Weekend trades featuring Matt Kemp and Aroldis Chapman were a precursor to Monday's trade deadline maelstrom that separated hard-luck sellers from World Series contenders.

Nearly two-thirds of team were active ahead of the 4 p.m. EST cutoff, and many had reason to be. Aside from division leaders, 13 clubs are within seven games of a wild card slots; six teams are within one of a play-in game. Even the Rockies and White Sox, holding on to hope with sub-.500 records, are within striking distance.

Yet for the first time in a long, it seems like the Yankees don't consider themselves part of the group, given the All-Star talent they unloaded in prospect-heavy deals over the last week. New York sent Chapman to Chicago (NL); Ivan Nova to Pittsburgh; Andrew Miller to Cleveland; and Carlos Beltran to Texas in exchange for top prospects, some long-time minor leaguers, and at least two "players to be named later."

The Yankees may not be all-in, but plenty of other teams throughout the Rust Belt sure are. Let's take a look at notable last-second MLB trade deadlines deals.

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Prince Fielder's season-ending neck injury left a big enough hole in Texas' lineup that they were willing to part with a top-100 prospect in Dillon Tate for Beltran. The Rangers also picked up stalwart catcher Jonathan Lucroy from Milwaukee for touted Double-A outfielder Lewis Brinson. ESPN's Keith Law believes Brinson is a potential All-Star "if he hits enough to get to his plus-plus power."

Both Rangers newcomers are unlikely to make the team's 2018 roster; Beltran is an unrestricted free agent this fall and Lucroy has a club option next season.

The Cubs' bullpen renovation project continued as they dealt for Los Angeles Angels sidearmer Joe Smith, who carried a 1-4 mark and 3.82 ERA in 38 relief appearances. Smith's unorthodox pitching style served the Angels well in setting up closer Huston Street for the better part of three seasons. He may take on the same role behind Chapman, the 100-mph flamethrower looking to hit the free agent market with a World Series title on his resume.

Three-time All-Star Jay Bruce is on his way to Citi Field as insurance in case Yoenis Cespedes opts out of his contract after this season. The Mets needed power in the middle of their lineup, even if it meant creating a logjam in the outfield; Bruce and Cespedes likely play the corners while Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto share time in center.

New York rank 13th among NL team in runs scored, and they're near the cellar in batting average (.206). Coversely, Bruce has 20 homers an NL-high 80 RBIs entering play Monday. That alone may be enough for the Mets to pick up his $13 million club option.

Los Angeles Clubs Seek Pitching

The Freeway Series rivals Dodgers and Angels had realistic postseason aspiration leaving Spring Training. It's a viable though with guys named Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout suiting up.

Five month removed from camp, both clubs though best to reassess their pitching staff.

The Angels also parted ways with right-handed starter Hector Santiago, the team leader in wins (10) and one of the few Halo pitchers who managed to stay healthy over the last two seasons. In return, Minnesota sent veteran starter Ricky Nolasco and 26-year-old righty Alex Meyer to Anaheim.

Santiago was an All-Star in 2015, but looming arbitration hearings may be what prompted Los Angeles to pull the trigger, in only because they get two extra years of Nolasco and a hard-throwing prospect whose delivery hits the upper-90s.

Up the 5 freeway, the other Los Angeles team acquired Jesse Chavez from Toronto and Rich Hill from Oakland.

Both suffered setbacks this season; Chavez had a 4.57 ERA in 41 1/3 innings of relief and Hill carried a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts before hitting the DL with a groin strain. The Dodgers are patching together what they can while Kershaw recovers from a herniated disk in his lower back. 

Other Notable Trades

Toronto filled out their pitching staff by picking up Houston reliever Scott Feldman and Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano. The Blue Jays needed someone to give AL ERA leader Aaron Sanchez a break, given that Sanchez already surpassed his career-high in innings.

Once thought of as Tampa Bay's ace in-the-making, Matt Moore is on his way to San Francisco for infielders Matt Duffy and Lucius Fox. Injuries marred Moore's time in Tampa, primarily in 2014 when he underwent Tommy John surgery for a torn ligament in his left elbow.

Josh Reddick will play out most of his remaining contract at Dodger Stadium after being sent as part of the Hill deal. Reddick notched career highs in batting average (.296) and on-base percentage (.368) in his walk year.