The National League is very competitive with 10 teams at or above .500. To compare, the American League barely has seven with the 41-41 Angels holding on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe competitive landscape in baseball is probably as good, if not better, than it\u2019s ever been,\u201d D-backs general manager Mike Hazen recently told Arizona Sports\u2019 Wolf & Luke earlier this month regarding the number of teams in the mix. There are 22 teams within four games of a playoff spot.<\/p>\n
Major League Baseball\u2019s trade deadline is nearly one month away, and these summer games will determine whether teams on the playoff bubble lean in one direction or another.<\/p>\n
With each team hitting their midway point on the schedule, here\u2019s a review of the National League tiers in terms of the deadline:<\/p>\n
MLB early trade deadline tiers at halfway point
\nBuyers (records entering June 29)<\/p>\n
Dodgers (52-32)<\/p>\n
The Dodgers have needs despite their monstrous payroll, as USA Today\u2019s MLB insider Bob Nightengale has wrote<\/a> they are seeking an outfielder and could look for another starting pitcher. Los Angeles has invested heavily in its starting rotation. Just in the past two offseasons, they signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a record contract, traded for and extended Tyler Glasnow, courted phenom Roki Sasaki, signed Blake Snell and now have Shohei Ohtani throwing 102 mph fastballs again. A rash of injuries has created openings.<\/p>\n Cubs (49-34)<\/p>\n Their rotation could use help with Justin Steele out for the season, so Miami\u2019s Sandy Alcantara and Pittsburgh\u2019s Mitch Keller have been linked<\/a> to this landing spot. Third base is another area the Cubs may need to upgrade, as well as the bullpen. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer\u2019s contract expires this offseason, so how much will he push with the Cubs holding a lead in the NL Central? The Cubs made an aggressive move over the offseason to trade for star outfielder Kyle Tucker.<\/p>\n Phillies (48-35)<\/p>\n Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently told The Athletic\u2019s Jayson Stark<\/a> that the back end of the bullpen would be their focus. The rotation is stacked, but the bullpen lost some weapons last offseason, plus fire-throwing lefty Jose Alvarado got suspended for performance-enhancing drugs this season, making him ineligible for the postseason. Outfield could be another area to watch given the lack of production from the group during the first half.<\/p>\n Mets (48-36)<\/p>\n The Mets\u2019 rotation has taken a beating of late, as Griffin Canning ruptured his Achilles, Kodai Senga suffered a hamstring strain, Tylor Megill sprained his elbow and Sean Manaea experienced a setback in his rehab all within the last few weeks. The Mets are expecting to get contributors back off the IL for both the rotation and batting order. Bullpen help is always a need, and the Mets have monitored the center field market, per The Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Padres (45-37)<\/p>\n The Padres have a great bullpen, a banged up rotation and a top-heavy lineup that could use reinforcements. Yu Darvish and Michael King are expected to return to the rotation in the second half. San Diego just released Jason Hayward, as left field has been a problem it continues to seek answers for.<\/p>\n Could be buyers<\/p>\n Diamondbacks (41-41)<\/p>\n Bullpen would be the most pressing need, although a controllable starting pitcher who could fill innings next year as Corbin Burnes rehabs from Tommy John surgery could go a long way. The lineup needs Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno to get back from injury, as the offense has been pretty good all year. Pitching is the priority. If the Diamondbacks go the other way, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, Randal Grichuk (mutual option), Jalen Beeks and Shelby Miller could all enter free agency at the end of the year.<\/p>\n Brewers (47-36)<\/p>\n The Brewers just continue to win despite seemingly letting big names go every year. They\u2019ve been on fire with a 22-8 record over their last 30 games, the best in baseball. They are not the easiest team to project, considering their owner Mark Attanasio infamously asked<\/a>, \u201cIs my job to win a World Series or is my job to provide a summer of entertainment and passion and a way for families to come together?\u201d before the season started and after they traded closer Devin Williams. They certainly have pitching pieces contenders could use if they decide to pull back, but for the moment, they look like a formidable playoff team that would benefit from holding onto their talent.<\/p>\n Cardinals (46-38)<\/p>\n This is a transitional year for the Cardinals in terms of leadership and the roster, and yet they have overachieved with the best defense in baseball. St. Louis is in the last season of longtime executive John Mozeliak as the lead decision maker with Chaim Bloom set to take over. They have pieces to sell if that\u2019s the direction they choose with closer Ryan Helsley<\/a>, third baseman Nolan Arenado and starters Sonny Gray and Erick Fedde (Arenado and Gray have no-trade clauses<\/a>).<\/p>\n Giants (45-38)<\/p>\n The Giants already made their big splash by trading for slugger Rafael Devers<\/a> from the Boston Red Sox. Matt Chapman will get back from a sprained hand to boost the lineup and defense. The bullpen has been terrific, and the resurgence of Robbie Ray has helped the rotation immensely. The Giants have been below .500 over the past 30 games (14-16), and roster depth both offensively and with pitching could be areas to target.<\/p>\n Reds (43-40)<\/p>\n The Reds have built a pretty good pitching staff that is waiting for its ace, Hunter Greene, to return from a groin strain. They have made moves to shed struggling former closer Alexis Diaz and free agent flop Jeimer Candelario, so bullpen help and another bat are areas this group could benefit from. FanGraphs only gives the Reds a 13% chance at the playoffs, the lowest percentage of this tier, but they have a shot.<\/p>\n Braves (38-44)<\/p>\n The Braves have made the postseason every year since 2018, but their chances to return are in peril. The rotation has been beat up all season, and now Chris Sale is on the IL with cracked ribs<\/a>. Jurickson Profar is set to return from a PED suspension this coming week to help the lineup (he is also ineligible for the postseason), although the Braves will need some improvements from struggling hitters Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos told reporters<\/a> on June 16 that he did not plan on selling.<\/p>\n Likely sellers \u2013 pitchers to watch<\/p>\n Marlins (36-45) \u2013 SP Sandy Alcantara (6.98 ERA), SP Edward Cabrera (3.78 ERA), RP Anthony Bender (2.27 ERA)<\/p>\n Nationals (34-49) \u2013 SP Michael Soroka (4.70 ERA), CL Kyle Finnegan (2.89 ERA)<\/p>\n Pirates (34-50) \u2013 SP Mitch Keller (3.90 ERA), SP Andrew Heaney (4.48 ERA), CL David Bednar (2.83 ERA), RP Dennis Santana (1.50 ERA)<\/p>\n Rockies (18-65) \u2013 SP Kyle Freeland (5.56 ERA), RP Jake Bird (2.76 ERA), RP Jimmy Herget (3.02 ERA)<\/p>\n
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