As the MLB trade deadline approaches at 6 p.m. (ET) Thursday, here are four teams that, crazy as it sounds, are still not entirely sure of their direction, according to league sources:
Tampa Bay RaysPlayoff odds: 19.8 percent
Are they the team that went 25-9 from May 20 to June 26, or the team that is 8-18 since then? The Rays’ plus-56 run differential is better than that of the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays, who are at plus-35. They pulled one of their classic buy-sell maneuvers on Monday, trading one catcher, Danny Jansen, and acquiring another, Nick Fortes. However, their next three games against the New York Yankees, the last of which is a 1:05 p.m. (ET) start on deadline day, will influence their next moves.
The Rays are reluctant to trade second baseman Brandon Lowe (one more season of club control) and first baseman Yandy DÃaz (two more). Owner Stuart Sternberg surely would prefer the team to do everything possible to make the playoffs in the final season before he sells the club. And the team’s wild-card deficit is only 2 1/2 games.
In other words, they’re only another hot streak away from being in an excellent position again.
San Francisco GiantsPlayoff odds: 20.0 percent
As The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly writes, the Giants were 12 games over .500 on June 11, a half-game out of first place in the NL West. Four days later, they traded for Rafael Devers, and things were supposed to get even better.
It hasn’t happened. The Giants are the NL version of the Rays, playing poorly at the wrong time. Since the Devers trade, they’re 13-22. In their last 12 games, they’re 2-10. They’ve fallen eight games back in the division and four back in the NL wild-card race.
Buster Posey, in his first year heading baseball operations, surely wants to add another starter and a bat. However, as Baggarly and Will Sammon wrote, maybe they should also consider sell-type moves, like a trade of closer Camilo Doval.
Los Angeles AngelsPlayoff odds: 3.9 percent
WDAW — What does Arte, as in owner Arte Moreno, want?
The Angels are 4 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race and eight out in the AL West. They probably cannot make the playoffs unless they make a significant acquisition. However, if they are unwilling to trade prospects and Moreno is reluctant to boost the payroll — both likely scenarios — they probably would consider only piecemeal additions.
If the Angels sold, something else Moreno might be unwilling to do, closer Kenley Jansen is probably their only rental who might bring a meaningful return. Outfielders Taylor Ward (one more season of club control) and Jo Adell (two more) are both drawing significant interest. The Angels should at least explore what both might bring back in a thin market. However, even with minuscule playoff odds, Moreno might not want to concede.
Texas RangersPlayoff odds: 47.6 percent
The Rangers, after winning nine of 10 and 27 of 42, dropped a Jacob deGrom start to the Angels on Monday night. Leading the majors in ERA, they want to buy. With manager Bruce Bochy in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, they give every indication they will buy.
Still, rival clubs sense the Rangers’ proximity to the luxury-tax threshold might be an issue. Losses to the Angels the next two nights might evoke memories of the team’s horrid first two months, and give the club’s leadership pause.
A year ago, the Rangers declined to sell coming off a World Series title, and regretted it. But they were three games under .500 then. They’re five games above now. And their position in the standings — a half-game out of the wild-card race and four back in the AL West, behind a Houston Astros team with 18 players on the injured list — is far more encouraging than it was at the start of June.
(Photo of Buster Posey: Andy Kuno / Getty Images)