Identifying the Biggest Need for Every Contender Ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline
By Parker White
The MLB trade deadline will come and go on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, so you can bet that things will begin to pick up in the coming hours. Just about half the league is in the thick of playoff contention, so what will these clubs be looking to improve? Here's the biggest need for every contender ahead of the trade deadline.
14. Atlanta Braves (Pitching)
Atlanta could use not only a frontline starter, but a closer at the back end of their bullpen. It's unclear if any true top-tier starters will be available, but there are endless bullpen options and the Braves have the farm system to get anybody. Will they move young talent to win now? This seems like the perfect time to strike and go after a reliever such as Shane Greene or Will Smith.
13. Chicago Cubs (Bullpen)
The Chicago Cubs were hoping their bullpen problems would be fixed when they signed All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel in early-June, but he hasn't been as dominant as we are used to seeing. In 12 appearances, Kimbrel owns a 6.75 ERA, including a couple losses. You have to hope Kimbrel can return to form, but that doesn't mean they don't need some reinforcements to shut games down late.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (Lefty Reliever)
The Cardinals need a lefty reliever to compliment Andrew Miller. The offense has begun to pick up the pace, and they have plenty of internal options for the rotation. With Jordan Hicks not coming back this year, the Redbirds could use bullpen, particularly a southpaw to go along with Miller. Pairing another lefty with Miller could make for a much improved bullpen, capable of handling batters on both sides of the dish.
11. Los Angeles Dodgers (Bullpen)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the closest thing baseball has to offer to being a complete team, but to make sure they win their first World Series in over 30 years, they need to buff up the back-end of the bullpen. Kenley Jansen is still solid, but he's not the dominant force he was just a couple seasons ago. They need a big time setup man to pair with Jansen and help them close out tight games.
10. Washington Nationals (Bullpen)
They may not admit it publicly, but bringing aboard veteran Fernando Rodney didn't fix the Washington Nationals' bullpen. Washington still has the 30th ranked pen in the sport, and the only arm they feel good about is closer Sean Doolittle. Adding more relief talent is a must if the Nationals truly want to make something of this season.
9. Philadelphia Phillies (Pitching)
Both Philadelphia's rotation and bullpen are mediocre at best. Injuries have certainly played a part, but when it comes to the rotation, specifically, everyone has underachieved. Aaron Nola hasn't duplicated his 2018 success, Jake Arrieta is pitching through a bone spur, and the likes of Nick Pivetta and Vince Velasquez have moved to the bullpen because of a lack of success as starters. Adding Jason Vargas is a good start, but there will likely be more moves to come.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (Rotation)
From Day 1 the question surrounding this Brewers team is their starting pitching. Well, it's even more of a need now, especially with Brandon Woodruff, Jhoulys Chacín and Gio Gonzalez all hitting the shelf. They just acquired right-hander Jordan Lyles, and even though it's not a huge get, it does help the rotation out, albeit probably not enough. Think bigger, Milwaukee.
7. New York Yankees (Rotation)
All season long, the New York Yankees have been able to find players to fill in the gaps vacated by their injured stars. Well, the "next man up" method hasn't translated to the starting rotation, as James Paxton hasn't been the No. 1 starter they were hoping, Luis Severino has missed all season, and veterans like J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia aren't getting it done. It's a problem for every team, but even though there isn't a bonafide ace on the market, the Yankees need to add something to the rotation or continue to bulk up the bullpen.
6. Minnesota Twins (Bullpen)
Minnesota has a potent offense and an underrated rotation. However, their bullpen is pretty average and needs an upgrade if they want to have October success. The Twins have shipped off elite relievers at past deadlines, so it's time to flip the script and start moving for some in 2019. Sergio Romo is a great start, now let's finish the job.
5. Houston Astros (Rotation)
Yes, the Houston Astros have Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation, which is as good as any team in the big leagues, but there's a huge gap from there. Wade Miley has been solid, but they need another starter to help them in a postseason series. With a handful of starters being linked to the 'Stros, it's only a matter of time until a deal comes through.
4. Cleveland Indians (Outfield)
The Cleveland Indians have made a strong surge in the AL Central, and they have enough talent to win that division. However, it's going to be very hard to do that if your outfield consists of Jake Bauers, Tyler Naquin and Oscar Mercado. Cleveland desperately needs some more thump in the corners, and at the very least they need a defensive-minded center fielder.
3. Oakland Athletics (Rotation)
How Oakland has won 60 games thus far with this rotation full of No. 4 starters is impressive. It may work throughout the course of the regular season, especially if you have their bullpen, but they need some certainty at the top if they can find any. They've addressed rotation and bullpen by raiding from Kansas City, adding Homer Bailey and Glen Diekman, but the work is far from over.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Rotation)
What was initially a strength has now become something they need to address before the deadline. With the injuries to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, the Rays need to add another starter to go with Charlie Morton. Tampa Bay is hopeful that Snell and Glasnow will come back this year, but it'll be too late if they don't make a move before then.
1. Boston Red Sox (Bullpen)
Boston chose not to bring Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly back, and instead they relied on their internal options. That completely backfired and to help out a below average bullpen, Nathan Eovaldi was moved to a relief role when he became healthy. GM Dave Dombrowski needs to do more and get legit back-end reliever if they want to make the playoffs and try to repeat. Of course, their established starting rotation need to do a lot better, as well.