With the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline only days away, teams are jockeying for position (as we’ll see in the MLB Power Rankings), while attempting to add major or minor pieces for the stretch run.
Many of the current 2013 powerhouses have added pieces, including the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. Other playoff hopefuls are heavily intertwined in the rumor mill, including the likes of the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.
Speaking of St. Louis, the Cardinals continue to hold a large lead in KP’s MLB Power Rankings at The Wife Hates Sports. The Boston Red Sox remain in second place, while the Tampa Bay Rays jump two more spots, and into third. Rounding out the top five are the Tigers and A’s.
The entire list of Power Rankings is as follows, featuring a handful of links to recent trade rumors, while also highlighting the clubs that had positive or negative jumps in the latest poll:
Shelby Miller and the Cardinals have been great, but St. Louis still may be looking at arms, such as Jake Peavy
KP’s MLB Power Rankings: July 23, 2013
Note: Statistics and point totals as of Tuesday morning (7/23/13) and do not include night games
1. St. Louis Cardinals (182 points) – Last Week: #1 (+2)
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is listing the Cardinals as a potential suitor for Jake Peavy.
2. Boston Red Sox (133 points) – Last Week: #2 (-1)
The Red Sox are also a strong possibility for Jake Peavy, according to Heyman. Currently with the White Sox, Peavy is 7-4, with a 4.19 ERA, and when healthy, he has top of the rotation stuff.
3. Tampa Bay Rays (124 points) – Last Week: #5 (+15)
Jeremy Hellickson and the Rays have been on fire
The Rays are not big spenders, and currently, with the pitching staff waking up to match an offense that was previously overachieving, this is a team on the rise.
4. Detroit Tigers (120 points) – Last Week: #3 (0)
The Tigers have received solid performances from Joaquin Benoit and Drew Smyly, diminishing the need for a closer. The bigger worry should be the current health of Miguel Cabrera.
5. Oakland Athletics (106 points) – Last Week: #4 (-3)
6. Cincinnati Reds (106 points) – Last Week: #8 (+19)
A few reports have listed the Reds among the teams asking the Phillies about Michael Young.
7. Atlanta Braves (105 points) – Last Week: #6 (-2)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (97 points) – Last Week: #7 (+2)
Jon Heyman reported that the Pirates have interest in two members of the White Sox offense, specifically Alex Rios and Alexei Ramirez.
9. Baltimore Orioles (92 points) – Last Week: #11 (+33)
Earlier today, the Orioles bolstered the back end of its bullpen by acquiring Francisco Rodriguez (1-1, 1.09 ERA) from the Milwaukee Brewers.
10. Los Angeles Dodgers (75 points) – Last Week: #14 (+35)
11. Texas Rangers (70 points) – Last Week: #9 (-16)
The Rangers bolstered its starting rotation by acquiring Matt Garza from the Cubs earlier this week.
12. Cleveland Indians (43 points) – Last Week: #12 (-3)
13. Arizona Diamondbacks (38 points) – Last Week: #10 (-22)
14. New York Yankees (30 points) – Last Week: #13 (-11)
The New York Post is reporting that the Yankees, a team that has been severely hampered by injuries, may be trying to deal for Cubs OF (and former Yankee) Alfonso Soriano.
15. Colorado Rockies (19 points) – Last Week: #16 (+5)
Numerous reports have stated that the Rockies are not interested in trading Michael Cuddyer.
16. Los Angeles Angels (14 points) – Last Week: #17 (0)
17. Kansas City Royals (4 points) – Last Week: #18 (-6)
The Kansas City Star lists Ervin Santana as a major trade possibility if the Royals decide that they are better off being sellers at the deadline.
18. Philadelphia Phillies (2 points) – Last Week: #19 (-6)
GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is stubborn. This team should be sellers, or at least, the Phillies should find a way to make at least one or two moves to get younger before the deadline.
19. Chicago Cubs (-2 points) – Last Week: #21 (0)
The Cubs will continue to live in the trade deadline rumor mill, with Alfonso Soriano and Kevin Gregg being likely trade chips.
20. New York Mets (-5 points) – Last Week: #20 (-3)
21. Washington Nationals (-8 points) – Last Week: #15 (-23)
22. Seattle Mariners (-14 points) – Last Week: #24 (+18)
23. San Francisco Giants (-20 points) – Last Week: #23 (-4)
24. Toronto Blue Jays (-26 points) – Last Week: #22 (-23)
25. Milwaukee Brewers (-41 points) – Last Week: #25 (+11)
The Brewers saw Ryan Braun get suspended yesterday and traded away K-Rod today. Could Yovani Gallardo be next? It’s possible, but only if Milwaukee gets the right deal for him.
26. Minnesota Twins (-46 points) – Last Week: #26 (+7)
27. Chicago White Sox (-52 points) – Last Week: #27 (+6)
Expect the White Sox to be active sellers at the deadline, with numerous players available.
28. San Diego Padres (-56 points) – Last Week: #28 (+8)
29. Miami Marlins (-92 points) – Last Week: #29 (-6)
30. Houston Astros (-150 points) – Last Week: #30 (-17)
With Matt Garza already dealt to Texas, Bud Norris might just be the most valuable starting pitcher available on the trade market.
* All stats per MLB.com
Note: RED = Falling 3+ spots from last week, GREEN = Rising 3+ spots from last week
The Wife Hates Sports MLB Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record. It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system. The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and pitching staff, too.
Rays up to number three with a bullet, baby!