MLB Trade Deadline 2015: Analyzing Potential Upgrades for Playoff Contenders

Today's the day, folks. MLB teams have but a few hours left to pull off a big trade before the 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline this Friday, lest they be left thinking for the rest of the season (and possibly long after) about what might've been had the deal gone through or they pulled the trigger a bit sooner.

The clock is ticking, and there are rumors aplenty. Let's take a look at what clubs in the three biggest U.S. markets—all of them gunning for playoff glory—are up to in what's sure to be a frantic final push before the deadline.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Outside of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, the Los Angeles Dodgers were in dire need of starting pitching. Resorting to staff days this summer proved that they needed bodies. Bringing in the likes of Mat Latos and Alex Wood in a 13-player, three-team trade alleviated that situation, per USA Today.

So what could they possibly need now?

Well, more starting pitching, it seems. According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Dodgers are among three teams in the running for Texas Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo:

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi corroborated the report:

This is a bit surprising, as adding Gallardo would give the Dodgers six, maybe even seven, quality starters—Greinke, Kershaw, Latos, Wood, Mike Bolsinger and Brett Anderson (who's tapered off as of late) are already in the fold— unless they offload someone on the roster.

Gallardo is 7-9 with a 3.39 ERA this year. He's remarkably consistent, making at least 30 starts and keeping his ERA under 4.00 in five of the last six seasons, but he isn't a landscape-altering pitcher.

The Dodgers have taxed the bullpen this year, so it could be that they are looking for injury relief or someone to play a long reliever, swingman-type role on the staff. But if that's the case, they needn't get into a bidding war for Gallardo, who looks to be a fairly hot commodity.

New York Yankees

While the New York Yankees could use another quality starting pitcher in the fold, especially now that the division rival Toronto Blue Jays have picked up David Price, according to ESPN.com, and will battle them all the way for the American League East crown, they're not overlooking a bullpen boost.

According to Heyman, the Yankees have put feelers out for Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, although it's not looking good:

While the fireballer Chapman would be an awesome sight in Yankees pinstripes, the Reds can ask the world for him. The Yankees have top prospects in pitcher Luis Severino and outfielder Aaron Judge, but it would be tough to part ways with either player. Plus, they might have better options on the table.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal noted New York is aggressively going after San Diego Padres closer Craig Kimbrel:

However, ESPN's Buster Olney refuted that claim, and Heyman suggested the team might instead be going after Miami Marlins reliever Carter Capps:

Capps has utilized an unorthodox delivery to devastating effect this year, sporting a 1.21 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched. The Marlins would be wise to keep him around as a potential bedrock in the bullpen, but they could be in a seller's mood at this point in a disappointing campaign.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Kimbrel is the safer bet, however, as he's been one of the best closers in the majors over the past four-plus years. From 2011 to date, he's racked up 215 saves with a sizzling 1.51 ERA.

In order to keep pace with the Blue Jays, the Yankees have to make some sort of move at the deadline, even if it puts short-term interests over long. Capps is eligible for arbitration next season, according to Spotrac, but at just 24 years old, he could be a player for the future if New York snatches him up.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs aren't at the level of championship contenders like the Yankees and Dodgers, but nevertheless, they are in the thick of the playoff hunt and are looking to improve their team. For a moribund franchise like Chicago, these postseason opportunities can't go to waste. Even with a young roster, it appears that the team is going full steam ahead on snagging a National League wild-card spot.

The deadline-day rumor mill has the Cubs looking to bolster their pitching staff, with the aforementioned Heyman tweet linking them to Gallardo, and Rosenthal reporting Chicago is in the mix for Cleveland Indians starter Carlos Carrasco:

The competition should be fierce for both pitchers. The Cubs have the prospects to pull off a deal for either Gallardo or Carrasco, but the latter might be the better choice, especially if the franchise is keeping its future in mind as the deadline looms. HardballTalk's Craig Calcaterra put in his two cents on the Cubs' unique situation:

"

The Cubs are interesting right now. I get the sense that being in the wild card race is sort of complicating things for them. Like, they didn’t expect to really be in the conversation until next year and now they sort of have to make a move but want to make moves that build for the future, not just the 2015 season. Carrasco scratches both itches, inasmuch as he signed a four-year contract before the season.

"

As noted above, Gallardo is a rental player. While he may have the better traditional numbers than Carrasco, the Cleveland pitcher has a lower fielding independent pitching mark (2.83) and WHIP (1.15), according to Baseball-Reference.com.

However, he may be tough to pry as he appears comfortable in Cleveland, and Indians manager Terry Francona has told him his position in Ohio is secure.

"I told him, 'Teams call. You're coveted. That's a good thing,'" Francona said, per the Northeast Ohio Media Group's Paul Hoynes. "But we're not dying to let our pitching go away. And they (the pitchers) know that."

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Given the fact that Carrasco has a long-term contract and is a year younger than Gallardo, he might be the better fit for the Cubs as they look to establish themselves as wild-card threats now and World Series players in the future.