Joba Chamberlain and 10 Comebacks That Will Impact the MLB Trade Deadline

The trade deadline is just four days away and the "buyers" are in a constant state of evaluating what they need for the least two months of the season in order to make a playoff push, or a run to the World Series.

Trades, though, are not the only way a team can improve. Several teams have impact players on the disabled list whose return will strengthen their teams as much as a player acquired in a deal would.

Here are 10 players whose impending returns are affecting their team's approaches to the trade deadline and what they see their needs as for the next two months.

Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox's prized offseason bullpen acquisition has yet to pitch this year, but he's on his way back.

Bailey threw a live batting practice Wednesday and if a second session goes well, he'll start a rehab assignment.

The team's biggest need as the trade deadline approaches is pitching. Ironically, the starting rotation, which has several established pitchers, has struggled, while the relatively unknown arms in the bullpen have been solid.

While the team might be inclined to shore up a bullpen that has been anchored by Alfredo Aceves, Franklin Morales, Scott Atchison and Matt Albers, more or less unproven names, the return of Bailey will help to solidify a unit that has probably overachieved this year.

Instead, Ben Cherington and the front office can focus on starting pitching, by far the biggest weakness on the club this year. Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have struggled mightily and it's hard to imagine the Sox making a playoff push without getting better pitching from its starters.

Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

With all of the injuries to the rotation the Blue Jays have suffered through, it's impressive that they're even around .500 in the crowded American League East.

But there they are, at 48-49 and four games out of the Wild Card. Bautista is eligible to come off of the DL next week and it looks like he'll return soon after.

The Blue Jays don't have the deepest lineup in the league, but as long as they have a hitter like Jose Bautista and his 27 home runs on the field, their offense should produce enough runs to stay competitive.

What they do need is pitching, particularly with Kyle Drabek, Drew Hutchison and Brandon Morrow out.

With Bautista coming back, the Jays can contend. They should go after an arm and go for a Wild Card spot, because once a team makes it into October, anything can happen.

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees

Despite losing Mariano Rivera for the season with an ACL tear, the Yankee bullpen has been solid.

Rafael Soriano has stepped into the closer's role and has excelled, and David Robertson has returned from the DL and regained his form from 2011.

Cody Eppley and Clay Rapada have been great despite not being expected to play major roles in the Yankee bullpen, but Brian Cashman and the front office may have concerns about whether or not they can keep it up.

However, even if they do, Joba Chamberlain is on his way back from Tommy John surgery. Joba pitched in back-to-back games for the first time in his rehab this week, and will throw a bullpen session for Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild today.

Joba's return eliminates any need to acquire a reliever at the trade deadline, allowing Cashman to either keep an already strong team intact or shore up minor needs elsewhere.

John Danks, Chicago White Sox

After leading the AL Central for most of the season, the Chicago White Sox are now tied with the Detroit Tigers, who seem to have regained their 2011 form and are poised for a playoff run after acquiring Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez from the Miami Marlins.

The White Sox could use a starting pitcher to solidify their staff for the last two months of the season and it appears likely that they'll get that reinforcement from within the organization. John Danks, who has been out since May with a shoulder injury, threw off a mound Tuesday and could return in the next few weeks.

The team from the South Side could, and probably should, still look for a starting pitcher, since the offense looks much better with the addition of Kevin Youkilis and the bullpen has been good all year. But they don't need an ace.

Between Danks, Chris Sale and Jake Peavy, the top of the rotation is very good. But at the back end, Jose Quintana is young and a question mark, Gavin Floyd will probably be traded, and Phil Humber has been terrible since his perfect game.

The White Sox could use a starting pitcher, but with Danks returning, they don't need a Zack Greinke or Josh Johnson type. They can settle for a cheaper, less expensive option and still be fine.

Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis is in third place in the NL Central, five and a half games back of the Cincinnati Reds, and is one and a half games out in the Wild Card, but if we learned anything last year it's that we should never count out the Cardinals.

The Cardinals don't have a ton of needs. They could use a second basemen, although the rest of their lineup is solid. They could use a starter and a reliever or two, but who couldn't?

Fortunately for St. Louis, Jaime Garcia is on the way back, having faced hitters Tuesday. He's close to a rehab assignment and should return to the rotation within the next few weeks.

If the Cardinals were to make any deadline moves, they would likely be for bullpen help. They miss Chris Carpenter, but Kyle Lohse, Adam Wainwright, Jake Westbrook, Lance Lynn and Jaime Garcia represents one of the stronger rotations in the National League.

Jason Hammel, Baltimore Orioles

It's almost August, and somehow the Orioles are still in the hunt. They're in second place in the AL East and are in a tight race for both of the league's two Wild Card spots.

I'm personally still not convinced that the O's can hang in there for the last two months of the season, and if I were Dan Duquette I wouldn't trade prospects like Manny Machado or Dylan Bundy to try to make a run.

But, if the Orioles do become buyers and try to make even minor acquisitions, they should be comforted by the knowledge that Jason Hammel should return to the starting rotation from knee surgery in late August. If they're going to go out and make a trade, it should be for some offense or even bullpen help.

Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are in an interesting spot this year. They're only two and a half games out of the Wild Card, so they're definitely still in the playoff hunt, but they're likely to try and trade James Shields and B.J. Upton before the trade deadline.

Shields has a $9 million option for next year that the Rays are unlikely to pay given their starting pitching depth, and Upton will be a free agent this offseason.

However, if the Rays' front office thinks the team can make a push for the playoffs, they would probably try to trade Shields and Upton for major league talent, particularly with Evan Longoria coming back from a hamstring injury.

The Rays' offense has been lackluster to say the least this year, but with Longoria beginning a rehab assignment yesterday, the club may go for the playoffs this year with its best player coming back.

Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees

As discussed earlier, the Yankees look poised for a deep postseason run and don't have any glaring needs on their roster. Their main weakness going into the season, starting pitching, has been one of the greatest strengths for the last several months.

With Andy Pettitte out with a fractured ankle, Freddy Garcia has filled in with some success. He has not been great, but for the most part has given the team a chance to win. He could certainly be improved upon through a trade, but with Pettitte returning around September 1, the Yankees don't really need to make a deal.

Instead, if Brian Cashman decides to make a trade, it will likely be for a third baseman to fill in for Alex Rodriguez while he misses the next six to eight weeks with a broken hand.

Jordan Walden, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Fueled by rookie phenom Mike Trout, the Angels have surged since a poor start to the season and now are in place for one of the two American League Wild Card spots.

The offense has been impressive, but the pitching inconsistent. Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson have been great, but Dan Haren has been below-average and Ervin Santana has been downright awful. The bullpen has also been shaky at times, but overall has done a good job, especially Ernesto Frieri, who has only allowed four earned runs in 29.1 innings.

Jordan Walden should return to the bullpen soon, which will improve the unit even more. The real need for the Angels, then, is starting pitching, which is what Jerry DiPoto has been and will continue pursuing right through the July 31 trade deadline.

Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals

There's no doubt about it; the Nationals are for real. Fueled by strong starting pitching, they allow just three and a half runs per game. The offense has not been overpowering, but Jayson Werth's return within the week will provide more of a boost than a trade would.

The Nats' biggest offensive need is an outfielder, and there aren't many, if any, outfielders on the market better than Werth.

What the Nationals could instead focus on in the leadup to Tuesday is a starting pitcher to replace Stephen Strasburg when he reaches his innings limit or a reliever to bolster the bullpen for the playoffs.