Three things a man thinks he can do better than anyone: grill meat, drive a car and run a baseball team.<\/p>\n
So when you hear Mike from Marietta or Sammy from Schaumburg griping about the moves their Braves or Cubs made or didn\u2019t make as the calendar advances later into July, you know it\u2019s trade deadline time.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to remember when a trade deadline has contained so many contenders, legitimate or otherwise. The National League\u2019s wild card taffy pull continues with seven teams within six games of the New York Mets for the final spot. The American League isn\u2019t quite as nuts but should still have plenty of suspense deep into September.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s only five sure-file sellers\u2014maybe six if\/when Toronto admits this isn\u2019t its year\u2014and that will mean full-scale chaos. That could also lead to little action<\/a> as sellers try to squeeze every prospect imaginable from a contender for the one guy who could make a difference.<\/p>\n So who needs to make a move, and who can probably stand pat? Let\u2019s take a peek.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Yankees will make moves because general manager Brian Cashman will get crushed by the media if he doesn\u2019t. Also, you can\u2019t waste prime years in Juan Soto and Aaron Judge\u2019s careers by hitting the snooze button on July 31.<\/p>\n Seattle could use a bat in the worst way. Its 10-game lead is down to 3 \u00bd games, and Houston is closing fast in the rear-view mirror. The Mariners have to get some swing and miss out of that lineup if they\u2019re going to see October.<\/p>\n Kansas City will be an interesting watch. It\u2019s in contention for the first time in a while, but how much will it expand payroll? And where does it most add\u2014a lineup that could use another bat or a bullpen that would benefit from another reliable late-inning arm?<\/p>\n Cleveland enters the final 67 games with the league\u2019s best record<\/a> but also has a crying need for starting pitching. A dynamite bullpen has done a lot, but they would benefit from having a couple more guys who can get into the sixth or seventh inning.<\/p>\n Baseball\u2019s worst team could have a say in who makes postseason magic happen. The Chicago White Sox are 44 games under .500 but have one of the best starters this year in Garrett Crochet. Add him to someone\u2019s rotation, and, for the right package of prospects, your team just might fly a flag.<\/p>\n And as a great philosopher once intoned, flags fly forever.<\/p>\n By sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, Philadelphia stamped itself as the team to beat. It has the best pitching and some of the best hitting. On paper, it has the fewest holes, but it also won\u2019t hesitate to pull the trigger to make itself deeper.<\/p>\n Los Angeles will play in October, but who pitches for it is becoming a deeper concern. It almost has an entire pitching staff on the injured list and isn\u2019t going anywhere as currently constituted. But it has the money and prospects to fix any problem it wants.<\/p>\n Atlanta\u2019s going to find an outfielder or two from somewhere. If Alex Anthopoulos duplicates his 2021 magic, which he\u2019s already trying to do with the return of Eddie Rosario<\/a>, don\u2019t bet against the Braves with their starting pitching.<\/p>\n After those three, flip a coin as to who can make the needed moves. Most of the wild-card contenders could use more arms. You\u2019ll see the likes of the New York Mets, San Diego, and the Chicago Cubs perhaps overpaying for pitching.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh has maneuvered its way within 1 \u00bd games as the break concludes, but reports suggest owner Bob Nutting isn\u2019t going to open the checkbook. General manager Ben Cherington needs more offensive firepower to go along with great young starting pitching.<\/p>\n Also, Washington could easily go into seller mode and dangle veterans like Jesse Winker, along with reliable bullpen arms, to add to its already stacked farm system.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\nAMERICAN LEAGUE TRADE TARGETS<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
Feb 15, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman talks with media at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
NATIONAL LEAGUE TRADE POSSIBILITIES<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
Jun 2, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first base Freddie Freeman (5) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n