Sunday Mound Visit: Power Rankings and the Season Changing Deadline

Welcome back! We're nine days away from one of the most intriguing trade deadlines ever with many "World Series Contenders" desperate to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.  Let's dive into our latest power rankings before breaking down this season-changing deadline.

Power Rankings

1. Philadelphia Phillies: There's a significant gap between the Phillies and everyone else. They're the only team that doesn't necessarily need to make moves at the trade deadline (more on that later).
2. Cleveland Guardians: One of the most surprising teams in baseball, even without Shane Bieber. Steven Kwan has taken a massive step forward, while José Ramírez remains an MVP candidate.
3. Baltimore Orioles: Despite limping into the deadline and nearly getting swept by the struggling Yankees, they still boast top-2 candidates for both the Cy Young and MVP awards.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers: Concerns existed even before the Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto injuries. While they'll return eventually, starting pitching remains a question mark, and the lineup thins out considerably after Home Run Derby champ Teoscar Hernández.
5. New York Yankees: They arguably needed the All-Star break more than anyone after an abysmal past month. Just as they seemed to gain momentum, an unbelievable implosion last Sunday erased all of their momentum.
6. Atlanta Braves: Despite losing key players to injuries, the Braves are still a threat, with Austin Riley and Matt Olson finally playing at the level we expect from them. Chris Sale's resurgence to elite status has helped fill the void left by Spencer Strider's injury.
7. Milwaukee Brewers: A surprise to many, they're clear NL Central favorites even without All-Star closer Devin Williams (who just started a rehab assignment). Willy Adames, Christian Yelich, and William Contreras continue to make significant impacts.
8. Houston Astros: Starting to look like the dominant team we've seen in recent years. José Altuve remains the best offensive second baseman in baseball, and the pitching is finally starting to find its groove.
9. Boston Red Sox: Alex Cora has done a phenomenal job, helping this team play above their talent level. Tanner Houck is a Cy Young candidate, Jarren Duran is quietly one of the best outfielders in baseball, and Rafael Devers looks better than ever at the plate.
10. Seattle Mariners: Julio Rodríguez is finally heating up for an offense that desperately needs consistency. The pitching staff can go toe-to-toe with any in the league on their best days.

Trade Deadline Outlook

This year marks the first time in recent memory there isn't a clear-cut elite team in both leagues. In the NL, the Phillies stand clearly above the rest of the league (and MLB as a whole). 

The American League is wide open. Despite the Guardians' impressive performance, AL Central teams still need to prove they can compete with the AL East and West teams in October. One big move could separate a contender from the pack, whether it's acquiring a pitcher like Garrett Crochet or Tarik Skubal, adding an impact bat like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Pete Alonso, or bolstering the bullpen with flamethrowers like Tanner Scott.

With the addition of the third wildcard, there have been fewer sellers. This year, the race is tighter than ever. In the National League, even the third-worst team (Nationals) is only six games out of the third wild card spot. The only confirmed sellers are the Rockies, Marlins, Athletics, White Sox, who alone don't have enough valuable players for the other 26 teams.  With so few confirmed sellers, teams like the Blue Jays, Rays, Cubs and Mets should consider selling to take advantage of the inflated prices.

The team to watch is Baltimore. They have the deepest farm system (by far) and can acquire any player they want. A package for Crochet and Luis Robert from the White Sox might not even require giving up top prospect Jackson Holliday. Alternatively, they could pursue Tarik Skubal and Colt Keith from the Tigers, though that would likely cost them Holliday and additional prospects.

As the deadline approaches, the stage is set for some potentially landscape-altering moves. Stay tuned as we keep you updated on all the latest developments in what promises to be an exciting race to the playoffs.