MLB Trade Deadline: Which AL Teams Will Buy and Who Will Sell

It's that time of year again. The time in which rumors of MLB swapping players run wild.

Many teams will also be in the midst of trying to decide whether to buy or sell in the next two and a half weeks.  It all leads up to the madness that is the day of the trade deadline.

With all the teams still left in contention, it's still hard to say who will dish out the goods and who will be  looking to grab them.

This is a look at AL teams who are trying to decide if they are real contenders or not, and how they will act when the time comes to buy or sell.

Tampa Bay Devils Rays—Six Games Back in AL East, Five Back in Wildcard Race

The Rays once again find themselves trying to keep pace with their payroll-rich brethren in the AL East.

But this time, they're a bit more behind than usual. Which begs the question: are they buyers or sellers?

There have been rumors floating around about Colby Rasmus being traded to supply more offense for a slumping one.

Unless they slide Rasmus into a corner-outfield spot, the Rays would need to rid themselves of B.J. Upton before making the deal with St.Louis.

The Cardinals are supposedly interested in the pitching depth of Tampa Bay.  But they may ask for too much in return for Rasmus.

Besides, the Rays are already deep in the outfield, with big-time prospects Brandon Guyer and Desmond Jennings waiting in the wings.

But what about selling? There's not a whole lot of veterans the Rays need to trade away. The only "old man" on the squad is Johnny Damon, and he's been one of few bright spots in the offense this year.

Jesus Flores and Ramon Hernandez should be on the Rays' radar.  They need a catching upgrade desperately.

 They also should be taking a look at J.J. Hardy for the shortstop position that has produced so little offense.

In summary, the Rays don't have to much old dead-weight to ditch, so the little trades that keep them ticking should remain in their game plan.

Don't expect Rasmus, but don't expect a sell either.

Chicago White Sox—Five Games Back in the AL Central

Chicago did their share of buying last offseason, and it hasn't really worked out for them.

They would've never imagined the day they'd be looking up at Cleveland, but those days have come.

Now standing in third, with the Twins only a game-and-a-half back, the White Sox find themselves in a bit of a dilemma.

Many teams, such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, are all looking to possibly acquire the services of outfielder Carlos Quentin. This could be Chicago's time re-stock their farm with this trade.

Edwin Jackson also features in many trade rumors.

And how about two of the bigger names from this season? Adam Dunn (nine homers, 34 RBI, .160) and Alex Rios (six home runs, 21 RBI, .213) have both been huge disappointments so far for the CHI-Sox.

So are they willing to buy any more than they already have? I'd confidently say no. Ether way, they won't stay where they are. I see them selling.

Minnesota Twins—6.5 Games Back in AL Central

In most divisions, a fourth-place team wouldn't have much hope in winning the division half-way through the year.

But the AL Central is different from other divisions. While many might call it weak, it certainly is tight.

Many are wondering if the Twins will be able to stay in the race for much longer. Talk of Minnesota selling have been surfacing.

Michael Cuddyer, a long-time Twin, has been mentioned by several sources as a target by the Phillies, and other big-time contenders.

There also has been plenty of talk surrounding the possible trading of Francisco Liriano. Despite a rough year so far, there are plenty of suitors for the lefty.

With Cuddyer, Liriano, and Matt Capps swirling around in trade rumors, it's clear to see that the Twins cold pounce at the chance to add as many prospects as they can, and sell away.

At 41-48, the division is their only chance. So while they might be able to add a piece to their squad, I don't think they will.

Even if all the trades don't happen, it looks like the Twinkies will also be selling when it comes time to do so.

Seattle Mariners—7.5 Games Back in AL West

It surprises me that Seattle has even been able to stay in this conversation of buy and sell.

With Franklin Gutierrez and Chone Figgans falling flat on their face offensively, the Mariners have turned to their pitching more than ever.

Good thing they have Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda, who have been lights-out for them in the first half.

The bullpen has also had it's share of success, which is a reason why other teams would like to trade for members of the relief corps.

There's plenty of conversation circulating about Seattle trading-away Jason Vargas to Detroit, and Brandon League has also been a constant topic in Mariner trade-talk.

The Mariners continue to remain in the shadow of the Texas "Power" Rangers in the NL West, and also find themselves trailing the Angels, as well.

Even though it may be the simple fact of a supreme player on a less-than-supreme team, Felix Hernandez's name has appeared in trade rumors.

So what does all of this mean for Seattle? Well, being several games behind Texas with a poor offense isn't a good sign.

There's two ways this could go. One way, the less-dramatic one, Seattle would cut-off the dead-weight (Gutierrez and Figgans) with minimal minor league return.

The other way would be a deadline.  One that could lead to the departures of Hernandez, League, and possibly even Ichiro Suzuki.

The Mariners won't be able to compete in the second half, but I don't see them buying a big-time offensive stud either. Look for a sell, whether it be small or large.