Was it Branch Rickey who said this? Or who just got credit for it (as he did for so many other things)?

Neither the Dodgers nor Angels made a big splash, here at the end of the non-waiver trading deadline.

The Dodges got left-handed reliever George Sherrill from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a pair of minor-leaguers who the Dodgers hope won’t come back to haunt them, infielder Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson, good prospects but (at the moment) not elite prospects.

The Dodgers actually had need of relief help.

Turns out, their bullpen has thrown more innings than any team in the major leagues not named the San Diego Padres, and the toll is beginning to tell. Cory Wade has been physically shaky all year, surprise find Ronald Belisario went down with arm problems a few weeks ago and even Ramon Trancoso has struggled, of late.

Sherrill, who closed for the Orioles, will be a set-up man for Jonathan Broxton, and perhaps a situational lefty, considering left-handers haven’t been hitting him, at all, this year.

The Dodgers also send reliever Claudio Vargas to Milwaukee for a backup catcher, Vinny Rottino, a career minor-league who appears to have a little pop in his bat — which means  he might prove to be an improvement on Russell Martin, who hasn’t really hit since the first half of 2007. Not that Rottino will join the big club, right away.

The Angels, meanwhile … did nothing.

And this isn’t bad. Neither the Dodgers making only a couple of smallish moves, nor the Angels making none at all. Not when the big prize, Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay, comes with at an enormous price. Not when it a big trade means denuding your minor-league depth or sending away someone like Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) or Brandon Wood (Angels) or taking on lots of salary for a short-term employee.

Both teams lead their divisions. Both teams have a couple of pretty good pitchers up front to throw in a seven-game series.  Each team appears to have enough offense to get to the end of the season.

Why give up kids who might be stars some day? Why take on salary and give up salary-controlled young players?

Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to make a deal simply for the buzz of making a deal.  Can’t fault Ned Colletti or Tony Reagins for that.