Identifying All 30 MLB Teams as Buyers or Sellers Post-All-Star Break

With the trade deadline just two weeks away, the tone of the rumors around guys like Matt Garza has shifted from "Will he get traded?" to "When and where will he be dealt?"

A couple of teams are still in denial about their postseason chances, but we can confidently forecast which side of the trading market 28 of the 30 teams will be on over the next 14 days.

The sellers won't necessarily scrap their best pieces for prospects and cash, nor will the buyers necessarily be selling the farm to acquire the final pieces of the puzzle. But when the discussions inevitably take place, the buyers will be looking to upgrade their 2013 output while sellers will only consider trades that make them better for the long-term future.

*All statistics are courtesy of Fangraphs.com and ESPN.com 

Atlanta Braves

Record at All-Star Break: 54-41 (first place in NL East)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Buyers

It's a good thing the Nationals and Phillies can't seem to decide whether they want to be in a pennant race, because the Braves certainly can't seem to stay healthy over the past week.

Jason Heyward is hoping the All-Star break will be enough for his hamstring to avoid the disabled list, but no promises have been made yet. B.J. Upton just landed on the DL over the weekend with an adductor strain. Justin Upton was also injured the night that B.J. went down, but he might be OK. And Freddie Freeman missed the All-Star Game with a thumb injury.

Unless they're content with potentially going to war with Reed Johnson and Joey Terdoslavich as their corner outfielders, the Braves might just need to buy up a couple of healthy, B-level outfielders as insurance.

They might also want to consider shopping for some middle relievers, because the arms of Luis Avilan and Anthony Varvaro are already clearly beginning to wear out from excessive use.

Miami Marlins

Record at All-Star Break: 35-58 (18 GB in NL East)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: What's left to sell?

Have you looked at the Marlins' payroll lately? It's downright amazing.

Their highest-paid player—excluding the $4 million buyout due to Heath Bell—is making less than $3 million this year. The entire 2013 payroll is just barely $30 million now that they traded away Ricky Nolasco.

Better than that, they literally only have one player under contract for the 2014 season—and Jeff Mathis' $1.5 million is hardly worth trying to trade.

I can't imagine they would consider trading Giancarlo Stanton, but Placido Polanco might be on the move before the trade deadline if anyone is interested in him. As both the highest-paid and oldest player on the team, he kind of sticks out like a sore thumb.

New York Mets

Record at All-Star Break: 41-50 (11 GB in NL East)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

I'm not sure which was a less-expected outcome in the preseason: that Marlon Byrd would be one of the hottest commodities at the trade deadline, or that that Mets would be nine games under .500 and unwilling to trade him.

The Mets really need to take a White Sox approach to this deadline and tell the other 29 teams that you can have anyone on the major league roster other than Matt Harvey and David Wright.

Both Byrd and John Buck have been good enough this season to be worth something on the open market, but neither is young enough to fit into the plans for the future. If they can "recycle" those aging veterans for some younger arms and legs, it would be silly not to.

Washington Nationals

Record at All-Star Break: 48-47 (6 GB in NL East)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Half-hearted buyers

Just two months ago, I (perhaps foolishly) argued that the Nationals had the most complete starting pitching rotation in the league.

They still have a great trio at the top, but Dan Haren remains a pretty big question mark and Ross Detwiler just can't seem to stay healthy.

If not for the preseason expectations of a National League pennant, they would probably just stand pat, hope for the best and accept that they're well-positioned for a deep run in 2014. However, there's a lot of pressure for them to win right now.

I don't suspect they'll gut the farm system to get a guy like Matt Garza or Bud Norris, but flipping Danny Espinosa, some cash and/or a player to be named later to the Royals for Ervin Santana might be in the cards. After all, this is the same team that took one-year flyers on Edwin Jackson and Dan Haren in back-to-back seasons.

Philadelphia Phillies

Record at All-Star Break: 48-48 (6.5 GB in NL East)

Verdict on June 18: To Be Determined

Current Verdict: Buyers

On July 1, the Phillies were five games below .500 and about to embark on a stretch of 10 games against the Pirates, Braves and Nationals.

It seemed likely that would finally push them to the brink of finding out how much they could get in return for Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon and Chase Utley. Instead, they won seven of 10 of those games—and subsequently took two out of three from the White Sox—to get back to .500 at the break.

I still think they'll more or less blow the team up this offseason. Considering Atlanta's Paul Maholm seems to be the most intriguing left-handed starting pitcher available this winter, it would be a great time to float Lee's name out there and see if there are any bites.

They'll most likely keep the gang together for the rest of this season, though. If they can find a suitable and affordable first baseman to fill in until Ryan Howard (maybe?) comes back in September, it could help them further close the gap in the NL East.

Toronto Blue Jays

Record at All-Star Break: 45-49 (11.5 GB in AL East)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Slightly Sellers

When I projected the Blue Jays as sellers last month, the wrath of Canada descended upon me like a swarm of cicadas. Within a week they had finished their 11-game winning streak and were two games above .500. I began to grow nervous that I might be wrong about a projection for the first time in my life.

Fortunately, the Jays lost five of their next six series and all was right with the world.

Now, I don't think they're going to sell much. They might try to move Josh Johnson and/or Rajai Davis before they lose them to free agency, with the goal of upgrading the back end of their rotation for less than it would cost to re-sign Johnson. But they'll keep the bulk of their roster intact and make a stronger run at the AL East crown in 2014.

Baltimore Orioles

Record at All-Star Break: 53-43 (4.5 GB in AL East)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: Buyers

If Brian Roberts can stay healthy (pause for raucous laughter), the Orioles might have the most complete batting order in all the land.

Let's talk about that starting pitching rotation, though.

After two months on the disabled list, Wei-Yin Chen is finally back in the fold and may have already reclaimed his spot as the ace of the staff with his domination of the Rangers last week. Miguel Gonzalez and Scott Feldman are marginally better than your average starter, and Chris Tillman was inexplicably an All-Star.

Then there's Jason Hammel.

If Hammel was pitching like he was last season, he'd be smack dab in the middle of one of the better starting rotations in the league. Unfortunately, he's been pretty horrendous. His WAR ranks 60th out of the 65 pitchers that have logged at least 110 innings pitched. (Please note that Chris Tillman is just 0.1 ahead of him on that list.)

They have already acquired Feldman via trade, and I suspect they'll be looking to add at least one more starting pitcher before the deadline in an attempt to do more than just make the playoffs this season.

Tampa Bay Rays

Record at All-Star Break: 55-41 (2.5 GB in AL East)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Neither

The Rays are in a position in the standings to be buyers, but your guess is as good as mine in regard to what they could possibly need to buy.

Perhaps James Loney isn't the best long-term option at first base, and perhaps there are better corner outfielders than Matt Joyce. However, the Rays have been good enough that they don't need to give up any of their top pitching prospects to make an upgrade.

If another team is willing to give up a quality backup to Loney or Joyce for Roberto Hernandez, that's another story. Hernandez will be a free agent after the season, and he certainly doesn't seem to fit into Tampa Bay's plans for the future.

Boston Red Sox

Record at All-Star Break: 58-39 (first place in AL East)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: Buyers

Brock Holt and Jose Iglesias are not the answers to Boston's problems on the left side of the infield.

Sure, they should be getting Stephen Drew back from the DL shortly after the All-Star Break, but he wasn't exactly tearing up opposing pitchers, either.

Between Drew and Iglesias you can get by at shortstop, but you don't want both of them out there on a regular basis. It also doesn't make sense for them to go looking for a shortstop with Xander Bogaerts presumably becoming the starter next season.

With both Chase Headley and Aramis Ramirez available, the Red Sox should be looking to upgrade to a veteran 3B. After all, when they won the 2004 World Series, they had 33-year-old Bill Mueller primarily holding down the hot corner. Then in 2007, it was 33-year-old Mike Lowell. Might as well try to grab a 35-year-old Ramirez.

New York Yankees

Record at All-Star Break: 51-44 (6 GB in AL East)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers (of course)

Current Verdict: Buyers (of course)

Aside from Robinson Cano and perhaps Brett Gardner, the Yankees should be looking to upgrade every aspect of their starting lineup. I mean, just look at what they threw out there in the final game before the All-Star break.

Somehow, they're seven games over .500 and a mere three games out in the wild-card race.

The pitching staff is more than good enough to keep them in ball games, but you can't trot out guys like Luis Cruz and Chris Stewart on a daily basis and hope to stay afloat in the AL East.

If they're lucky, they'll get better just by getting healthier.

Curtis Granderson should be back before August. Derek Jeter came back for about three hours before getting re-injured, but he is hopeful the All-Star break will be enough recovery time. And who knows if and when Alex Rodriguez will be permitted to return to the diamond.

Luck hasn't exactly been favoring the Yankees this season, though, so they would be better suited assuming those guys won't be back any time soon and bolstering their roster through trades. 

Milwaukee Brewers

Record at All-Star Break: 38-56 (19.5 GB in NL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

I'm legitimately concerned about the city of Milwaukee.

On at least an annual basis, Grantland's Bill Simmons refers to the Milwaukee Bucks as essentially the worst-case scenario for an NBA franchise (see the fourth paragraph in this link). Milwaukee is actually closer to Chicago than it is to Green Bay, so the city doesn't really have an NFL franchise to rally around, either.

It's Brewers or bust in Milwaukee, and the Brewers are busting big time.

Not only are they headed toward one of the worst seasons in franchise history, but the looming suspension of Ryan Braun is only getting more detrimental as the proposed 100-game ban pushes further and further into the 2014 season as we wait for the final decision to be made.

Both Yovani Gallardo and Kyle Lohse have been the subject of trade speculations for the better part of the past month. Corey Hart is out for the season and will likely leave town as a free agent this offseason.

Why bother hanging on to a few pieces when all the major contributors from the past several seasons may be out of the equation next year? If nothing else, the Brewers should at least call the Red Sox and see what they could get for Aramis Ramirez.

St. Louis Cardinals

Record at All-Star Break: 57-36 (first place in NL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Likely neither, but possibly buyers

The Cardinals are already the favorites to represent the National League in the World Series, so they certainly don't need to buy much.

If such an option can be obtained via trade, an upgrade over Pete Kozma at shortstop would be the ideal purchase for the Cardinals.

Frankly, their best option is probably to forgo the trading market altogether by just moving Matt Carpenter to shortstop and calling up Kolten Wong to be the everyday second baseman. It might be a significant drop in defense, but considering Kozma is one of the least-valuable shortstops in the National League, it's at least worth a shot.

Chicago Cubs

Record at All-Star Break: 42-51 (15 GB in NL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

All of the focus has been on Matt Garza, but Alfonso Soriano could fetch quite a haul in the trading market.

Assuming he's sick of missing the playoffs every season and would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to play for a contender—which certainly seems to be the case—there are a handful of playoff hopefuls who could desperately use an upgrade at a corner-outfield position.

One would have to assume they'll also be looking to move soon-to-be free agent Kevin Gregg.

If they can trade all three of those players, not only would they presumably be stockpiling quality prospects, but they would also be clearing a lot of space in their budget for this offseason. The Cubs could finally be getting back into contention in the NL Central.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Record at All-Star Break: 56-37 (1 GB in NL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: Buyers

If the Cubs are willing to trade within the division, replacing Travis Snider with Alfonso Soriano could be the deciding factor in whether the Pirates get back to the playoffs for the first time in over two decades.

Alex Rios, Hunter Pence and Giancarlo Stanton are also potential options to replace the worst right fielder in the National League. As long as they do something, it'll be an improvement.

Jordy Mercer has been a considerable improvement over Clint Barmes at shortstop, but the Pirates could still use some help at both middle-infield positions, having just lost second baseman Neil Walker to the disabled list.

Cincinnati Reds

Record at All-Star Break: 53-42 (5 GB in NL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Buyers

Similar to the Pirates, the Reds would benefit greatly from an upgrade at shortstop and a corner-outfield spot.

Since losing Ryan Ludwick about an hour into the season, the Reds have tried anything and everything in left field, but none of it is working.

Ludwick should be back in early August, but the Reds are sliding out of the NL Central race and toward a pack of wolves in the race for the second wild-card spot. They may not have the luxury of waiting to see how quickly and effectively Ludwick can return to the lineup.

The loss of Ludwick wouldn't be anywhere near as painful if it wasn't coupled with the continual ineffectiveness of Zack Cozart. Only Matt Dominguez and J.P. Arencibia are worse at getting on base than Cozart.

You really have to wonder what it's going to take for Billy Hamilton to get a shot in the majors with this team if he hasn't been able to crack the roster as a SS/OF.

Cleveland Indians

Record at All-Star Break: 51-44 (1.5 GB in AL Central)

Verdict on June 18: To Be Determined

Current Verdict: Buyers

I can't be the only person who is perpetually amazed that the 2013 Indians are this close to a playoff spot.

I also can't be the only person who thinks they need to upgrade their pitching if they want to stay this close to a playoff spot.

Justin Masterson has been solid, but you're never going to confuse him with some of the true aces in this league. Zach McAllister was a great second man in the rotation, but we haven't seen him in over a month. In his stead, Corey Kluber has emerged from seemingly nowhere.

Save for Danny Salazar's one start, no one that the Indians have tried in the back half of the rotation has been worth much of anything.

Whether they get Matt Garza or Bud Norris is yet to be determined, but they'll be shopping for some of the biggest names at this year's deadline.

Kansas City Royals

Record at All-Star Break: 43-49 (8 GB in AL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

Ervin Santana is the only major piece of the 2013 roster that might be lost to free agency this offseason, so I'm not anticipating a full-blown fire sale in Kansas City.

However, it wouldn't be much of a shock if they decide to sell high on Greg Holland.

The Royals already have Tim Collins, Aaron Crow and Kelvin Herrera as potential replacements for the closing job, and Yordano Ventura could also be groomed to fill the role by the start of next season. Suffice it to say, they have other options at the back end of their bullpen if, say, the Arizona Diamondbacks came to inquire about Holland.

George Kottaras could also be dealt if any teams are looking for some insurance at catcher.

Detroit Tigers

Record at All-Star Break: 52-42 (first place in AL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: Buyers

Over his last 12.1 IP, Joaquin Benoit has six saves with an ERA of 0.73 and 21 strikeouts. He has definite closer material, but I'm not convinced that the Tigers want him in the ninth inning in the playoffs.

Whether they have him as the closer or the setup man, they'll need to fill the other role at the trading deadline. Benoit is second on the team in holds, and the team leader is more of a multi-inning reliever than an eighth-inning specialist.

They've got the necessary starting pitching to win the first seven innings, but they'll likely be looking to spruce up their strength in those final two innings if at all possible.

Minnesota Twins

Record at All-Star Break: 39-53 (12 GB in NL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

They won't do it, but the Twins should at least consider trading away Joe Mauer.

Just imagine what the Yankees would be willing to give up for him.

Francisco Cervelli is out for at least another month, and who knows what sort of impact the Biogenesis scandal will have on his future. Cervelli's absence coupled with Mark Teixeira's season-ending surgery leave the Yankees with a C/1B combo of Lyle Overbay and Chris Stewart.

Isn't Mauer the perfect solution to their problems? And don't they have the funds and necessary top-level prospects to make that kind of a blockbuster deal?

If I'm the Twins, I'm open to anything over the next two weeks. The team is at least another two years away from actually competing with the Tigers in the AL Central, so why not sell off what you can if it makes you that much better in 2015?

Chicago White Sox

Record at All-Star Break: 37-55 (14 GB in AL Central)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

The White Sox have already openly admitted that everyone except for Paul Konerko and Chris Sale is on the trading block, so there's very little guesswork involved in this projection.

The only question relates to who they're going to be able to trade.

Their preferred course of action would almost certainly be to trade away Adam Dunn, Jake Peavy and Alex Rios. Those three players alone are on the books in 2014 for $42 million.

If they're going to start over and build around Chris Sale, I'm sure they would love to have that money to play with.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Record at All-Star Break: 50-45 (first place in NL West)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Buyers

Can you name the last time a team won a playoff series using a "closer by committee?"

If you said the 2008 Dodgers—who swept the Cubs in the NLDS before nearly getting swept by the Phillies in the NLCS—congratulations on knowing way too much about recent sports history. And if you'll further recall, the Dodgers were the eighth-best team in the NL that season, but they had the luxury of playing in a pathetic NL West.

The moral of that short story is that the 2013 Diamondbacks need to figure out their closer situation in a hurry. They currently have five equally dreadful ninth-inning options—three of which have each already blown five saves this season.

That's bad enough to put the Diamondbacks in a tie with the Cubs for most blown saves in the majors. With Adam Eaton finally healthy, perhaps they could flip an outfielder or two for a closer that can actually close games.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Record at All-Star Break: 47-47 (2.5 GB in NL West)

Verdict on June 18: Who knows?

Current Verdict: Buyers

At the time of the last update, the Dodgers were 10 games below .500 and 7.5 games out of the NL West.

They finished the "first half" of the season by winning 17 of their final 22 games, drawing to within a Diamondbacks hiccup of first place in the division.

Their current batting order and starting rotation is a pretty strong reminder of why we expected them to make the playoffs in the preseason. They could use some serious help in the middle-relief department, though.

Paco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell have been relatively OK, but they're definitely prone to walks, and it takes more than two reliable middle relievers to win a division—especially when one of those two relievers is really just a left-handed specialist.

Brandon League has been a colossal disaster, and Matt Guerrier's 30 innings of relief haven't been any more fruitful.

If they could simultaneously upgrade their seventh-inning pitching situation and get out from under the giant boulder that is the contract they gave Andre Ethier this past offseason, they would be the winners of the 2013 trade deadline.

San Francisco Giants

Record at All-Star Break: 43-51 (6.5 GB in NL West)

Verdict on June 18: Neither

Current Verdict: Sellers

As Grantland's Jonah Keri wrote earlier this week, Tim Lincecum's no-hitter couldn't have come at a better time for a team that should be looking to sell at the trade deadline.

Lincecum will be a free agent after the season, and based on how his past 16 months in a Giants uniform have gone, it's tough to imagine San Francisco will want him back at the price it would take to keep him.

Based on his first five seasons in the majors, his last two starts and the general need for pitching among some contenders, somebody will be willing to pay a king's ransom to acquire the freaky franchise.

Depending on what the Giants can get for him, that one trade could very well be enough to put them right back in contention next season.

San Diego Padres

Record at All-Star Break: 42-54 (8.5 GB in NL West)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers?

Current Verdict: Sellers

The Padres have lost 18 of their last 22 games and are all but hopelessly out of the playoff race. Save for a four-game series against the Brewers, 17 of their next 21 games are against teams that are currently at least five games above .500.

It's not looking good for 2013.

Even worse, their best trade chip has lost a ton of value by looking nothing like the 2012 version of Chase Headley. Chances are they'll still try to move him, but he doesn't have that All-Star-from-a-last-place-team kind of new car smell that he did in the preseason.

It also wouldn't be a surprise if they tried to dump Edinson Volquez on anyone willing to pay Edinson Volquez to throw a baseball.

Colorado Rockies

Record at All-Star Break: 46-50 (4.5 GB in NL West)

Verdict on June 18: To Be Determined

Current Verdict: TBD, but probably buyers

The Rockies are four games below .500 and 4.5 games out of the NL West, but you couldn't possibly ask for a more favorable start to the second half of the season. They come back from the break to 10 straight home games against the Cubs, Marlins and Brewers.

If they can (and should) win at least eight of those 10 games, suddenly they're right back in the thick of things and will be looking to bolster their starting rotation before the trade deadline.

With Roy Oswalt back on the disabled list, the Rockies don't have a single starting pitcher with an xFIP below 3.80. Considering 42 of the 89 qualified starting pitchers have an xFIP of 3.79 or better, one could reasonably argue that the Rockies don't have a single above-average starting pitcher.

Assuming they take care of business in their next 10 games, they should be looking to add one or two such arms to their arsenal.

Los Angeles Angels

Record at All-Star Break: 44-49 (11 GB in AL West)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: TBD, but probably sellers

Like the Rockies, the Angels are several games below .500 and open the second half of the season with a stretch of 10 games that will dictate their course of action.

Unlike the Rockies, seven of those 10 games come against the first-place team in their division.

Though it seems unlikely, the Angels could get right back into the race by winning at least six of those seven games against the Athletics. Provided they also take care of business in between against the Twins, they could cut their gaping hole in the AL West to just a handful of games in the span of a week and a half.

Assuming that doesn't happen, though, Scott Downs might be able to fetch a pretty penny on the open market. He'll be a free agent after this season, and really, when was the last time that there wasn't a playoff hopeful that could desperately use a left-handed specialist in the bullpen?

Also, free-agent-to-be Jason Vargas could be a nice boost to a contender's starting rotation, provided he makes a full recovery from blood clot surgery in time to be useful in 2013.

Houston Astros

Record at All-Star Break: 33-61 (22.5 GB in AL West)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

Frankly, it's a bit surprising that they haven't already dealt Bud Norris or Carlos Pena.

Anyone over the age of 26 and/or costing the team more than $1 million should be prepared to leave town at a moment's notice.

Oakland Athletics

Record at All-Star Break: 56-39 (first place in AL West)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: Buyers

Best I can tell, the A's are the only contender that could desperately use a permanent upgrade at second base, so they should have their pick of the proverbial litter.

Other than that, this team is about as well-prepared for a playoff push as any that I've seen.

It might be in their best interest to add another starting pitcher in case they lose Bartolo Colon in the blow back from Biogenesis. However, provided the pitching staff remains intact, they're in great shape and should get even stronger if and when Brett Anderson returns from the disabled list.

Seattle Mariners

Record at All-Star Break: 43-52 (13 GB in AL West)

Verdict on June 18: Sellers

Current Verdict: Sellers

Going out on a limb here in preparation for tomorrow's bold predictions piece, but if the Mariners play their cards right at the 2013 trade deadline, they will be one of the favorites to win the 2015 World Series.

It's already assumed that they'll have one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball within a year or two, and young players like Nick Franklin, Mike Zunino, Kyle Seager, Michael Saunders and Brad Miller should only be getting better with age.

They're really only a piece or two away from competing, and surprisingly useful 41-year-old Raul Ibanez could be the key to getting those pieces.

If they can put him in a package that gets them a younger outfielder who is struggling for a contender—perhaps Jon Jay or Xavier Paul—they're instantly in much better shape for future seasons.

Knowing the Mariners, however, they'll probably trade away Kendrys Morales for no discernible reason and put too much of an asking price on Ibanez, ultimately getting stuck with him either for the rest of the season or until he falls asleep in the clubhouse and subsequently retires.

Texas Rangers

Record at All-Star Break: 54-41 (2 GB in AL West)

Verdict on June 18: Buyers

Current Verdict: Buyers

With Yu Darvish on the disabled list, this depth chart just looks...decrepit.

Adrian Beltre is still very good, and Leonys Martin has added some much-needed speed during Elvis Andrus' slump, but there haven't been any other consistent contributors to the lineup over the past month.

Nelson Cruz has been relatively solid, but it's still unclear whether he'll be around in September, thanks to all this Biogenesis talk.

And save for Derek Holland, the starting rotation hasn't been any more potent.

It's kind of silly to hate on a team that's 13 games over .500, but if the Rangers expect to stay there, I get the feeling they'll need to make a splash or two at the trading deadline. If not, things could get ugly in a hurry as they open the second half of the season with 20 games against teams that are either above .500 or the Angels—who really should be above .500.