The MLB trade deadline has passed, and with little fanfare. It seems that two wildcard slots, reductions in draft compensations, and loads of mediocrity have deadened the flurries of trades we are used to seeing.

Again this year, the following players have been run through Out of the Park 14's “Shop Player” feature, to see what the game’s AI GM's would have given up in exchange for these traded players.

To be clear, this pseudo-simulation is using OOTP’s base roster set, and was executed at the trading deadline of a simmed season. Yes, not having the same standings or statistics eliminates a lot of the context of these trades, but hoping/waiting for completely mirrored results isn’t practical. Also, the shop around feature doesn’t group packages; the players mentioned would individually seal the deal for the computer AI.

Bud Norris, HOU:

Real MLB: Dealt to Orioles (with an international signing slot) for LJ Hoes, Josh Hader, and a player to be names later.

Best OOTP offer: Pirates OF Alex Presley

Jake Peavey, CWS:

Real MLB: Dealt in a three team trade between the Red Sox and Tigers. White Sox received OF Avisail Garcia, SS Cleuluis Rondon, SP Francellis Montas, and RP JB Wendelken.

Best OOTP offer: Hardly anyone wanted Peavey in OOTP 14. The best offer (of three) was for the Rangers young CF Leonys Martin.

Alfonzo Soriano, CHI:

Real MLB: Traded to the Yankees (along with cash considerations) for RHP Corey Black

Best OOTP offer: No one in OOTP 14 wanted Soriano (or his large contract) in a one-for-one trade.

Francisco Rodriguez, MIL

Real MLB: Dealt to Orioles for INF Nick Delmonico

Best OOTP offer: Again, no one for one offers made to the Brewers for K-Rod.

Matt Garza, CHI

Real MLB: Dealt to Rangers for RHP Justin Grimm, 1B Mike Olt, P C.J. Edwards and players to be named later

Best OOTP offer: Again, in perhaps one of the bigger trades of the real MLB season, there were no takers for Garza. I even tried to recreate the deal with the Rangers, I was told "That's not a fair deal, you have to offer us some more." That was without the "PTBNL"!

It certainly seems that, this year anyway, the GM's making trades were a little more ready to pull the trigger than their virtual counterparts.

That said, maybe the lack of takers in OOTP foreshadows the future of baseball, where "rental" players aren't worth the prospects or money--for both buyers and sellers. This seems to be true in some markets already; Philadelphia held on to a number of soon to be free agents--despite being well out of the race--because the return wasn't high enough.

Perhaps the blockbuster last minute trades (as we saw in 2012) are like Alfonzo Soriano's best days: in the past.

What do you think were the best trades of the 2013 season? What trades have you made in games that you feel are realistic "winners?"