By Douglas Benton
The trading deadline is mere hours away now and with one major move already completed, other trade chips could fall soon as well. So what does your team need at the deadline or who should they move? Read on to figure out your favorite team?s trading strategy.
1. Boston Red Sox (64-41)
The Red Sox are in the quality position of not having any glaring needs. They might try to look into improving their offensive production in the outfield though.
2. Los Angeles Angels (61-42)
The Angels need to add another bat somewhere in the line-up to better complement Vladimir Guerrero. Positions they could upgrade at are first base or second base.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (58-49)
In Arizona, they should exercise patience and try to win with their young guys right now. However, they could try to add a veteran starter if the price is right.
4. Detroit Tigers (60-44)
Bullpen help is needed in Detroit, where they have struggled all season trying to build a bridge from their rotation to closer Todd Jones.
5. New York Mets (59-46)
Even with starter Pedro Martinez due back sometime in August, the Mets still need to add another starter to separate themselves from the rest of the National League.
6. New York Yankees (56-49)
The Yankees should look into adding some middle relief to solidify the bullpen, either through trades or the call-up of Joba Chamberlain.
7. Cleveland Indians (60-45)
The Indians have underachieved of late, but an upgrade in the corner outfield spots should be priority No. 1.
8. Chicago Cubs (55-48)
The Cubs, like the Yankees, only have minor holes to fill, like middle relief and sorting out the outfield carousal.
9. Philadelphia Phillies (55-49)
Bullpen help is a must for Phiadelphia, who is starting to hit their stride and can?t afford to lose a lot of close games down the stretch.
10. Milwaukee Brewers (57-49)
The Brewers already made a key move by acquiring Scott Linebrink and should look to add a power bat in the corner outfield spots, like Adam Dunn. Besides that, they should stand pat with their younger players.
11. Los Angeles Dodgers (57-48)
The Dodgers need help at third base and maybe starting pitching if they can make a deal work. Third base though is a must if they want to win the division.
12. Seattle Mariners (57-46)
The Mariners have been in a slump of late, but they are still in the race and another quality starter could push them over the top.
13. San Diego Padres (56-48)
As always, San Diego needs offense in a bad way. Besides first base, they could improve offensively almost immediately and need to do so before falling out of this race.
14. Colorado Rockies (53-51)
Colorado needs pitching help in hopes of getting on a role come August. Starting pitching looks like their biggest need at the moment.
15. Atlanta Braves (55-51)
The Braves already made their move by getting first baseman Mark Teixeira, but they should also look at adding another starter.
16. Toronto Blue Jays (52-52)
Toronto is a long shot to make the playoffs and should just stand pat and position themselves for 2008.
17. Minnesota Twins (53-51)
Minnesota is in the same situation, but they shouldn?t try and trade Tori Hunter. Trading a franchise player mid-season always has negative reproductions.
18. St. Louis Cardinals (49-53)
The Cardinals should look at unloading some of their older talent and start thinking about rebuilding. With Chris Carpenter having Tommy John surgery, the team currently constructed won?t win in 2008 either.
19. Baltimore Orioles (49-55)
The Orioles have some decent young talent, but if they can, they should try to get very good value for shortstop Miguel Tejada while they still can.
20. Kansas City Royals (47-57)
If I was general manager Dayton Moore, I would do nothing. You want to keep the veterans there for your young players and even if you won?t win in 2008, you need a closer to make sure the team doesn?t get demoralized.
21. Chicago White Sox (48-57)
The White Sox could be very aggressive in the next few days and should be looking to trade outfielder Jermaine Dye and pitcher Jose Contreras.
22. Florida Marlins (49-57)
The Marlins could ship off some of their underperforming arms for some value at this point, but their focus should remain on 2008.
23. Houston Astros (46-59)
I think they would have liked to trade Jason Jennings and Morgan Ensberg by the deadline, but I don?t see either happening now.
24. Oakland Athletics (49-56)
General Manager Billy Beane should unload veterans like Mark Kotsay and Shannon Stewart in an effort to get back to his roots of winning with young, unknown players.
25. San Francisco Giants (45-58)
The Giants are a mess and with a young rotation and no shot of winning soon, look for the Giants to try and unload as many of their veteran position players as they can.
26. Texas Rangers (46-59)
The Rangers did pretty well on the Teixeira trade with Atlanta and are probably not done yet. Look for them to ship out at least one more member of their bullpen by Tuesday.
27. Washington Nationals (45-60)
First baseman Dimitri Young has great value at this point and along with closer Chad Cordero, could make Washington an interesting trade partner again this year.
28. Cincinnati Reds (45-61)
With Teixeira traded, the Reds now are the team everyone will be calling. They should try to move Adam Dunn and closer David Weathers. I would keep Ken Griffey Jr. though.
29. Pittsburgh Pirates (42-61)
Who knows about the Pirates anymore. They appear to have some sort of plan with their young pitchers, but they also are looking to move shortstop Jack Wilson as well.
30. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (39-65)
Tampa Bay has dropped off a cliff of late, but their young talent is getting valuable experience this season. Don?t expect much action from Tampa Bay in the coming days.
Do you like your team?s strategy? Think I?m wrong? Email your thoughts to [email protected]





