Even when you’re old enough to not believe in Santa, there’s still an element of surprise on Christmas morning. After hearing the Cubs reacquired Jeimer Candelario in a trade with the Nationals, I hit the league site in search of other trades.

The cost for the switch-hitting corner infielder was two minor leaguers of such little significance that the hosts on the station broadcasting Cubs games didn’t register. The move is definitely a positive in Cubland. Only 10 days earlier, the Cubs were wondering if they were going to buy or sell. While the team doesn’t have to flex its mighty pocketbook, the move isn’t a guarantee for success.

Without critiquing any of the other moves (for now), I have to laugh at some of the modifiers being used to hype the various players trading places. Several players are being traded or shuffled via waivers and whatnot.

As sure as I’d love a BLT right now, I know that several pundits will be asked early Wednesday morning as to who won the deadline. Of course, there are 7 billion different ways to assess the trades and most are specious at best, but I’ll wait until game 162. We’ve all seen big trades fizzle after that first week’s success and other guys prove their worth in following seasons.

Often, teams benefit more from addition by subtraction than the inverse. 100 games into the season teams positive dynamics get upset when a favorite teammate gets moved. Likewise, when a team acquires a top player, someone on the 26-man roster must be sent packing (even if only temporarily). GM’s and managers might have to do their heaviest lifting after the trade deadline. Getting certain players to buy into reduced roles isn’t the easiest task.

I wonder from afar, how Reds fans feel as the Cubs and Brewers are making moves to improve their chances and they appear to be pretty quiet. I expect by the time I hit “publish”, they’ll have packaged Ed Armbrister and Doug Flynn in a trade with the Expos for Jim Fairey and Coco Laboy.

Reds v. Cubs for the next four days at Wrigley-priceless!