Ranking top GMs at the deadline

July, 31, 2011

7/31/11

6:07

PM ET

By Jim Bowden | ESPN.com

Now that the non-waiver trade deadline has passed, I have ranked the top five general managers in two categories -- those who were making deals to win now, and those who were building for the future.

TRYING TO WIN NOW
1. Brian Sabean, San Francisco Giants: Sabean made three deals, including a deal for the best available hitter (Carlos Beltran) and two minor deals that added infield depth (Jeff Keppinger and Orlando Cabrera).

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ESPN The Magazine subscribers

Activate your Insider account »
Need more information?

View Insider Benefits »

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Jim Bowden

Bowden, who served as the senior vice president and GM for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals, is an analyst for ESPN.com. In 1992, Bowden became the youngest GM in MLB history when the Reds hired him at age 31. The Reds finished in first place twice during his 10 years as GM, and he was named MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America in 1999. After working for ESPN in 2004, Bowden became the first GM of the Washington Nationals when the franchise relocated from Montreal to Washington, D.C., in 2005, working in that role until the 2009 season. Bowden co-hosts the "Inside Pitch" radio show on Sirius XM satellite radio. Follow on Twitter: @JimBowdenESPNxm.