By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

Nothing like the Major League Baseball trade deadline to sort out who are the true playoff contenders, and who has raised the white flag of surrender for the 2012 season.

If your team is in the hunt, seeing whom that team deals for in an effort to make it better for the stretch run is an exciting time. You accept that your farm system will be raided in order to pick up a needed piece to the playoff puzzle, and you look forward to seeing what the new guy can do.

If your team is well out of the playoff race, you say goodbye to a veteran, in most cases, and you look ahead to a future when  (or if) all of your organization’s good young prospects put it together and form the core of a contending team.

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