Breaking Down All 30 MLB Teams' Trade Shopping Lists at 2016 Midseason Point

No, it's not Christmas in July, but it might as well be the holiday season. For in every front office around MLB, there's a general manager doing laps around his desk with a shopping list of gifts he wants to put bows on and deliver to his team's clubhouse.

The problem is that many of those shopping lists look the same, and there's going to be a mad dash, if not an all-out bidding war, as teams try to add the pieces they need for the stretch.

Not every team is looking to buy in the traditional sense. Clubs that are on the fringes of contention—or out of the playoff picture completely—are looking to buy controllable assets who could be part of a future run at postseason glory by selling off expendable pieces.

On the pages that follow, we'll look at what every team is looking to do and, in some cases, identify players who could be on those shopping lists. Keep in mind these are partial lists. Just because a player's name isn't mentioned doesn't mean he's not a potential addition for your favorite club.

Let's get started.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Interest in Tyler Clippard is sure to increase as the trade deadline nears.

Shopping List

• Young, controllable assets

Outlook

The Arizona Diamondbacks got a jump on the trade deadline last week, dealing veteran reliever Brad Ziegler to the Boston Red Sox for a pair of prospects working their ways through the lower levels of the minor leagues, and it's that kind of return the team figures to be focused on as the trade deadline nears.

Barring a team offering a package Arizona can't turn down for starting pitchers Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray or catcher Welington Castillo, relievers Tyler Clippard and Daniel Hudson will be the team's two biggest trade chips in play.

That said, neither one is going to bring back the MLB-ready starting pitcher the team needs.

Atlanta Braves

Associated Press

Trading Julio Teheran would bring the Braves a massive return.

Shopping List

• Controllable, MLB-ready talent

Outlook

The Atlanta Braves are one of the more interesting teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches in that they could be both buyers and sellers.

Given the amount of young pitching the team has stockpiled, the Braves could put together an impressive package and make a run at a controllable, experienced big-name ace such as Chris Archer or Sonny Gray. But that seems to be a more likely offseason pursuit.

The team's biggest trade chip would be ace Julio Teheran, but "the days of trading players like Teheran for prospects are over," Braves general manager John Coppolella told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal last month. It's unlikely a contender would be willing to part with young, big-league talent in the middle of a pennant race.

That leaves reliever Arodys Vizcaino as the team's most likely trade chip to be played, and he could bring back an MLB-ready piece for the Braves to continue building around. Middling veterans like Gordon Beckham, Nick Markakis and A.J. Pierzynski won't fetch Atlanta anything substantial in a deal.

Baltimore Orioles

Associated Press

Chris Tillman has been the lone bright spot in a dismal Orioles rotation.

Shopping List

• A competent, reliable starting pitcher

Outlook

Here's the ugly truth: After Chris Tillman, Baltimore doesn't have a starting pitcher who fits the above description.

The rest of Baltimore's starters have pitched to a combined 6.15 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. Kevin Gausman and Yovani Gallardo, who were expected to join Tillman at the front of the rotation, have not. Over their last five starts, Gallardo has pitched to a 4.97 ERA, and Gausman has posted a 5.74 mark.

The problem is that Baltimore can't afford to part with the two prospects who teams with available pitching are likely to ask for, Hunter Harvey and Chance Sisco, and the rest of the farm system is devoid of the kind of exciting, high-upside talent that other teams covet.

The Orioles' best chance of landing the pitcher they need may be to absorb all of the money left on a starter's contract, whether it be a pending free agent or one with multiple years remaining on his contract. Doing so should, theoretically, lower the cost of prospects the Orioles would have to give up in a deal.

That said, other contenders in search of rotation help can potentially do the same—and have more prospect capital to offer a seller.

Boston Red Sox

Associated Press

Boston can't afford to keep giving Clay Buchholz chances to redeem himself.

Shopping List

• Starting pitching
• Relief pitching

Outlook

Like Baltimore, Boston needs pitching. Unlike the team the Red Sox are chasing in the American League East, however, Boston has three legitimate starters atop its rotation: Steven Wright, Rick Porcello and David Price, the latter of whom has yet to consistently pitch like...well, David Price.

The problem lies with the six other pitchers the team has used to start games after that trio—Clay Buchholz, Roenis Elias, Joe Kelly, Sean O'Sullivan, Henry Owens and Eduardo Rodriguez—a group that has combined for a 7.08 ERA and 1.74 WHIP.

It's a problem that the team's president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, is aware of. "You can get starting pitching," Dombrowski recently told ESPN.com's Scott Lauber. "I assure you I can pick up the phone and get a starting pitcher. But is it a starting pitcher that helps you? That's sort of the key there."

The thing is that the Red Sox have the wherewithal—both financially and prospect-wise—to go out and trade for any available pitcher the team believes can help. While there's no Cole Hamels on the market this year, there are a number of established starters expected to be available who could help.

If trading for another starter is off the table, the Red Sox could look to bolster the bullpen. While the team's recent acquisition of Brad Ziegler helps, there's room for another arm. Doing so would make Boston better equipped to handle short outings from the back end of the rotation.

Craig Kimbrel is expected to return this season from knee surgery, but he might be out until September. Koji Uehara is 41 years old, has an ERA approaching 5.00 and, like Junichi Tazawa, has been prone to the long ball. Robbie Ross Jr. has been mediocre. You get the idea.

Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller are likely off-limits (it's hard to imagine the Red Sox and Yankees making a mutually beneficial deal), but there could be a number of potential relievers available that won't cost a massive prospect haul to obtain. 

Chicago Cubs

John Minchillo/Associated Press/Associated Press

Hector Rondon needs some help at the back end of Chicago's bullpen.

Shopping List

• A late-inning reliever

Outlook

Chicago doesn't necessarily need to add another late-inning weapon. The team ranks 13th in baseball with a 3.74 ERA over the last three innings of a regulation game, and closer Hector Rondon has been one of the game's most overlooked—and underrated—relievers for quite some time.

That said, there's always room for improvement.

So it's no surprise that Andrew Miller sits atop Chicago's wish list of late-inning relievers, according to Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball. The 31-year-old All-Star is controllable, dominant and selfless, willing to fill whatever role is necessary in order to help his team win.

For all those reasons, the New York Yankees aren't going to give him away. But the Cubs could present the Yanks with an offer they'd find difficult to turn down. Whether the team is willing to do so, however, is another story.

Should acquiring Miller prove to be too expensive for the team's liking, there are a number of relievers the Cubs could turn their attention to, including Oakland's John Axford, Arizona's Tyler Clippard and Daniel Hudson and Philadelphia's Jeanmar Gomez.

Chicago White Sox

Associated Press

The White Sox have no idea if Justin Morneau is the upgrade they need.

Shopping List

• Designated hitter or right fielder

Outlook

There's no denying that Adam Eaton, despite his lack of power, is a tremendous right fielder. The problem is that he's also Chicago's best option in center field, a position that the White Sox have unsuccessfully tried to fill with the currently injured Austin Jackson and J.B. Shuck.

Among American League teams, Chicago's center fielders have combined for the 12th-lowest OPS (.673) and FanGraphs' weighted runs created plus (wRC+) metric (77). As you'd imagine, it's far easier to find a right fielder than it is a center fielder, especially as the trade deadline nears.

Things are even worse at the designated hitter spot in Chicago, where the White Sox rank 14th in the AL in both OPS (.610) and wRC+ (64). Adam LaRoche's sudden retirement during spring training didn't help, but Avisail Garcia isn't the answer.

Justin Morneau, signed in early June, has been anything but impressive thus far in the minors (.150 BA, .511 OPS). Throw in his shaky medical history and unimpressive .666 OPS away from Coors Field in 2015 while playing for Colorado, and it becomes hard to believe he's the answer to the team's DH woes, either.

New York's Carlos Beltran, Cincinnati's Jay Bruce, Oakland's Josh Reddick and Tampa Bay's Steve Pearce could all be on Chicago's radar.

Cincinnati Reds

Associated Press

Adam Duvall's power is real, but his overall game is lacking.

Shopping List

• Young, controllable outfielders

Outlook

Cincinnati will be selling at the deadline, with longtime right fielder Jay Bruce the biggest trade chip the team has to play. Once Bruce departs, the Reds will be left with an outfield comprised of Adam Duvall, Billy Hamilton and, likely, Tyler Holt.

While Duvall's power earned him a spot in the All-Star Game and Hamilton could likely give Usain Bolt a run for his money in a foot race, neither one is what you'd call a complete player. Both are hitting below .250 with sub-.290 on-base percentages and have shown no reason to think those numbers will change.

That's a problem.

There's some help on the way, with top prospect Jesse Winker poised to make an impact as early as 2017 and Phil Ervin not far behind.  But neither one is proven, and Ervin may be nothing more than a fourth outfielder.

For a rebuilding club that is deep with prospects both on the mound and around the infield, stockpiling more starting-caliber outfield talent is a priority.

Cleveland Indians

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland has to do better than T.J. House as a lefty out of the bullpen.

Shopping List

• Left-handed reliever

Outlook

Seven different left-handed relievers—Kyle Crockett, Ross Detwiler, Tom Gorzelanny, T.J. House, Ryan Merritt and Shawn Morimando—have toed the rubber for Cleveland in the season's first half. They've combined for a 7.77 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 22 largely gut-wrenching innings of work.

There are a number of southpaw relievers expected to be available, none of which will cost the Tribe their best prospects to acquire. A traditional LOOGY (lefty one-out guy) would suffice, but ideally, the Indians would be able to land a southpaw capable of handling late-inning work.

Both Milwaukee's Will Smith and New York's Aroldis Chapman fit that description. While the Indians have been hesitant to trade away prospects in the past—and may balk at the asking prices for both of those established arms—the team could solidify its hold on the AL Central with such a move.

Colorado Rockies

Associated Press

Tyler Chatwood has been Colorado's only reliable starter.

Shopping List

• Starting pitching

Outlook

While the Rockies are likely going to be selling off pieces (primarily relievers), the team could choose to try to make a run at a wild-card spot. For that to happen, it's going to take the addition of a reliable, experienced veteran starter to the rotation. 

That's something All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, the face of the franchise, agrees with.

“I think [the playoffs are] possible," Gonzalez told Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post last month. "But there’s something missing. It’s hard when you get a good outing from a pitcher and then you get a bad one. This is a good offense. We’re going to score runs. But like a game (on Tuesday), when we score nine runs, and you don’t get a win, that’s hard.”

As usual, Colorado's rotation sports a bloated ERA (5.07) that's among the highest in baseball. But that number drops to 3.99 away from Coors Field, a road ERA that the was the ninth-lowest in baseball over the season's first half. You didn't misread that—Colorado's rotation is one of baseball's best on the road.

Adding a pitcher adept at keeping the ball on the ground would be preferable. San Diego's Drew Pomeranz, Arizona's Robbie Ray, Minnesota's Ervin Santana and New York's CC Sabathia are among the better ground-ball pitchers who could be had at the right price.

Detroit Tigers

Associated Press

A healthy Jordan Zimmermann will help, but the Tigers still need more pitching.

Shopping List

• Starting pitching
• Catcher

Outlook

The idea of a full rebuild in Detroit is great, but with at least $100 million committed to player salaries through the 2019 season (per Baseball Prospectus), it's nothing more than that—a great idea. And unlike last year, when the Tigers had valuable trade chips like Yoenis Cespedes and David Price to play, they have little to offer as a seller.

So they might as well try to make a run at a playoff spot.

Rookie hurler Michael Fulmer, Justin Verlander and Jordan Zimmermann form a solid top three atop the rotation, but the back end is a disaster. After that trio, Tigers starters have pitched to a combined 5.62 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.

To land the arm it needs, Detroit might have to part with some of the prospects it bought back at last year's deadline (Matt Boyd, perhaps) and/or be willing to take on the bulk of a multiyear deal another team is looking to move.

The latter might be the more realistic scenario, given owner Mike Ilitch's willingness to spend, which could make Minnesota's Ervin Santana and New York's CC Sabathia potential targets.

If the Tigers can't acquire the pitching help they need, the most logical step would be to try to improve the offense.

While James McCann has been terrific behind the plate, he's been a mess when he's standing next to it, ranking 23rd in OPS (.583) among the 25 backstops with at least 190 trips to the plate. If there's a position on the club that could use an offensive boost, it's at catcher.

McCann is only 26 years old and still likely the future behind the plate in Detroit. But it wouldn't hurt to have him split time with a more offensively gifted veteran than Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy would be an obvious upgrade, but he's on a team-friendly contract that runs through next season, and the Tigers might not have enough in the way of prospects to satisfy the Brewers. San Diego's Derek Norris and New York's Brian McCann could be other options.

Houston Astros

Associated Press

Evan Gattis is too much of an all-or-nothing slugger for the Astros to count on.

Shopping List

• Middle-of-the-order run producer

Outlook

Houston finished the first half on a 33-14 tear and has top prospect Alex Bregman closing in on a promotion to the big leagues, so there's a case to be made for the team to do nothing at the trade deadline.

Bregman, 22, has crushed the ball at every level of the minor leagues and heads into the second half hitting .309 with 40 extra-base hits (19 HR), 60 RBI and more walks (44) than strikeouts (33). With or without him, the Astros could still use another bat to slot in the middle of the lineup.

It could be an upgrade over catcher Jason Castro, center fielder Carlos Gomez, who are both free agents after the season, or designated hitter Evan Gattis, who remains under team control through 2018.

While the center field market is lacking, the Astros could look to add Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy, San Diego's Derek Norris or New York's Brian McCann behind the plate. All three could serve as a DH as well, along with Cincinnati's Jay Bruce or Oakland's Josh Reddick, right fielders who are expected to be dealt.

That said, the Astros traded away a slew of young talent last season and during the offseason to add Gattis, Gomez and pitchers Mike Fiers and Ken Giles. General manager Jeff Luhnow may be hesitant to continue dealing away the team's best young talent.

Kansas City Royals

Associated Press

Yordano Venuta's maddening inconsistency only exacerbates Kansas City's need for pitching.

Shopping List

• Starting pitching
• Right fielder

Outlook

Kansas City finds itself in a tricky situation. The defending World Series champion is still in the thick of the playoff race, but after spending big on Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist at last year's trade deadline, it can't afford to part with the young pieces it'll take to add the front-of-the-rotation pitching it needs.

That's not to say the Royals made a mistake last year—you can't argue with a World Series crown. But those deals robbed the team of much of its pitching depth, which if still in-house, likely would have negated the team's need to go out and add to the rotation.

The team's best bet to add to the rotation might be to target low-end starters such as Philadelphia's Jeremy Hellickson, Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa, Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly or Pittsburgh's Jon Niese. None of them are front-line starters, but they could keep things close enough before the bullpen takes over.

Right field is another area the Royals could look to upgrade, as Paulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson are both better suited coming off the bench. Cincinnati's Jay Bruce and Oakland's Josh Reddick make the most sense, but again, the Royals may not have the expendable pieces needed to swing a deal for either.

Los Angeles Angels

Associated Press

Trading Huston Street might bring the Angels a younger arm to build around.

Shopping List

• Young, controllable starting pitching

Outlook

Trading Mike Trout would bring back such a ridiculous package of talent that the Los Angeles Angels would be able to rebuild on the fly. But that's not going to happen. Neither is a deal involving right fielder Kole Calhoun, who would, like Trout, bring back a sizable return.

That leaves a trio of veteran relievers—Fernando Salas, Joe Smith and Huston Street—along with third baseman Yunel Escobar as the team's biggest trade chips to play.

None of them are going to get the Angels the front-of-the-rotation starter they desperately need, but seeing as how the team has the worst farm system in baseball, there'd be plenty of value in bringing back some younger arms who could contribute in the big leagues as early as next season.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Associated Press

Can you imagine where the Dodgers would be had they not signed Kenta Maeda?

Shopping List

• Catchers
• Outfielders
• Relief pitching
• Starting pitching

Outlook

Los Angeles has been all over the place when it comes to potential upgrades, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, who wrote "There's a sense of urgency within the organization to do something significant."

It's not the kind of situation anyone expected a team with more than $250 million in payroll this year to be in at the halfway point of the season, but injuries and ineffectiveness don't care about payroll or expectations.

Adding to a rotation that has been decimated by injuries is an obvious area to upgrade, as the team can't count on Brandon McCarthy or Hyun-Jin Ryu, who returned from injury just before the All-Star break, to stay healthy.

Dodgers outfielders have combined for the 28th-lowest OPS in baseball (.686), while the catching tandem of A.J. Ellis and Yasmani Grandal (with a little Austin Barnes sprinkled in) have been non-factors offensively, combining for a .200/.309/.355 slash line.

The good news is that, like the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers, the Dodgers have the trade chips needed to add pieces. Those chips not only include prospects like Jose De Leon and Grant Holmes, but also young major league talent like 25-year-old outfielder Yasiel Puig, who needs a change of scenery.

Miami Marlins

Associated Press

If the Marlins could clone Jose Fernandez, they'd be set.

Shopping List

• Starting pitching

Outlook

Miami has its ace (Jose Fernandez) and a trio of solid but unspectacular arms following him in Wei-Yin Chen, Adam Conley and Tom Koehler. But if the Marlins are going to make a run at a playoff berth, the team needs another arm.

The Marlins have been linked to Tampa Bay's collection of starters for weeks, most recently by the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, who added Oakland's Rich Hill and San Diego's Drew Pomeranz to the team's list of potential targets.

While Miami is lacking in high-upside prospects to dangle as trade bait, the team does have an intriguing trade chip in Derek Dietrich.

The 26-year-old has developed into a younger version of Martin Prado, a versatile player capable of playing the infield and outfield who hits for average and has some pop in his bat. With second baseman Dee Gordon soon to return from suspension, Dietrich could become expendable.

Philadelphia's Jeremy Hellickson, San Diego's Drew Pomeranz and Tampa Bay's Matt Moore, Jake Odorizzi and Drew Smyly would all be good fits in Miami's rotation.

Milwaukee Brewers

Associated Press

Trading Jonathan Lucroy still makes sense for the Brewers.

Shopping List

• High-upside youngsters at any position

Outlook

At 38-49, Milwaukee hasn't been nearly as bad as many expected this season. But it's clear that the Brewers, in the midst of a rebuilding process, are still a few years away from contending with the likes of the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

With a number of valuable veteran pieces who are garnering interest around baseball, the Brewers are in a good position to keep adding to their stockpile of young talent down on the farm.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy remains the team's most valuable asset, a terrific all-around catcher who's under team control for another year at a bargain price of $5.25 million. Relievers Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith, both of whom have multiple years of team control remaining, would also command a nice return in a trade.

The idea of trading Ryan Braun makes sense, but his injury history, performance enhancing drug-tainted past and the nearly $90 million left on his deal, which runs through 2021, make a deal unlikely. 

Minnesota Twins

Associated Press

Ervin Santana is Minnesota's most valuable trade asset.

Shopping List

• Pitching, pitching and more pitching

Outlook

With a slew of young talent on the farm and in the big leagues, Minnesota has the makings of a club that should find itself back in contention before too long. As far as general manager Terry Ryan is concerned, "too long" means next season.

"Everybody wants to win next year," he recently told the Pioneer Press' Mike Berardino. "We're not looking at 2020."

But the team's attempts at building a rotation through free agency have failed. Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana have all been disappointments, and while Hughes is immovable due to his contract and season-ending shoulder surgery, both Nolasco and Santana could be moved.

Of course, both are due significant money over the next few years, requiring the Twins to pick up a sizable portion if they hope to get anything worthwhile back in a trade.

The team could look to sell high on All-Star shortstop Eduardo Nunez and left-handed reliever Fernando Abad, but neither one would command anything more than mid-level prospects in return.

No matter who the Twins wind up moving, adding young, controllable pitching—both starters and relievers—has to be at the top of Ryan's to-do list over the next two weeks.

New York Mets

Associated Press

Matt Harvey's shoulder issues only complicate matters for the Mets.

Shopping List 

• Another starting pitcher
• Another dependable reliever

Outlook

With Matt Harvey out for the year and both Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard dealing with bone spurs in their pitching elbows, what looked to be one of baseball's most formidable rotations suddenly has cracks running through it.

Sure, Bartolo Colon and Jacob deGrom remain unscathed, and Zack Wheeler is expected back at some point from Tommy John surgery, but the Mets can't be sure what he'll be able to offer. A front-of-the-rotation arm isn't necessary—just a durable innings-eater that gives his team a chance to win.

Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa, Philadelphia's Jeremy Hellickson and Minnesota's Ervin Santana are among the starters the team could look to add. But the Mets are also in the market for another reliever, sources told Mike Puma of the New York Post.

"

That reliever, according to a club source, doesn’t necessarily have to be a higher-end option in the mold of Tyler Clippard, whom the Mets acquired for the stretch run last year. But names such as San Diego’s Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand could appeal to the Mets, along with Oakland’s John Axford and Atlanta’s Chris Withrow.

"

Of that group, Buchter would likely be the most costly to acquire, which makes him the least likely to begin calling Citi Field home. Any of the others would be solid additions to a bullpen that has been one of baseball's most effective.

New York Yankees

Associated Press

Trading Andrew Miller would bring the Yankees an impressive package of talent.

Shopping List

• Young, athletic, controllable position players
• Controllable, nearly MLB-ready pitching

Outlook

For the first time in a long time, the New York Yankees are in a position to be baseball's biggest sellers at the trade deadline.

All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran and flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman, both free agents at the end of the season, are as good as gone. With multiple contenders in need of relief help, the New York Post's Joel Sherman was right when he said a bidding war could ensue to acquire Chapman's services.

The Yankees don't have to trade Andrew Miller, baseball's most valuable reliever, but they could acquire an even more impressive package of young talent than they'd get for Chapman if they did. Miller's team-friendly contract ($18 million over the next two years), dominance and willingness to fill any role make him attractive to contenders and non-contenders alike.

Starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia could all be moved, as could left fielder Brett Gardner and catcher Brian McCann, though the Yankees would have to pick up a substantial potion of the money left on the deals for the latter three to facilitate a worthwhile deal.

In every deal the Yankees make, they'll be looking to add controllable pitchers who can contribute in 2017, as well as young position players they can use to plug some holes on the roster and continue to restock the farm system with.

Oakland Athletics

Associated Press

Rich Hill will bring Oakland an impressive return in a trade.

Shopping List

• Nearly MLB-ready talent

Outlook   

Last year saw Oakland deal away reliever Tyler Clippard, starter Scott Kazmir and the versatile Ben Zobrist as the trade deadline approached. This year will see more of the same, with starter Rich Hill and right fielder Josh Reddick serving as the team's two most likely veteran pieces to be moved.

Both Hill and Reddick have drawn substantial levels of interest from contending clubs and, despite their pending free agency, will bring Oakland a sizable return. With a number of needs, including at first base and in the outfield as well as the pitching staff, the A's could target multiple players in return.

Oakland could move third baseman/outfielder Danny Valencia as well, as prospect Matt Chapman is nearly ready to take over at the hot corner.

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, veteran relievers John Axford, Ryan Madson and the injured Sean Doolittle have drawn interest from multiple contenders, though it remains to be seen whether the A's are interested in breaking up what might be the strongest part of their roster.

Philadelphia Phillies

Associated Press

Philadelphia might be better off keeping Jeremy Hellickson than trading him away.

Shopping List

• Young, controllable assets

Outlook 

Philadelphia remains in rebuilding mode and isn't going to deal away any of the young talent it has stockpiled over the past year or two. Having already parted ways with Ken Giles, Cole Hamels and Chase Utley, the Phillies have little to offer contending teams.

Jeremy Hellickson is Philadelphia's biggest trade chip, but he isn't the kind of difference-maker that contenders are looking for. His biggest value to the Phillies is his ability to eat innings, which in turn allows the team to cut back on the workload of the younger arms in the rotation.

The rest of the team's potential trade chips, including infielder Freddy Galvis, relievers Jeanmar Gomez and David Hernandez and outfielder Peter Bourjos, aren't going to fetch the team anything substantial in return.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Associated Press

Pittsburgh has to get Gerrit Cole some experienced help.

Shopping List

• Starting pitching

Outlook 

Of the five starting pitchers to make at least 10 starts for Pittsburgh in the first half of the regular season, only Gerrit Cole pitched to an ERA below 5.00. The other four—Francisco Liriano, Jeff Locke, Juan Nicasio and Jon Niese—combined for a 5.22 ERA and 1.52 WHIP while serving up 61 home runs to the opposition.

While youngsters Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow, Chad Kuhl and Jameson Taillon can help, it's a huge risk for a contender to lean on four unproven starters down the stretch, especially when their respective workloads are going to be closely monitored and managed.

The Pirates aren't going to trade their best prospects to bolster the rotation, which makes less-than-stellar options such as San Diego's Andrew Cashner and New York's Nathan Eovaldi their most likely trade deadline targets.

San Diego Padres

Associated Press

Drew Pomeranz has quickly become San Diego's biggest trade chip.

Shopping List

• Middle infielders
• Young, controllable talent

Outlook

San Diego would love to move outfielder Matt Kemp and catcher Derek Norris to clear the way for prospects Hunter Renfroe and Austin Hedges, respectively, but it's All-Star starter Drew Pomeranz who is drawing the most attention from contenders who are looking to buy.

Sources told Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune that "about 10 teams," including Baltimore, Boston, Miami and Texas, have expressed interest in the 27-year-old.

Of that group, Texas seems to be the most likely trade partner. General manager A.J. Preller is familiar with the Rangers farm system from his days with the team, and the Padres have additional pieces the Rangers could have interest in, including reliever Ryan Buchter and Norris.

Texas is deep in young, controllable position players, something the Padres need. Infielder Jurickson Profar, third baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo and outfielder Lewis Brinson figure to be at the top of Preller's wish list.

San Francisco Giants

Associated Press

Sergio Romo's return helps, but the Giants need to add to their relief corps.

Shopping List

• Relief pitching

Outlook

Only one team—Cincinnati—has blown more saves this season than the 16 that San Francisco's relievers have failed to convert. And while the Giants' bullpen hasn't been anywhere near as bad as the Reds', the group's collective 3.94 ERA and 1.30 WHIP leave much to be desired.

So it wasn't surprising to see Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal list the Giants as one of five contenders with interest in New York's Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller back in mid-June.

Whether they have the pieces needed to swing a deal for one of them is questionable, as Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the Yankees don't see the Giants as a good match in a trade. But San Francisco figures to add at least one late-inning reliever, whether he's from New York or elsewhere.

Seattle Mariners

Associated Press

Getting the King and his top subject back in the rotation could fix what ails Seattle.

Shopping List

• Controllable rotation depth
• Controllable reliever

Outlook

Seattle doesn't have a huge glaring weakness, and couldn't make a bigger move than getting Felix Hernandez and Taijuan Walker back in the rotation anyway.

The Mariners won't be in the hunt for the top available talent, as they can't afford to part with their top prospects in a deal. GM Jerry DiPoto will instead look to guard against more pitching injuries down the stretch with controllable depth options.

One option could be former Mariner Erasmo Ramirez, whom Tampa Bay might shop. The 26-year-old has three years of team control left, has had varying levels of success as both a starter and reliever and won't cost a slew of young talent to acquire if he does become available.

St. Louis Cardinals

Associated Press

Trevor Rosenthal's struggles have created a hole nobody saw coming in St. Louis.

Shopping List

• Center fielder/leadoff hitter
• Late-inning reliever

Outlook

While the currently injured Matt Carpenter has been a terrific leadoff hitter, St. Louis misses out on his run-producing ability by having him sit atop the lineup. 

San Diego's Jon Jay, who spent the bulk of his career in St. Louis, would have been a perfect fit for what the Cardinals need offensively. But the 31-year-old is on the disabled list with a broken forearm and, with no timetable for his return, is an unlikely target. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, there's not really another worthwhile, available option.

There should be plenty for the team to choose from when it comes to bolstering the back end of the bullpen, which needs a boost given Trevor Rosenthal's collapse. Top prospect Alex Reyes could help, but even if the Cardinals call on him, there'd still be room to add a more experienced arm to the mix.

It's unlikely St. Louis would be willing to surrender the MLB-ready prospects needed to land New York's Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller or Atlanta's Arodys Vizcaino, but Milwaukee's Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith could be potential targets for the Cardinals.

Tampa Bay Rays

Associated Press

Logan Morrison has proved he's not Tampa Bay's long-term answer at first base.

Shopping List

• First baseman
• Shortstop
• Outfielders

Outlook 

If you're a contender in need of a starting pitcher, the first call you make is going to be to Tampa Bay. No other team can offer up the sort of young, controllable arms the Rays can, with Chris Archer, Matt Moore, Jake Odorizzi and Drew Smyly all making the rounds on the rumor mill over the past few weeks. 

Of that group, Archer seems the least likely to be dealt, as the Rays would be selling low on a legitimate ace on a team-friendly deal. Odorizzi probably has the most trade value and the greatest chances of wearing a different uniform before the end of the regular season.

Regardless of which pitcher(s) the Rays wind up trading, they'll be looking to add controllable, nearly MLB-ready position players, along with some young arms to restock the farm system.

Texas Rangers

Associated Press

Yu Darvish is set to return from the DL on Saturday, but for how long?

Shopping List

• Rotation depth
• Late-inning reliever

Outlook

Three-fifths of what would be Texas' starting rotation resides on the disabled list.

While Yu Darvish is expected to be activated Saturday, according to Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News, there's no timetable for a return to action for Derek Holland or Colby Lewis. But as ESPN's Buster Olney notes, the Rangers can't reasonably expect Darvish to avoid another trip to the shelf this season.

At the other end of the spectrum, Matt Bush, Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson have done terrific jobs at the back end of the bullpen. But with so many questions surrounding the rotation, it wouldn't hurt to strengthen the relief corps, enabling the Rangers to require less from their starters.

The Rangers need reinforcements, and they are one of the few teams with enough young talent to consummate a deal for pretty much any pitcher who becomes available. As I wrote last week, it's foolish to think the Rangers wouldn't deal some of that talent to add the piece(s) they need.

Toronto Blue Jays

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Roberto Osuna is the only sure thing in Toronto's bullpen.

Shopping List

• Relief pitching

Outlook

Toronto can't afford to shift All-Star starter Aaron Sanchez into the bullpen as originally planned. Drew Storen hasn't emerged as a reliable late-inning option, and Jason Grilli is 39 years old with a lot of mileage on his arm.

Adding at least one reliever is a must for the Blue Jays if they are going to make a run at Baltimore atop the AL East standings. With a farm system that's been picked clean in recent years with trades for R.A. Dickey and Troy Tulowitzki (among others), Toronto needs to hang onto its best young talent.

It's more likely the Jays will target moderately priced, middle-of-the-road options such as Arizona's Tyler Clippard, Philadelphia's David Hernandez and Los Angeles' Fernando Salas and Joe Smith rather than the biggest names on the trade market.

Washington Nationals

Associated Press

Whether Jonathan Papelbon remains Washington's closer is anyone's guess.

Shopping List

• First base
• Late-inning reliever

Outlook

With his team enjoying a six-game lead over Miami and New York in the NL East and sitting 18 games above .500 (54-36), it's no surprise to hear Washington GM Mike Rizzo say he's not looking to be overly active at the trade deadline.

"I don’t sense any need [to make a big move],” Rizzo told the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes. “That’s not to say that we’re a perfect team and we couldn’t upgrade if the right possibility comes,” he continued, adding that he'd be able to add payroll if need be.

Ideally, Rizzo would add a left-handed-hitting first baseman to split time with the injured Ryan Zimmerman. But there doesn't appear to be a significant option available, so it's more likely he'll focus on bolstering the back end of a bullpen that has been one of baseball's best.

Jonathan Papelbon has done a solid job in the closer's role (2.83 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 19-of-21 saves) but has seen a drop in his velocity, per Brooks Baseball. He has already been sidelined once this year with an injury and hasn't looked as dominant as he has in the past.

According to Olney, that's why rival officials expect the Nationals to add "at least one big-time late-inning option." Washington has long coveted New York's Aroldis Chapman and has the young pitching to spare that the Yankees will be looking for in return.

Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through July 13. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).

Hit me up on Twitter to talk trades and all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.