World Series Contenders and Pretenders for All 30 MLB Teams

With the MLB trade deadline in the rear-view mirror, we now have a clear picture of how each team stacks up for the stretch run.

This year's postseason will be interesting with the new Wild Card system incorporated for the first time, and as a result, more teams than ever are contenders for a postseason spot here in August.

While there are more playoff contenders than ever before, not all of those potential postseason teams have a real shot at winning it all.

So here is a my take on where all 30 teams fall as a contenders or pretenders for this year's World Series title.

Too Far Back to Be Considered Either (National League)

Houston Astros

The Astros dealt anyone and everyone that contenders had interest in at the deadline (outside of Jose Altuve), and they are laying the groundwork for contention in a few seasons.

Colorado Rockies

A complete lack of starting pitching has left the Rockies among the worst teams in baseball. They have some young arms and a solid offense, so they could return to contention sooner rather than later.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are in full-on rebuilding mode, and the recent call-ups of Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters gives Cubs fans something to get excited about down the stretch and moving forward.

San Diego Padres

Opting to re-sign Carlos Quentin and Huston Street while holding on to Chase Headley, the Padres are looking to return to contention sooner rather than later. They'll be a team to watch next season if they can add a starter or two, either from within or on the market.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have had an abysmal year, dealing with injuries to a number of their superstar players and falling out of things early. That led to Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton being moved, and it will be interesting to see where the franchise goes from here.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins spent big in the offseason, hoping to usher in their new stadium with a contender, but a rough stretch led to them selling off the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante at the deadline. They have been one of the biggest disappointments of the year.

Milwaukee Brewers

A horrible week leading up to the trade deadline was enough for the Brewers to sell, and they dealt ace Zack Greinke to the Angels for a trio of top prospects. The team has built its farm system back up and still has a solid offense. If the Brewers can shore up their bullpen and add a starter, they should be right back in the thick of things next year.

Too Far Back to Be Considered Either (American League)

Kansas City Royals

It's been a tough season for the Royals, but they still have a good young core of hitters that will be bolstered by the impeding call-up of outfielder Wil Myers. Now, if only they could find some starting pitching.

Minnesota Twins

The Twins pitching staff has the worst ERA in the American League, and they have been unable to overcome that despite a solid offense. Josh Willingham is among the league's top hitters, and Joe Mauer is healthy once again.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners are 9-7 since the trade of Ichiro Suzuki, and the team's acquisition of Eric Thames at the deadline could prove to be one of the best moves of July. With a deep farm system and solid young talent, they're a team on the rise. 

Cleveland Indians

Cleveland held the AL Central lead on June 23, but since then they have gone 15-27. They have some work to do to get the franchise back in a position to contend.

Toronto Blue Jays

Currently 12 games back in the division and seven games out of a wild-card spot, the Blue Jays are all but out of postseason contention. With 13 players currently on the DL, including Brett Lawrie, Jose Bautista and Brandon Morrow among other regulars, the Blue Jays' postseason chances are slim to none.

Atlanta Braves

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

Despite a hole at shortstop, the Braves have a solid offense from top to bottom, led by Chipper Jones, who is batting .316 with 10 HR and 48 RBI in what is to be his final season.

They also have the third-best bullpen ERA in the National League at 3.08, led by closer Craig Kimbrel, who has converted 31 of 33 save chances and posted a 1.26 ERA and 15.7 K/9 as a legitimate NL Cy Young candidate.

However, their starting rotation is a major concern; Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson are currently on the DL, and their rotation currently features Kris Medlen, Ben Sheets and newly acquired Paul Maholm alongside struggling Mike Minor and veteran Tim Hudson.

The team currently holds the first wild-card spot in the NL, and it should be able to hold on for a postseason spot. However, it seems like a long shot for the Braves to make it past the first round, let alone to the World Series.

New York Mets

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

The Mets were among the best teams in baseball in the first half, led by ace R.A. Dickey and third baseman David Wright, and they were just 4.5 games out of first place on July 7.

However, they've been mired in a major slide since, going 8-19 to put them 15 games out of first place. They are nine games out of a wild-card spot, and if they can regain their first-half form, they could make a push.

However, they largely over-performed in the first half with an inexperienced lineup, a patchwork rotation and a shaky bullpen. The chances of a push back into contention seem slim to none.

Washington Nationals

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Nationals pitching staff continues to be their calling card, as their combined 3.26 ERA is the best in all of baseball.

Ace Stephen Strasburg (12-5, 2.97 ERA, 160 Ks, 127.1 IP) has been phenomenal all season, but he is nearing his innings limit, and the team will have a big decision to make moving forward.

Offensively, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been phenomenal since the beginning of July, hitting .353 with 10 HR, 29 RBI and a 1.089 OPS. The Nationals hit more than enough to back up their fantastic staff, and there is no question they are the team to beat in the NL East and perhaps in all of the National League.

Cincinnati Reds

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Reds have been as hot as any team in baseball in the second half, and they have done it sans superstar first baseman Joey Votto for the most part, going 16-7 while he's been on the DL.

The pitching staff is pitching as well as they have all season, led by Johnny Cueto, who is 9-3 with a 2.61 ERA since the beginning of June.

Once Votto returns, expect the Reds to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the NL Central, as they have all the pieces to make a serious postseason run.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

The Pirates have had a fantastic season thus far, led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen and Comeback Player of the Year candidate A.J. Burnett.

The pitching staff has been one of the best in all of baseball with a collective 3.60 ERA that ranks fifth in the National League, and the offense has come around in the second half behind McCutchen.

The Pirates are a lock to post their first winning season since 1992, and they could hold on to earn a postseason berth, but the young team is not yet in a position to contend for a title. They should only get better in the years to come; expect them to be in the thick of things for the next several seasons.

St. Louis Cardinals

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The reigning World Series champions, the Cardinals have overcome significant injuries all season, and they are in position to make a big late-season run like they did last year.

Carlos Beltran has replaced the lost production of Albert Pujols, and the starting rotation has pitched well, considering the fact that they have been without Chris Carpenter the entire year and Jaime Garcia for an extended time.

The team is as experienced as any in baseball. If the Cardinals can get some sort of contribution from Garcia upon his return and if Adam Wainwright can continue to pitch like he has of late, the team has a great shot to make the postseason. Once there, anything can happen with this group, as they proved last season.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

The Diamondbacks have managed to fly under the radar in the NL West this season with the success of the Giants and Dodgers, but they are just four games behind the Giants in the division.

The team has gotten an unexpected level of production from the likes of Jason Kubel, Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Hill and Wade Miley to offset the fact that their stars have not performed.

However, the starting pitching has been average and is led by a rookie in Miley. The D-Backs have a shot at earning a wild-card spot if they can turn things up down the stretch, but they are a notch below the top teams in the NL.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Dodgers were the most active team of the deadline, dealing for Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, Brandon League and Randy Choate. They then acquired Joe Blanton from the Phillies on waivers to round out their rotation.

The team desperately needed some offensive punch alongside Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis, and while both Ramirez and Victorino have done little since joining the team, they should pick it up in the weeks to come.

Their rotation has some question marks, but with one of the best pitchers in the game in Clayton Kershaw fronting the staff and Comeback Player of the Year candidate Chris Capuano pitching like an ace, the Dodgers should be in good shape come October.

San Francisco Giants

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Giants were held back by their offense last season, but the return of Buster Posey and the addition of MVP candidate Melky Cabrera has given the Giants an offense to back their terrific rotation.

They added Hunter Pence and Marco Scutaro at the deadline to make their offense even more impressive, and Tim Lincecum is pitching better of late, giving them an even better shot at a lengthy postseason run.

The closer role remains a question mark, however, with Santiago Casilla taken out of the ninth inning and Sergio Romo and Jeremy Affeldt now sharing the ninth-inning duties, but the Giants should still have enough firepower to capture the NL West title. From there, their rotation is as dangerous as any in October.

Baltimore Orioles

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

The Orioles have been the surprise team of the season, and while they've had their rough patches, they have managed to stay in contention in the AL and are currently tied with the A's for the second wild-card spot in the league.

Their starting rotation has been inconsistent all season, and while Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez have pitched well in the second half, the team is still without a legitimate ace.

Top prospect Manny Machado was called up on Thursday in hopes he could shore up the third base position, and that should make the lineup better as a whole. The Orioles are a young team; build from within and they should only get better in the years to come.

Simply making the playoffs this season would be a major victory for the team. As it is, I think they are still a few years away from legitimate title contention.

Boston Red Sox

Contender or Pretenders?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

It's been a season of transition in Boston with Theo Epstein out as GM and Bobby Valentine in place as the team's new manager. Things have gone far from smoothly, as injuries, underperformance and team chemistry issues have left the Red Sox on the fringe of contention.

The team was without outfielders Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury for essentially the entire first half; it's still without offseason acquisition Andrew Bailey at closer, and it never really got things going.

The starting rotation has been the biggest issue though, as no starter has an ERA under 4.00, and ace Jon Lester in particular has struggled. While the Red Sox are certainly still mathematically in the postseason hunt, unless a lot changes really quickly, they'll be at home come October.

New York Yankees

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Yankees have had to deal with their fair share of injuries this season. Michael Pineda was lost before the season started, and Brett Gardner suffered the same fate early on in the year.

Andy Pettitte suffered a fractured ankle, but he should return in time to provide a boost down the stretch, and Alex Rodriguez is currently shelved with a fractured hand.

Despite all that, the team is a half-game behind the Rangers for the best record in the American League, and they have a potent offense led by Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano. They have as good a chance as anyone to capture the AL pennant.

Tampa Bay Rays

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

First of all, let me say that I will never fully count out the Rays after what they pulled off last season with an offense on par with this season's in terms of ineptitude.

The success the Rays have enjoyed this season can be traced to a pitching staff that has an AL-best 3.38 ERA. However, their offense is the second-worst in the AL at 4.01 runs per game, and there are holes up and down their lineup.

The return of Evan Longoria can't be overstated, as he has proven capable of carrying the team on his shoulders at times, but in the end, he is not going to carry them to a World Series title.

Chicago White Sox

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The White Sox entered the season with low expectations, as the team was expected to rebuild and restock what was a thin farm system.

Instead, Adam Dunn and Alex Rios have enjoyed bounce-back seasons, A.J. Pierzynski is putting up the best numbers of his career and Chris Sale has emerged as a bona fide ace in his first year as a starter.

The team bought aggressively at the deadline, acquiring Francisco Liriano, Brett Myers and Kevin Youkilis, and its battle with the Tigers for the AL Central title will be among the best down the stretch.

If the White Sox can reach the postseason, they have the horses to make a run.

Detroit Tigers

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

When the Tigers acquired Prince Fielder this offseason, they immediately became a popular pick to win the AL pennant.

However, the team stumbled out of the gates, and on July 3 it was 39-42 and 4.5 games out of first in the AL Central. 

Then things clicked, and the team went 13-2 over its next 15 games, capped by a sweep of the White Sox that moved it into first place in the AL Central.

Doug Fister is pitching like an ace alongside Justin Verlander, and with Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera anchoring the lineup and the deadline acquisitions of Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante, the team is in the position most expected when the season began.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Angels made the most noise of anyone this offseason when they signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson in free agency and dealt for catcher Chris Iannetta. With that, the team was expected to give the Rangers a run for their money in the AL West.

Instead, Pujols struggled like he never had before, and the team opened the season 7-15 as things got off to a terrible start. That was enough for the red flags to begin waving, but the team made a season-altering move on April 28 when it called up top-prospect Mike Trout.

Trout has hit .345 with 20 HR, 60 RBI and 36 SB on the season, leading the offense alongside Mark Trumbo (.291 BA, 29 HR, 73 RBI) and Pujols (.284 BA, 24 HR, 76 RBI), while the pitching staff has been led by Cy Young candidate Jered Weaver (15-1, 2.13 ERA).

The Angels made a splash at the deadline in an effort to push them over the top, landing the prize of the deadline in Brewers ace Zack Greinke, and they are in a great position to make a run down the stretch.

Oakland Athletics

Contender or Pretender?

Pretender

Why They're Pretenders

The A's have been the biggest surprise of the second half, as they have gone 17-8 since the All-Star game, including a 10-1 stretch immediately following the All-Star break.

That run pushed them from a .500 team to postseason contender, but the team still opted against making any major moves at the deadline, sticking to its low-budget ways.

They've been led by their pitching all season; their 3.47 ERA ranks second in the AL, and it will be bolstered by the return of ace Brandon McCarthy. In the end, their inexperienced staff and below-average offense keeps the A's from being legitimate contenders, but they could capture a postseason spot.

Texas Rangers

Contender or Pretender?

Contender

Why They're Contenders

The Rangers have dealt with a myriad of injuries to their pitching staff this year, with Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz out for the season.

Roy Oswalt has failed to provide the depth the team hoped he would, and Ryan Dempster has looked like two completely different pitchers over his first two starts with the team.

That said, the team still has the best offense in all of baseball, and with Josh Hamilton starting to come out of his second-half slump, there is no reason to think the Rangers do not have a legitimate shot at a third straight World Series trip.