To fans and the media, what a team does in the MLB Draft pales next to a big free-agent signing or blockbuster trade.

Part of that is the gaudy figures thrown around during the hot stove season. The Red Sox, this year's top spender in the draft, couldn't even buy one year of Gil Meche if they shifted their draft outlay to the open market. Most of it stems from immediacy, though. A big winter signing answers the question who will help me today? A big haul in the draft answers who will help me tomorrow, but in most cases tomorrow is years away, if it ever comes at all.

Still, as the cost of free agents escalates, the draft continues to become the most important way to ensure long-term success. With that in mind, and with the deadline to sign picks in the books, here's a look at three teams who won and three teams who lost in the 2008 draft

Before the 2008 season began, there were plenty of White Sox fans who thought the team would be better off having Josh Fields as their third baseman and trading Joe Crede. Considering how close Crede was to being traded to the Giants and Dodgers last winter, it's pretty apparent that White Sox GM Kenny Williams was thinking the same way.

Then the season started and Crede was at third for the Sox while Josh Fields was manning the position down in Charlotte. Well, even though Crede's defense has suffered in 2008 (he's already committed a career-high 19 errors which is likely due to his back), he still made the All-Star team for the first time in his career, and there's talk that the Sox may re-sign him this winter.

All of which makes Fields a little more expendable should the White Sox feel the need to add another starting pitcher to their rotation.

A source has indicated the Sox have been in discussions with ''more than one'' team about adding pitching help, either in the rotation or bullpen -- or possibly both -- and the major discussion is whether they dare part ways with minor-league third baseman Josh Fields.

According to the source, unless they are willing to part ways with Fields, there is no deal to be made. Basically, do they forfeit the future at third base to chase October glory this season?

The two pitchers whose names keep popping up lately in trade talks involving the White Sox are Toronto's A.J. Burnett and Oakland's Justin Duchscherer. If the Sox are to make a move, I'm guessing they'd prefer Duchscherer seeing as how Kenny Williams has a long trade history with Billy Beane, and Burnett is an overpaid injury risk that can opt out of his contract at season's end.

Now that the exciting action of MLB's amateur draft has completed it's first round, it's time to take a look at our country's next millionaires. Here's a quick glance at the first round selections by the teams of the AL West.

Texas Rangers (11) Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina: After trading Mark Teixeira to the Braves last season, the Rangers were left with an opening in the power-hitting first baseman that can hit from both sides of the plate department, and it looks like they filled the position with Justin Smoak. This kid can really Smoak (I know...boooo) the ball all over the field, and was projected in a lot of mock drafts as being a top ten, possibly top five, pick. Instead he went 11th to the Rangers, and though Rangers fans will probably compare him more to Teixeira, or even Chipper Jones, since he's a switch-hitter he's more of an Adrian Gonzalez type. Whether that means the Rangers will trade him to the Padres and he'll be their only position player worth a damn in a few years, I don't know.

Oakland Athletics (12) Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami (Fla.): Brewers fans are already familiar with Jemile's older brother, Rickie, and now Oakland fans will get a chance to meet the second member of the Weeks family to get drafted. A lot of people who know more about this stuff than I do are saying that this pick was a bit of a stretch by the Athletics, since Weeks can only play one position, and will have to make a change in his approach at the plate to succeed in the Majors. That said, the kid has wheels, and he's a better defender than his brother. Plus, Billy Beane has had a lot of success in this draft thing, so if he thinks the kid is good enough, I'll just have to take his word for it.

While most of the talk surrounding Joe Crede, his back, and his impending free agency that dominated White Sox spring training seems to have died down a bit, it hasn't changed the fact that the White Sox still aren't sure what they'd like to do with their third baseman. Crede got off to a real hot start in April, and is hitting .270/.345/.500 to be one of the only consistently productive hitters in the Sox lineup (though all seven of his homers and 22 of his 25 RBI came in April).

HIs back has also stood up to the beating that comes with playing third base on a daily basis, so overall, it looks like the old Joe Crede is back. So what are the White Sox going to do? They still have Josh Fields down in the minors waiting to take over the third base spot.

For Crede's part, he'd like to stay in Chicago, and is open to negotiating a new deal during the season. It's just the White Sox will have to be the ones who initiate it.

"We aren't the ones with the money, so I don't feel we need to make the offer," Crede said. "It's a situation were if they want to pay us, they will make the offer. We aren't going to go out and ask for money. That's not how I want to approach it."

"I don't approach teams about player contracts," added Boras, speaking from his suite at Angel Stadium a few hours before Tuesday's first pitch. "They are the employers. I let them know that Joe is happy with Chicago."

The Dodgers came into the spring with the plan of having Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche compete for the third base job. Then on the same day, LaRoche tore a ligament in his right thumb that will keep him out until May, and Nomar got hit in his right hand. The hope was that Nomar would need some time off, and he'd be back in the lineup, but today the Dodgers found out that he has a broken bone in the hand and will be out of the opening day lineup.

The Dodgers have already been rumored to be interested in both Detroit's Brandon Inge and Chicago's Joe Crede, but the talks never got very serious in either deal. Now that neither of their third baseman will be available on opening day, Ned Coletti may have to rethink those trade talks.

"We'll see where Nomar's at in another week or so, and in the meantime, we'll continue to see if we can figure out [a replacement] from within or outside," general manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday.

Obviously either the White Sox or Tigers would be more than happy to help out(The Tigers have no place for Inge, and he doesn't want to be there, while the Sox would prefer to keep Josh Fields out of AAA.), but I think the Tigers would be more inclined to do so at this point. The Dodgers do have in house options in Tony Abreu and Blake DeWitt, and since Nomar is only expected to miss the first week or two of the season.

I don't know that it would be worth the trouble for Los Angeles to deal a top prospect for a player they may not really need. Though if Nomar's hand continues to heal slowly, they may have no other choice in what should be a tough NL West division.

There aren't many people around White Sox camp that thought Joe Crede would still be the team's opening day third baseman, but with every passing day, that scenario becomes more likely. The Sox have a few reasons to want to move Crede: to make room for Josh Fields, and because they don't think they'll re-sign him when he becomes a free agent after the season.

The problem is, even though they were hoping to move him before the season starts, that doesn't mean Kenny Williams and the organization don't hold the 2005 World Series hero in high regard. Unfortunately, the teams they're talking to don't feel the same way.

San Francisco, the most likely suitor for Crede, and the Sox have disparate evaluations that carry ramifications for both sides.

A talent evaluator familiar with both teams said the Sox were miffed the Giants' offers for Crede included since-released pitcher Scott Williamson; pitcher Randy Messenger, who was optioned to Triple-A Fresno last week; and veteran outfielder Dave Roberts.

The White Sox asking price of a top prospect and a young reliever is apparently too steep for the Giants, who prefer to offer players on their team they never planned on keeping anyway. Fortunately for Kenny and the White Sox, the Giants now have a division rival who are also interested in Crede.

The Dodgers had scouts in attendance for Crede's last game, and they're not too sure they want Nomar Garciaparra playing third base while Andy LaRoche recovers from a hand injury. Now the Sox will have some leverage in their trade talks, and it's still possible that Crede will be moved before the season. Though I think it's more likely the Sox will carry Crede along with them through the start of the season and try to move him at the deadline.

Now that this nightmare of a season is less than a week away from ending for the White Sox, most of the questions surrounding the team revolve around who's going to be back next season. One of the many players on the White Sox roster who aren't sure where they'll be next season is Darin Erstad.

Erstad signed a one-year deal with the Sox before this season, and it includes an option on 2008. If the Sox choose to pick up the option, Erstad will make $3.5 million next season. If not, they can buy him out for $225,000.

So what are the White Sox going to do? Darin Erstad doesn't know, and he doesn't really care either.

''I have no comment on next year,'' Erstad insisted over the weekend. ''I don't have a comment on that stuff. Year-to-year is so separate. I just am a firm believer in when it's over it's over, good or bad, you move on to the next year.''

So will the Sox pick up his option for next season? I don't know. Erstad spent a lot of time on the disabled list this season with ankle injuries, something that's plagued him the last few seasons. So the odds are the team isn't going to want to spend $3.5 million on a guy they aren't sure will be on the field.

There hasn't been much good to come out of 2007 for the Chicago White Sox. They've underachieved, they've suffered injuries, and they've failed to capitalize on any opportunity afforded them by the struggling Indians and Tigers.

Lately though, there have been reasons for optimism on the south side. Where as earlier this season, the struggles of the Sox' youngsters caused many, including myself, to question Kenny Williams' ability to recognize young talent, things are starting to turn around.

Jerry Owens isn't lighting it up or anything, but he's showing signs that he can become a valuable asset to a team both in the field and at the top of the order. John Danks is going through that rookie dead-arm period right now, but he's given the White Sox more than they could ask for from their fifth starter. Hell, even the bullpen is pitching well the last few weeks.

The biggest bonus though has been Josh Fields. When the team learned that it would lose Joe Crede for the rest of the season due to his back, it was a heartbreaker for White Sox fans. Crede has earned somewhat of a cult following in Chicago with his Gold Glove defense and knack for getting the big hit everytime he has the chance.

In other words, the former Oklahoma State quarterback had some very large shoes to fill if he wanted to replace Crede.

According to Joe Crede's agent, some guy named Boras, Joe will be starting his rehab from back surgery this week in Arizona.

What Boras wouldn't say, is whether or not Crede will be able to play again anytime this season.

"The main thing is we want him back healthy and at full strength," Boras said. "The key is that we resolved a problem. Joe had been playing in a great deal of pain and seeing that the problem is not something that would affect his long-term future and that he's going to be a completely healthy player again is something we're really happy about getting accomplished."

The question for White Sox fans is whether or not Crede will ever be a completely healthy player in a White Sox uniform ever again. Crede has one more season on his contract with the White Sox after this season, but it wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if he was dealt during the offseason. The odds of Chicago re-signing him when he becomes a free agent are probably slim to none.

The Sox and Scott Boras aren't the bestest of friends, and it's likely that Crede will be too expensive. If his back causes his price to lower, it wouldn't make much sense for the Sox to keep a guy who's had chronic back issues.

The Sox also seem to like what they've seen from Josh Fields so far, Crede's replacement at third base since he went on the disabled list. Fields is hitting only .252 with five home runs and 18 RBI in a little over 100 at bats, but averaged out to a full 500 at bat season, Fields would finish with 22 home runs and 81 RBI. Numbers that aren't entirely different from Crede's production. Defensively Josh doesn't have the range that Joe does, but he is competent at third base. A lot cheaper too.

For years Joe Crede has chosen to deal with the pain in his lower back, and try to rehab it with strengthening exercises. Now with his latest trip to the disabled list thanks to his back, Crede has had enough.

He's scheduled to undergo surgery on it today.

White Sox third baseman Joe Crede will undergo surgery on his lower back Tuesday, but the length of rehabilitation won't be known until after the extent of damage is determined.

Renowned back specialist Robert Watkins will perform the operation in Southern California.

Crede will be out at least two months, if not the rest of the season. It's a big loss for a White Sox offense that can't seem to score runs as it is. Another thing I'm sure Crede took into consideration was the fact he's a free agent at the end of next season. If you're going to have surgery, you'd rather have it the season before your walk year than the offseason before it. There's just more time to recover that way.