Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is not unlike holiday shopping, what with its varying degrees of intensity.
Perhaps you’re a day-before-gift-exchange shopper, and absolutely have to have something, anything, and are willing to pay a premium at the last minute. Maybe you’ve got almost everything you need, but keep a watchful eye out for that perfect trinket to round out your giving.
And on the other end of the register, perhaps you feel the need to move loads of product at the last minute, slashing prices so as not to get stuck with unwanted inventory.
Yet those positions will be quiet fluid for major league teams up until Tuesday’s deadline, what with hot streaks, cold spells and injuries all bound to transpire in coming days. A look at who’s buying, who’s selling, and how entrenched their positions are entering the final days:
Buyers – highly motivated
Dodgers: Reacquiring Kiké Hernández should look like an end-of-the-roster move come Tuesday; the time in between should yield pitching and bench depth as the club protects a four-game lead against insurgents in San Francisco, Arizona and San Diego.
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Rays: Already linked to Lance Lynn and could be very active in both straight-up buying and perhaps big leaguer-for-big leaguer swaps that are good mutual fits both budget- and roster-wise.
Yankees: They have no choice but adopt an aggressive stance (market demands it, blah blah blah), but it will be curious to see what a largely inflexible roster and a mid-tier but not hugely deep farm system can accomplish.
Rangers: The drumbeat has been getting louder for two off-seasons and now, a first-place team needs a deadline stimulant. GM Chris Young’s first trial by fire.
Phillies: Sometimes, you’d think Dave Dombrowski is driving the bus from Speed. Can’t stop.
Angels: Nope, That Guy is definitely not in the conversation especially after the big-time deal for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez with the White Sox.
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Buyers – kicking the tires
Braves: What do you get the squad that has everything? A nice preemptive strike for a pair of Rockies relievers; will see if pitching can get deeper and better.
Blue Jays: How much money they can spend and how significant a prospect they’d be willing to squander are always moderating factors.
Red Sox: Playing really well. Might have earned a pat on the head from ownership.
Astros: Winning six of seven – and that’s before activating Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez – might have tempered the hunger for upgrades, but new GM Dana Brown will want to deepen the pitching.
Orioles: We’d put them in the “highly motivated” category, but we simply don’t know what GM Mike Elias might do with a club well ahead of schedule. Hang an untouchable sign on Jackson Holliday and then get to work.
Giants: A streaky team because they have flaws, so how to fix it? How much of an investment has this roster earned?
Twins: Already made a Jorge Lopez transaction for the second time in as many years.
Brewers: Averaging less than three runs given up in their last 13 games. Oughta really commit to the whole run prevention bit.
Neutral – but looking
Guardians: Four games with the White Sox before the deadline. Sweep those, get on the right side of .500 and convince management to turn the arrow up.
Diamondbacks: Losing nine of 12 since the All-Star break has dimmed the notion that this might be their year.
Marlins: They seem intent on protecting their status as wild-card contenders. A bat should be coming.
Reds: Might be in their best interests to stand relatively pat and see exactly what they have here.
Neutral – but the store’s open
Mariners: In a weak market for hitters, might be able to recoup some losses by dealing Teoscar Hernández.
Tigers: If the point is to eventually win, it doesn’t make sense to sell when you’re just 6 ½ games out. If irresistible offers surface for Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen, great. If not, no biggie.
Padres: Maybe the most fluid situation out there. Fluid, as in if they keep losing, GM AJ Preller wouldn’t hesitate to pour lighter fluid on the roster and …
Sellers – everything must go
White Sox: Already traded two desirable pitchers − starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez − to the Angels for two minor-leaguers.
Cardinals: OK, maybe not everything. It’s just that the Cardinals have so much tradeable inventory (Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, Tommy Edman, maybe Jordan Hicks), but don’t expect them to strip this down to the studs.
Royals: Of course, “everything” is relative with a 29-75 team. Really, the only drama is whether closer Scott Barlow’s 5.15 ERA doesn’t deter clubs from making a reputable offer.
Athletics: See above. Reliever Shintaro Fujinami is already gone; how hot will folks be on pitchers Paul Blackburn, Austin Pruitt and Trevor May and utility guys Tony Kemp and Jace Peterson?
Rockies: Already dropped Pierce Johnson on the Braves, but the cupboard’s hardly bursting.
Sellers – make me an offer
Mets: It’s just not happening. Hard to imagine a buyer motivated to go all in on their $43 million forty-something aces, but it will behoove the Mets to listen.
Nationals: Veterans Jeimar Candelario and Corey Dickerson are useful sale items. Bigger question is whether controllable pieces like Lane Thomas, Dominic Smith and reliever Kyle Finnegan can be had, too.
Cubs: Marcus Stroman can opt out and Cody Bellinger will be a free agent. At some point, though, the Cubs have to be something more than a waystation. Right?
Pirates: Yet another brutal collapse and they’re back in this spot. Maybe the only question is whether hometown closer David Bednar can fetch a nice future piece in an overheated market.
