By my count, there are about 13 teams at this point with a legitimate shot at winning their division or snatching a Wild Card spot. The Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, Astros, Angels, Nationals, Braves, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Giants, and Dodgers are all within five games of either their division or a Wild Card spot. But out of those 13, none are flawless. Each team has holes. Here are some trades for each team that make perfect sense.
Dodgers
The Dodgers stumbled out of the gate, lost Corey Seager for the year, and have now heated up and are within arms reach of the division lead, Beyond The Box noted.
They've also lost some starting pitching several times this season.
Dodgers receive Jose Iglesias: Tigers receive Mitchell White and Will Smith. The Dodgers get an elite defensive shortstop who has been good at the plate in the past and the Tigers get two of the Dodgers top 11 prospects in the right-hander Mitchell White and catcher, not actor, Will Smith.
Dodgers receive Chris Archer: Rays receive Yusniel Diaz, Trevor Oaks, and Yadier Alvarez. The Dodgers get much-needed rotation help in Archer, who turns 30 in September and is under contract until 2021, Sports Illustrated noted, and the Rays get three of the Dodgers top 13 prospects with two RHP and one outfielder.
Giants
The Giants, while their roster is certainly not young, they do have talent and can compete in a down NL West this season.
They have some All-Stars, some veterans who may be old but are still valuable and one of the best postseason pitchers ever. If they can make it there, all bets are off. Still, they could use some help now and later.
Giants receive Josh Bell: Pirates receive Chris Shaw, Andrew Suarez, and Tyler Herb. The Giants get younger and more versatile.
Josh Bell can play infield and outfield and hits well. He's also only 25. The Pirates continue to rebuild by getting three of the top 14 prospects from the Giants including replacing the infield-outfield diversity with Chris Shaw.
Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks, although just recently coming out of a slump, are in first place and are getting hot again.
That said, as the favorites to lock up the NL West, according to sports360 AZ. they can still use some help primarily at catcher and perhaps on the infield.
Diamondbacks receive J.T. Realmuto: Marlins receive Jon Duplantier, J.R. Murphy, and Taylor Clarke. Realmuto, a top five catcher in the league wants out of Miami (who doesn't?) and Miami needs pieces. The Marlins would receive the D'backs top prospect, their current catcher and their number seven prospect to boost their rebuild.
Diamondbacks receive Asdrubal Cabrera: Mets receive Domingo Leyba and Jared Miller. Cabrera is currently hitting .285 with a team-high 11 home runs on the struggling Mets. He provides infield depth and versatility for Arizona and the Mets get two of their top 20 prospects in return.
Cardinals
The Cardinals currently sit atop the NL Central but not by a lot. They could use some support in the bullpen and the infield.
Cardinals receive Devon Travis: Blue Jays receive Austin Gomber and Wadye Ynfante. The Cardinals snag some second base help and provide infield depth and the Blue Jays receive their numbers 10 and 15 overall prospects.
Cardinals receive Alex Claudio: Rangers receive Edmund Sosa and Jonatan Machado. St. Louis gets bullpen depth and the Rangers get numbers 12 and 13 prospects.
Cubs
The Cubs won the World Series in 2016, made the NLCS in 2017 and started slow but sit only a half-game out of first place. They are one of the few without any glaring holes but could use some bullpen help.
Cubs receive Kelvin Herrera: Royals receive Oscar de la Cruz, D.J. Wilson, and Justin Steele. The Royals are one of the worst teams in baseball, ESPN noted, but they possess a highly sought after commodity. A reliever like Herrera will command quite a bounty; in this case, three top 15 Chicago prospects.
Cubs receive Zach Britton: Orioles receive Oscar de la Cruz, Nelson Velasquez and Erling Moreno. Cubs get a bullpen ace and Orioles, who have the worst record in baseball at this point, get three top 20 Cubs prospects.
Brewers
The Brewers revamped their outfield and are battling for supremacy in the crowded NL Central. They could use catcher help, middle infield depth and a back-end starter.
The Brewers receive J.T.
Realmuto: Marlins receive Luis Ortiz and Brett Phillips. Realmuto instantly starts at catcher and the Marlins get the number four and five Brewer prospects in return.
Brewers receive Scooter Gennett: Reds receive Keston Hiura, Freddy Peralta, and cash considerations. Scooter is only 27, is batting over .340 and is a free agent this year. Cincinnati would be wise to offload him before he leaves for greener pastures. As one of the best second basemen in the game, he commands a haul and the Brewers give up two top 10 prospects and cash.
Brewers receive J.A. Happ: Blue Jays receive KJ Harrison and Zack Brown. Happ has been underrated and would make a good addition to the middle of the Brewers rotation.
The Jays would get two top 25 prospects in return for the veteran.
Phillies
The young Phillies have mixed age and experience with their youth movement and are challenging in the surprising NL East. They could use catcher depth and a back-end starter.
Phillies receive J.T. Realmuto; Marlins receive Jhailyn Ortiz and Spencer Howard. Realmuto continues the youth movement and improves their roster. The Marlins get a top five Phillies prospect.
Phillies receive Chris Archer; Rays receive Kyle Young and J.D. Hammer. Archer is controllable and could benefit from a change of scenery. Instant upgrade to the middle of the Philadelphia rotation.
Braves
The Braves have taken everyone by surprise and are contenders in the National League.
Their rotation needs help as does the outfield if Ronald Acūna is hurt for a long time.
Braves receive J.A. Happ; Blue Jays receive Bryse Wilson and Huascar Ynoa. A decent haul for the Jays if they choose to offload the veteran starter.
Braves get Jorge Soler and Danny Duffy; Royals nab Kolby Allard, Alex Jackson, and Drew Waters. The Braves fill two holes and improve depth and the Royals continue to rebuild.
Nationals
ESPN also noted that the Nationals have been hit by the injury bug. However, they remain a legitimate contender. They could use infield depth to help bolster their lineup. Also, with Bryce Harper's impending free agency and unlikeliness that Washington will be able to keep him, they may want to add a controllable outfielder to boost their future roster.
Nationals receive Matt Olson: Athletics receive Michael Taylor, Carter Kieboom, Erick Fedde and Seth Romero. It would take quite a haul for the Athletics to move on from their young cornerstone. Olson is a defensive wizard and can play either corner spot. The Athletics receive the Nats numbers three, four and five prospects and a former starting outfielder.
Nationals receive Starling Marte: Pirates receive Erick Fedde and Jose Sanchez. The Nationals grab a starting caliber outfielder who is under contract until 2021 (like I said, controllable) and the Pirates continue their rebuilding efforts while helping their draft spot for next season.
Angels
The Angels have Mike Trout, a pitcher who bats and can contend for a Wild Card spot.
Shohei Ohtani, however, went down with an elbow injury (one you never want a pitcher to have), USA Today reported, and don't have much outside of their top four or five players. They remain in contention. Their most glaring holes are first base and starting pitcher.
Angels receive Joey Gallo and Cole Hamels: the Rangers receive Luis Valbuena, Kevin Maitan, Matt Thaiss, Brennon Lund, and Joe Gatto. The Rangers are middling, but Gallo, despite his bad strikeout numbers, can totally smash home runs, and Hamels is an ace who has performed in the postseason before. However, it would require quite a deal to do this.
Angels receive Chris Archer: Rays receive Griffin Canning and Livan Soto. The Rays grab some prospects and the Angels grab an ace who is controllable.
Angels receive Joey Votto: Reds receive Kevin Maitan, Matt Thaiss, and Livan Soto. The Angels get one of the best first basemen in the game and the Reds stockpile prospects.
Astros
The defending champs badly need bullpen help, Houston Chronicle wrote. They have eight blown saves, and that isn't the counting a lot of other losses on the bullpen. They could also use a top-flight outfielder or first baseman.
The Astros receive Adam Jones and Zach Britton: The Orioles receive Forrest Whitley, David Paulino, Hector Perez, Garrett Stubbs and cash considerations. The Orioles add that top-flight outfielder (Jones is batting .285 this season), and a bullpen ace who fills a big need.
Astros receive Kelvin Herrera: Royals receive J.B.
Bukauskas and Riley Ferrell. Perhaps the best reliever available, the Royals grab two prospects for him.
Mariners
The Mariners have surprised everyone by pulling in front of the defending champs in the AL West. Having lost Robinson Canó to suspension, they need infield depth.
Mariners receive Asdrubal Cabrera; Mets receive Sam Carlson and Chuck Taylor. The Mariners get infield depth, allowing them to move Dee Gordon back to the outfield. The Mets get two prospects for what has been their most productive player this season.
Indians
The Indians have separated themselves as the only legitimate contender in the weak AL Central. They need bullpen reinforcements and possibly another outfielder.
Indians receive Jorge Soler and Kelvin Herrera: The Royals receive Triston McKenzie, Bobby Bradley, Julian Merryweather and Mitch Longo. The Indians grab an elite defensive outfielder and an elite relief pitcher which improves their World Series chances. The Royals pull in four prospects.
Indians receive Rasiel Iglesias: Reds receive Shane Bieber and Will Benson. The Reds to look to the future by adding pieces.
Red Sox
The Red Sox started out 17-2 and cooled off, but remain with the second best record, NESN noted. They have been great but are not without flaws. Injuries have hurt the infield and outfield and they still probably could use another starter.
Red Sox receive Starlin Castro; Marlins receive C.J. Chatham and cash considerations. The Red Sox nab an infielder that helps with Dustin Pedroia being hurt and the Marlins continue to add prospects.
Red Sox receive J.A. Happ and Kevin Pillar: Blue Jays receive Tanner Houck, Sam Travis, Austin Maddox and Roldani Baldwin. The Blue Jays pull in a nice haul, and as long as Mookie Betts is injured and Jackie Bradley, Jr. struggles to hit the baseball, the outfield is a hole.
Yankees
The Yankees, owners of MLB's best record in baseball, are also not without flaws. They desperately need starting pitching. Jordan Montgomery was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery and Masahiro Tanaka hurt himself running the bases (NL baseball).
Yankees receive Cole Hamels; Rangers receive Chance Adams and Thairo Estrada. Evan Grant from Sports Day reported that Hamels is already receiving questions about his no-trade clause and the New York Yankees. Cole Hamels is a playoff pitcher and the Yankees could certainly use a top end pitcher with experience, and Hamels won't cost a ton.
Yankees receive Jacob Degrom: Mets receive Justus Sheffield, Thairo Estrada, and Billy McKinney. Buster Olney, According to Buster Olney, a reporter for ESPN, the Yankees could and should start pursuing both Met aces. The Mets receive three good prospects for Degrom, who is under contract until 2020, and the Yankees grab another controllable ace.
Yankees receive Kelvin Herrera and Danny Duffy. The Royals receive Clint Frazier, Chance Adams, Thairo Estrada and Giovanny Gallegos. The Yankees would add a starter, which is a need, and would bolster their already vaunted bullpen and more importantly, keep Herrera away from their challengers. The Royals would have several nice pieces to build around.
