With the non-waiver deadline past, it has become much easier to separate the
contenders from the pretenders. Teams like Texas and Toronto might have
convinced us that they were still in it had they acquired a pitcher and a
hitter, respectively. The Tigers might have floated above the Line of
Death had they not traded one of their most valuable players for a middle
reliever. As it is, more than half of the teams in baseball now find
themselves with no hope for playoff contention.
Likewise, there were a handful of teams that remained in contention due to
injured players getting healthy. The Twins, Cardinals, and Marlins each
notably failed to make deals in July (unless Arthur Rhodes to the Marlins
counts), but also each get starting pitchers with upside back into their
rotations. The Mets and Rays did not add players either, but the Rays have
the third best record in baseball and the Mets are hot, with the potential for
additional heat if Pedro Martinez ever regains his form.
On the other hand, no one can ever accuse Houston GM Ed Wade of scoreboard
watching, because he keeps adding players as though his team is in the thick of
things. The White Sox added Ken Griffey Overrated, but the jury is still
out regarding whether he will hurt the team in centerfield more than he helps
them at the plate and whether taking at bats from Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, and
Nick Swisher makes more sense that taking them away from Joe Crede, Juan Uribe,
and Alexei Ramirez.
So behold the 14 teams still in the hunt for a playoff spot and the 16
teams who might still deal a free-agent-to-be in the coming weeks. As always,
feel free to comment.
| Rank | Team | Comments | Prev |
| 1 |  | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
July Record: 19-6 (.760) | Overall Record: 68-40 (.630)
Teixeira Career OPS Splits: .947 2nd Half, 1.003 High Lvrge, 1.064 RISP | 3 |
| 2 |  | Chicago Cubs
July Record: 15-11 (.577) | Overall Record: 65-44 (.596)
2nd-best record in MLB with no contributions from R. Hill & F. Pie | 2 |
| 3 |  | Minnesota Twins
July Record: 15-10 (.600) | Overall Record: 60-48 (.556)
Francisco Liriano is among the best deadline additions around | 7 |
| 4 |  | Tampa Bay Rays
July Record: 13-12 (.520)| Overall Record: 63-44 (.589)
Jonny Gomes cut down on strikeouts, BA plummeted even further | 1 |
| 5 |  | Philadelphia Phillies
July Record: 15-10(.600) | Overall Record: 59-49 (.546)
Watch them sign Livan Hernandez and fall out of the playoff hunt | 12 |
| 6 |  | New York Mets
July Record: 18-8 (.692) | Overall Record: 58-50 (.537)
Fernando Tatis is partying like it's 1999 | 16 |
| 7 |  | New York Yankees
July Record: 15-10 (.600) | Overall Record: 59-49 (.546)
Yanks have best record in MLB since 6/3/2007: 130-87 (.599) | 10 |
| 8 |  | Los Angeles Dodgers
July Record: 16-10 (.615) | Overall Record: 54-54 (.500)
How would an outfield of Manny, Andruw, and Pierre have looked in 2003? | 19 |
| 9 |  | Boston Red Sox
July Record: 11-13 (.468) | Overall Record: 61-48 (.560)
Jason Bay + Green Monster + Boston Lineup = 2009 SLG Leader | 4 |
| 10 |  | Arizona Diamondbacks
July Record: 14-11 (.560) | Overall Record: 56-52 (.519)
109 SB last year; 40 SB so far this year | 18 |
| 11 |  | Milwaukee Brewers
July Record: 16-11 (.593) | Overall Record: 60-49 (.550)
Brew Crew were 32-19 at home (.627) before the Cubs' 4-game sweep | 11 |
| 12 |  | Chicago White Sox
July Record: 13-12 (.520) | Overall Record: 60-47 (.561)
Can Ken Griffey be the South Side Jim Edmonds? | 5 |
| 13 |  | St. Louis Cardinals
July Record: 13-14(.481) | Overall Record: 61-50 (.550)
Whom could they have dealt for help? Even Colby Rasmus is disappointing. | 6 |
| 14 |  | Florida Marlins
July Record: 15-12 (.555) | Overall Record: 58-51 (.532)
They'd be serious contenders if they could catch the damn ball | 13 |
| ---------------- Line of Death! -------------- |
| 15 |  | Toronto Blue Jays
July Record: 13-11 (.542)| Overall Record: 54-54 (.500)
Acquiring Canadian Jason Bay would have kept Jays in contention | 21 |
| 16 |  | Texas Rangers
July Record: 13-12 (.520) | Overall Record: 56-53 (.514)
Milton Bradley might regret insisting on playing CF earlier in his career | 14 |
| 17 |  | Colorado Rockies
July Record: 17-10 (.630) | Overall Record: 49-61 (.445)
Don't listen to '07 parallels; They were 54-52 on Aug 1 last year | 27 |
| 18 |  | Detroit Tigers
July Record: 13-13 (.500) | Overall Record: 55-53 (.509)
Who needs Ivan Rodriguez when you have Dane Sardinha (.202 minor league BA)? | 9 |
| 19 |  | Kansas City Royals
July Record: 12-14 (.462) | Overall Record: 50-59 (.459)
Tony Pena gunning for Worst Offensive Player Ever Award (.150/.171/.198) | 26 |
| 20 |  | Cincinnati Reds
July Record: 12-13 (.480) | Overall Record: 51-58 (.468)
Dunn on pace for career highs in HR & RBI...no trade value there? | 23 |
| 21 |  | Pittsburgh Pirates
July Record: 12-14 (.462) | Overall Record: 50-58 (.463)
Is Ian Snell the next Jason Kendall? | 22 |
| 22 |  | Houston Astros
July Record: 10-14 (.417) | Overall Record: 50-57 (.467)
LaTroy Hawkins to the rescue! | 20 |
| 23 |  | Baltimore Orioles
July Record: 10-16 (.385) | Overall Record: 51-56 (.477)
A successful July, by Baltimore's standards | 15 |
| 24 |  | Atlanta Braves
July Record: 10-15 (.400) | Overall Record: 50-58 (.463)
Time to fire the head trainer, I think | 17 |
| 25 |  | Oakland Athletics
July Record: 8-16 (.333) | Overall Record: 53-54 (.495)
A's have gone 4-13 since the Rich Harden trade | 8 |
| 26 |  | Cleveland Indians
July Record: 10-14 (.417) | Overall Record: 47-60 (.439)
Easily the worst team in baseball that has scored more runs than they've allowed | 24 |
| 27 |  | Seattle Mariners
July Record: 10-16(.385) | Overall Record: 41-67 (.380)
Better or worse than the 2004 squad that finished 63-99 (.389)? | 28 |
| 28 |  | San Francisco Giants
July Record: 8-16 (.333) | Overall Record: 44-63 (.411)
Tim Lincecum is modern equivalent of Steve Carlton, 1972 | 25 |
| 29 |  | San Diego Padres
July Record: 9-16 (.360) | Overall Record: 42-67 (.385)
There's still time to trade M. Barrett and C. Hensley to the Astros for more prospects | 29 |
| 30 |  | Washington Nationals
July Record: 5-19 (.208) | Overall Record: 38-70 (.352)
The Nats have still drawn more fans than the White Sox have | 30 |
