MLB

The Oakland Athletics have had the American League's best record for virtually the entire season, but any A's fan knows in-season success doesn't guarantee playoff wins. Winning in October takes a deep roster, a couple of top-level players and a whole lot of luck.

Many Major League Baseball players are on edge on the day of the trade deadline, so if a player gets traded, his team should at least be the first to tell him. That's not what happened with a couple of (now former) St. Louis Cardinals players.

First baseman/right fielder Allen Craig and pitcher Joe Kelly were traded from the Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher John Lackey on Thursday afternoon. 

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, who pushed his hitting streak to 20 games Thursday afternoon, is just the second player in the last 65 years with multiple 18-game streaks during his rookie season, per Lee Sinins' Complete Baseball Encyclopedia. Abreu joins Ichiro Suzuki, who racked up hitting streaks of 23 and 21 games on his way to winning the American League MVP award as a rookie in 2001.

Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane is tired of his team being “one-and-done” in the playoffs.

With all the trades that were agreed upon by the MLB trade deadline, prospects were involved in many of the deals. While acquiring a young, unproven player may not exactly be the sexiest move a team can make, these assets can be the key to future success for an organization. Who do you think were the best prospects to be traded?

Watch as Bleacher Report's MLB Prospects Lead Writer Mike Rosenbaum breaks down the best prospects moved at the deadline.

Well, that was an exciting trade deadline, wasn't it?

This year's July 31 non-waiver deadline had everything that baseball fans can ask for. We saw a former Cy Young winner, still very much in his peak, get dealt; a true ace for the defending World Series champions found a new home. 

Many Major League Baseball teams hold Star Wars promotions at their ballparks at some point in the season. Thanks to one graphic designer, the teams could now even change their logos for the special night.

The Oakland Athletics spent the July 31 trade deadline upgrading their roster, but the team started August by cutting ties with one of the few players that hasn't worked out for general manager Billy Beane this season. 

According to the team's official Twitter account, former closer Jim Johnson has been released by the A's:

Lifelong baseball fan Tom Willis was born without arms, but that hasn't stopped him from throwing out first pitches in ballparks around the country.

Willis has learned to do things, such as throwing a baseball, with his feet.

On Thursday, Willis threw out the first pitch at the Minnesota Twins-Kansas City Royals game. It's remarkable to see how easy he makes pitching out of the windup look.

As the MLB trade deadline came and went, many players found themselves dealt to new teams. Big names like David Price, Jon Lester, Yoenis Cespedes and others headed out to different clubs.

However, after the dust settled and the deadline passed, it seemed as if some teams missed out on great trade opportunities. Which potential moves did teams whiff on? Which players should have been dealt?