Some of the teams in the Major League Baseball playoff race decided not to wait for the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline to make improvements to their respective rosters.Four of the six division leaders have acquired a key piece http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-wade-boggs-jersey , while two of the four ballclubs residing in wild-card spots have done the same.After every trade in every sport, we feel the need to critique the deals immediately instead of waiting for the results to play out.While the true effects of the acquisitions will appear on the diamond in the coming months and years, there's plenty to dissect already in terms of the fight for postseason positions.Below is a look at the top trades that have occurred so far and what they mean to the franchises involved. Zach Britton and J.A. Happ to YankeesThe New York Yankees used two separate deals to improve their pitching staff entering the stretch run of the regular season.Zach Britton and J.A. Happ came from teams in the American League East the Yankees are familiar with, and that should help ease the transition into the team.Britton will bolster the bullpen as another dominant left-handed arm in front of closer Aroldis Chapman.With Britton, Chapman, Chad Green, David Robertson, Dellin Betances and Chasen Shreve, the Yankees boast one of the best relief units in baseball.In 15.2 innings pitched with the Baltimore Orioles, Britton, who was recovering from an Achilles injury at the start of the season, gave up 11 hits and six earned runs while striking out 13 batters.Frank Franklin II/Associated PressThe Yankees hope to get Britton back to his form from a few years ago, as he put together three consecutive seasons of 35 or more saves with a minuscule ERA.Happ adds insurance to the back end of the starting rotation, and he should end up as a nice complement to Luis Severino and C.C. Sabathia.In 20 starts for the Toronto Blue Jays, Happ went 10-6 with 130 strikeouts and conceded 99 hits. While those numbers are impressive Brian Roberts Jersey , the 35-year-old has an ERA of 4.18, which is his worst in four seasons.The concerns surrounding the Happ deal involve what the Yankees gave up, as outfielder Brandon Drury was sent to Toronto. Some may see the price tag for Happ as too high, but the Yankees needed to get the deal done to improve their rotation.Although Britton and Happ are solid additions, there's no guarantee the Yankees win the AL East with the way the Boston Red Sox are swinging their bats.Manny Machado to DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers' acquisition of Manny Machado was the first major July deal to go down, and it triggered a fire sale in Baltimore and forced other contenders to turn to other, less talented infield targets.Machado filled the void at shortstop left open by Corey Seager's injury, and he's also been moved to third base with Justin Turner on the disabled list.In his first seven games with the Dodgers, Machado has eight hits in 36 plate appearances with one home run and two RBI.John Bazemore/Associated PressBefore being shipped to Los Angeles, Machado hit .315 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI in 96 games.The 25-year-old is still hitting over .300 and there's no reason to worry about his early returns in the National League.Machado will be a valuable asset for the Dodgers' pennant chase, and when Turner returns to the lineup, the Dodgers will be tough to contain.With Machado and Turner in the mix, the Dodgers possess nine players who've hit over 10 home runs in 2018.The Dodgers have the hitters capable of capturing the National League West, but they shouldn't be content with their roster, as another reliever to help closer Kenley Jansen is necessary to acquire before the non-waiver trade deadline. Brad Hand to IndiansCleveland jumped in front of the relief market by bringing in Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from the San Diego Padres in exchange for top prospect Francisco Mejia.The addition of Hand serves two purposes for the Indians Thurman Munson Jersey , as they get a strong reliever for their World Series push and have an in-house replacement for the 2019 season if free agents Andrew Miller and Cody Allen leave.Hand, who is considered as the bigger piece in the trade, has been effective in his first appearances with the Indians, as he's given up two hits and one earned run in 3.1 innings while recording one save.Tony Dejak/Associated PressOnce Miller, who is about to make a return from the disabled list, returns to the active roster, the Indians will get to test out their new-look bullpen.In Allen, Hand and Miller, the Indians have three players capable of closing out games, and there will be situations in which one or two are used to face specific batters in September and October instead of pitching a full inning.The Indians gave up a significant piece in Mejia, who should be in the majors within the next year, but trading him away was worth it since Hand is under control until 2021. Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Piscotty’s alert baserunning helped the Oakland Athletics inch closer to their first playoff berth in four years.Piscotty doubled leading off the ninth inning and scored the winning run on Trevor Hildenberger’s bases-loaded wild pitch with two outs. The A’s cut their magic number to clinch a spot in the postseason to one with their second straight walk-off win over the Minnesota Twins, 3-2 on Saturday night.Marcus Semien homered for Oakland http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-jorge-posada-jersey , which opened a 7½-game lead over Tampa Bay for the AL’s second wild card. The A’s trail AL West-leading Houston by 3½ games and are 1½ games behind the New York Yankees, who clinched the first wild card earlier Saturday.It’s the first time the A’s have won on a wild pitch in their final at-bat since April 26, 1997.“It was a different route this time to score that run but we put pressure on them,” Semien said. “We’ve got 94 wins. Nobody expected that but now that we’re here we have to play well.”Oakland won Friday on Khris Davis‘ 10th-inning homer and took the first two games of the series against the Twins despite going hitless in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position, including 10 on Saturday.Seeking their first playoff appearance since losing to Kansas City in the 2014 wild-card game, the A’s moved 33 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 24, 2003. Oakland is 60-25 since mid-June.With a chance to secure a playoff spot in the series finale Sunday, A’s manager Bob Melvin expects a loud crowd.“Should be pretty rowdy,” Melvin said. “My guess is they’ll be pretty spirited tomorrow.”After Piscotty’s hit against Hildenberger (4-5), Ramon Laureano struck out, Semien reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jorge Polanco and pinch-hitter Matt Joyce was intentionally walked.With the Twins utilizing a five-man infield, Mark Canha struck out in an 11-pitch at-bat. After Minnesota resumed a more normal defense, Hildenberger skipped a fastball past catcher Willians Astudillo, and Piscotty slid home ahead of Astudillo’s throw.“We always have a really good feeling when we’re in the ninth inning and have a chance to win,” Melvin said. “When Stephen leads off with the double Don Larsen Jersey , I don’t think anybody in our dugout didn’t think it was going to get done.”Blake Treinen (9-2) retired three batters.Joe Mauer hit a sacrifice fly in the third off Mike Fiers, but Semien hit a two-run homer against Chase De Jong in the fifth. Astudillo had a tying single off Jeurys Familia in the sixth.Astudillo had three hits for Minnesota, which has tied the team record of 15 walk-off losses, set in 1964.“We didn’t do too much to give ourselves a chance,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We get it tied late against a good team with a good bullpen and we couldn’t find a way to get that last zero.”FIVE OUTFIELDERSThe Twins used a unique defensive alignment during Matt Olson’s first two at-bats, something they’ve done frequently against the A’s slugger. Third baseman Ehire Adrianza moved to left field while the other three outfielders shifted over. With Minnesota’s infield also in a shift, second baseman Gregorio Petit was positioned in short right — essentially a fifth outfielder. That left the left side of the open; Olson grounded out to first each time.PUTTING IN WORKOlson made his 146th start at first base, Jed Lowrie his 128th at second, Semien his 151st at shortstop and Matt Chapman his 138th at third base. It’s the first time in Oakland history that the A’s have had a player with 128 starts or more at every infield position.MOVESTwins: C Juan Graterol’s contract was selected from Triple-A Rochester. RHP Ervin Santana was transferred to the 60-day DL.TRAINER’S ROOMTwins: 3B Miguel Sano (lower left leg bruise) had an MRI that was inconclusive. Sano has played in one game since Sept. 4. … 2B Logan Forsythe (knee inflammation) was held out of the lineup.UP NEXTThe A’s plan to start RHP Trevor Cahill (6-3, 3.77) for the first time since Sept. 9 in the series finale Sunday. Cahill has been out with a back strain after making his 19th start, his most since 2013. RHP Kyle Gibson (8-13, 3.78) starts for the Twins after allowing five runs and 11 hits in his last outing.