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When a flurry of deals and a handful of signings began to snowball this past Tuesday at the recently-completed winter meetings, some took it as a sign that this year's swap shop would be action-packed.
As it turned out, Tuesday was merely a tease. For the rest of the week, there was more talk about deals which weren't made than ones that were, and nearly three-fourths of the free-agent pool remains unsigned with Christmas just over a week away.
Is it collusion? Economic stagnation? Who can say? But as always, some teams improved, while others stood still or slid backwards.
Here's a look at who won and who lost in Boston:
Winners
1. New York Yankees
Complain, if you wish, about the economic disparity. Argue that the Yankees are making a mockery of the game, that their recent free agent spending spree stands for all that is wrong with baseball.
But the Yankees make all the right moves. They filled their outfield holes with Rondell White and John Vander Wal, replaced the retired Scott Brosius with Robin Ventura, bolstered their bullpen with Steve Karsay, and of course, added the estimable Jason Giambi to the middle of their lineup.
So now, the team which came within an out of winning its fifth championship in six seasons is now measurably improved over the end of the season.
Remember the old TV campaign in which the striking model lamented: "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful?"
The same applies here. Don't hate the Yankees because they're great. And, once again, they're the team to beat in the American League.
2. New York Mets
The Mets had some catching up to do. After winning the National League pennant, they missed out on the playoffs despite a valiant post-Sept. 11 run.
|  | | Roger Cedeno will provide speed for the Mets, something they lacked from the leadoff spot last year. |
They haven't caught up to the cross-borough Yankees, and may not even be as good as they were two seasons ago. But they're better than last year, and that's a start.
Roger Cedeno, returning for a second stint at Shea Stadium, gives them some speed at the top of the lineup, always a plus in the NL. Presumably, he'll be far happier in familiar surroundings than he was in Detroit last season.
David Weathers give them additional bullpen depth, while the acquisition of Roberto Alomar boosts the infield immeasurably. Alomar, now with his fifth team, always seems to have a standout season in his first year in a new home, so the Mets should expect big things from him.
Problems remain. The Mets still lack a run producer in the outfield, and they could use additional pitching. But by dumping David Justice's salary, they may have some room to make more moves -- if not now, then in midseason, should they be contenders.
3. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox may have been better off had their deal with the Anaheim Angels gone through, bringing them offensive sparkplug Darin Erstad. But the White Sox rebounded nicely by working a deal for Todd Ritchie, who, with Jim Parque and Mark Buehrle, gives the Sox a more-than-respectable front three.
With a comeback expected from Frank Thomas, the White Sox will improve offensively and may be well-positioned to make a run at the suddenly wide-open AL Central. Signing closer Keith Foulke to a contract extension didn't hurt, as well.
Losers
1. Oakland A's
If the Yankees are the beneficiary of a nearly-unlimited budget, than the A's are at the other end of the spectrum, victims of their own success.
The A's have already lost free agents Giambi (Yankees) and Jason Isringhausen (Cardinals) and that list will soon grow when Johnny Damon relocates somewhere in the coming weeks.
David Justice gives them a bat, but he's aging and how much he can be counted upon to play in the outfield remains to be seen. Taking Justice's salary may also preclude the A's from pursuing Tino Martinez, who may have been a better fit.
Oakland's standout rotation guarantees that the A's will remain respectable and the acquisition of closer Billy Koch probably more than compensates for losing Isringhausen. But one can't overcome the feeling that this team was dismantled before it fully realized its potential and Giambi's loss can't be measured solely by statistics.
2. Cleveland Indians
The time-tested rule applies here: whichever team gives up the best player in a deal -- regardless of who else is included -- loses.
That would be the Indians, who dealt second baseman Roberto Alomar. Sure, Alomar could be a sour presence at times, but don't think that the Indians won't miss him -- in the field and at the plate.
Matt Lawton and prospect Alex Escobar will help re-make the Indians into a more athletic team, and the other prospects may make them better -- eventually.
But the Indians have lost Juan Gonzalez and Roberto Alomar and replaced them with Lawton and Ricky Gutierrez. Anyway you cut it, that's a dropoff.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies did almost nothing at the meetings, unless you count the Chris Brock-for-John Wasdin swap. They spent much of the week attempting to swing a trade for third baseman Scott Rolen, only to fail.
Plenty of time remains to find a new home for Rolen before spring training, but after this week, the Phils' options were reduced. A proposed nine-player deal with the Orioles fell part over the failure to agree on some prospects, and the Mariners, who could have given the the Phils a trio of young pitchers to continue the staff rebuilding, grew frustrated and landed Jeff Cirillo instead.
Eventually, the Phils will find a trade partner; Rolen is simply too good. But the closer the team gets to spring training, the more desperate they'll become and his contractual uncertainty (one year remaining before free agency beckons) means only a handful of teams will take a chance on satisfying the Phillies in a trade, then his agent with a long-term deal.
Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com.
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