A windfall--and a whiff: the Cubs snagged Nomar Garciaparra without having to give up the farm, but the Yankees were caught looking on the Big Unit.(Baseball)

The nonwaiver trading deadline has passed, and the last man standing after a frenzied game of musical chairs is none other than Randy Johnson.

Before rating the teams other than the Dodgers and Red Sox (see pages 30 and 31 for a look at how they did), please observe a moment of silence for the good people in the Yankees' front office who failed to acquire Johnson and landed in the Steinbrenner torture chamber.

Now, proceed ...

Winners

Cubs. Someone ought to investigate. General manager Jim Hendry acquired shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, a highly regarded outfield prospect from the Red Sox and cash in a four-team blockbuster without trading righthander Matt Clement and breaking up his vaunted rotation.

Garciaparra told the Red Sox shortly before the trade that he might require time off to rest his injured right Achilles' tendon at various points over the final two months. His stance might have been a ploy to get out of Boston, but the Sox informed the Cubs of his concerns.

Assuming he is healthy, Garciaparra will be motivated, liberated and celebrated on the North Side, providing a major lift to a team that previously ranked last in the N.L. in on-base/slugging percentage at shortstop.