OK, first things first: The Rangers?

The buzz was all about the Cubs' ace Ryan Dempster going to the Dodgers, until, of course, he didn't. The AL's Other Juggernaut met the call of the Original Juggernaut (the Yankees) by bolstering their starting rotation with Dempster, who's been one of the National League's best s this summer for a team that, well, has not been.

Like to think the Cubs could have gotten something more for him besides two high-A guys, but they are the Cubs. And it's not like they were going anywhere this season anyway, their recent spurt of semi-decent play notwithstanding.

So, the Rangers have answered the Yankees' deal for Ichiro, sort of. These two are on a collision course for the ALCS, and today just made it even more inevitable.

Best part for Texas: They swung the deal minutes before the trade deadline, which means the Yankees won't be able to raise the Rangers' raise.

Come back in late October to see who played the winning hand.