MLB Power Rankings Week 17: Top teams ahead of trade deadline
With the Tuesday trade deadline quickly approaching, the next week will be interesting for a number of teams — including some of the clubs at the top of this week’s MLB Power Rankings.
A number of the best teams have struggled recently, making the deadline even more important to them. The Phillies are 7-9 in their past 16 games, the Orioles are 3-8 in their past 11 games, and the Yankees are on a 10-22 stretch. Meanwhile, the Royals have caught fire out of the All-Star break, and the Astros have vaulted into our top 10 following their dismal start.
How will all of this influence the deadline? Which players could we see in new places?
Our panel has combined to rank every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
The Phillies are about as set as any team in the majors, but they could still use an upgrade in the outfield (nobody wants to see Johan Rojas batting regularly in the postseason again). If president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wants to swing big, he could go after Luis Robert Jr. to fill the hole in center field, but given that Robert is signed through 2027, that’s a complicated, difficult deal to put together. Or Philadelphia could slide Brandon Marsh over to center and acquire a left fielder (Randy Arozarena, Tommy Pham, Lane Thomas, Jesse Winker). — Schoenfield
The Orioles, loaded offensively, could use pitching, pitching and more pitching. The rotation is filled with uncertainty after ace Corbin Burnes. Baltimore has lost starters Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to season-ending elbow injuries this season. Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) and Dean Kremer (triceps) have both spent time on the injured list. Albert Suarez, a 34-year-old journeyman, has been their second-best starter.
In the bullpen, closer Craig Kimbrel, signed over the winter to replace the injured Felix Bautista, rebounded nicely from a rough stretch in early May, but his postseason performance in recent years does not inspire confidence. The Orioles have a farm system brimming with talent to acquire whomever they please. Chances are they’ll address the pitching staff. — Castillo
The bad vibes the Dodgers carried with them into the All-Star break — with six losses in seven games and a major-league-high 15 players on the IL — have evaporated. They began their second half with five consecutive wins against the Red Sox and Giants, then welcomed Tyler Glasnow back on Wednesday and will bring Clayton Kershaw back Thursday. Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler should follow shortly thereafter. Their rotation is clearly rounding back into form. Still, the Dodgers are targeting a front-of-the-rotation starter, given the uncertainty surrounding Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They’d also like to add an every-day outfielder. — Gonzalez
