The August 31 deadline for acquisition of playoff-eligible players never has quite the cache of the often over-hyped July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but there often are a few moves right around August 31 that have some fantasy impact. This year, two familiar teams changed leagues in the final days of August -- David Wells and Phil Nevin.

The Red Sox dealt Wells to the Padres for a player to be named later or cash. The deal was interesting for a few reasons, not the least of which was the fact that the Red Sox apparently ran up the white flag with the deal. Now 6.5 games out of the wild card, the pitching poor Red Sox made a deal that would appear on its face to be a move simply to get something for a guy who won't be there next year.

Either that or they somehow tricked the Padres into coveting a guy they didn't want. San Diego apparently views Wells as their new number two starter behind Jake Peavy as they make their push for the wild card. Wells probably will pitch better in the National League and at Petco, but he's had too many starts this year when he's been throwing in the low eighties. And he hasn't been striking out anybody for a while now. He's worth a shot in NL-only leagues, but don't expect even a Jamie Moyer level impact.

Nevin's move to Minnesota is more complex to evaluate. Like his move to Chicago earlier this year, a lot depends on Nevin. If he hits immediately, he should settle into a fulltime designated hitter role for the rest of the season. If that happens, he will be very valuable. He also could struggle against righties and become a platoon player. If that happens, he won't provide much even in AL-only leagues.

There have been a couple of depth chart movements of note in the last week or so, as well. First off, if you're looking for power, Russell Branyan seems to have played his way into the starting third base gig in San Diego. Branyan is a guy who is capable of having tremendous hot stretches. If you're looking for instant power, he just might be the guy to provide it. None of San Diego's other options have that kind of potential, but most of them field the position better, and Todd Walker is a pretty consistent offensive player, so Branyan will have to hit to keep the job.

Another interesting player garnering a lot of playing time lately is Kaz Matsui at second base for the Rockies. His combination of middling speed and pop mixed with Coors Field could make him a much better fantasy player than major league player. Don't let that bother you.

Finally, the August 31 deadline got me thinking about the occasional impact trade that actually occurs after August 31, thus moving a player to a contender who can help with the race for the playoffs but won't be able to help once the team gets there. This doesn't really happen anymore, but you never know. Dave Kingman hit four home runs in six games for the Yankees at the end of 1977, adding very temporary balance to a lefty-heavy lineup. Sparky Lyle added two key saves and fourteen strong innings for the Phillies' championship team in September of 1980, then sat and watched the postseason. You never know.