"We debated that internally," Duquette said, referring to the decision to trade off veterans. "The key we were looking at was, `We don't want to call it quits on the season.'
"I understand the point about giving up and quitting," he said. "We're not calling it quits on the season. We're not giving up. We're more looking at it as an opportunity for our young players to prove that they belong here, and where do they fit in the long-term plans of the organization.
"Baseball is American as you can be," he said. "So are trades."
The Yankees and Red Sox, at least in theory, got what they needed: pitching. The Yankees picked up Jesse Orosco from San Diego and Benitez from the Mets. Boston acquired Jeff Suppan from Pittsburgh and Scott Williamson from Cincinnati.
St. Louis didn't get the pitching it needed at the trading deadline. The Cardinals' pitching was subsequently thrashed by the Mets, who had 17 hits on Saturday in a loss and 19 hits on Sunday in a victory.
For all Gillick's protests, the Mariners acquired shortstop Rey Sanchez from the Mets for a prospect. On the final day of the deadline, the Yankees acquired Aaron Boone from Cincinnati for prospects and cash. "He wasn't available in the winter," Gillick said, referring to Boone. "He wasn't available in the spring. It wasn't until July 15 that he was available all of a sudden."
Seattle was also interested in Boone, but Gillick said his problem with the Boone transaction was with the deadline ritual.
"This isn't sour grapes," he said. "I've been in this business 40 years. I just don't think it's a good situation for the industry."
Baseball is our national pastime -- I'll give you that. But there is something off-center about a trading deadline ritual that encourages early surrender and fire sales. Something almost un-American.
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