noted above and in nabbing Eduardo Rodriguez from the Orioles in exchange for Andrew Miller were able to add to the already impressive core of young talent, make a "change of scenery" play on Allen Craig (his swing will need to be reconstructed completely in Boston -- right now he pulls too many balls on the ground to take advantage of the Monster) and add a tailored talent like Cespedes (and a useful arm in Kelly), all without completely selling out on their 2015 hopes. It was a delicate balancing act, and the Sox pulled it off. At least that's what it looks like at this absurdly early hour. 

Worst performance by a buyer

Trade details
MARLINS get: ASTROS get:
P Jared Cosart
OF Austin Wates
INF Enrique Hernandez		 P Jake Marisnick
P Frances Martes
3B Colin Moran
Competitive balance pick

The Marlins. Cosart has his uses, but given his complete lack of command at the highest level, one wonders if he'll be able to continue running ERAs within hailing distance of the league mean. As well, they emptied the system of a pair of top-100 prospects in Marisnick and Moran in order to land this package fronted by Cosart. Oh, and that's to say nothing of the projectable Martes and that high supplemental-round draft choice. That's expensive for, mostly, a starter who's not all that distinguished. 

On another level, why are the Marlins making a deal like this when, per FanGraphs, they presently have a 4.7-percent chance of making the playoffs? 

Worst performance by a seller

I present the following in reference to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro:

The Phillies, of course, badly need to slough off veterans and rebuild their cored-out base of young talent. To that end, they did nothing on Thursday. Nothing.

To hear Amaro tell it, that was because contending GMs -- contending GMs who on this day swung deals for David Price, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Asdrubal Cabrera and others -- weren't aggressive enough. I'm being charitable in the extreme when I say I find that assertion to be ... implausible.