WHO NEEDS TO MAKE A MOVE?

The All-Star break is nearly here and some teams have been falling behind in the standings due to injury issues or simply lack of talent due to players performance. There is rumor of who should be making moves to get players they need and who should be selling their players trying to build a better future. Well the sellers are obvious, the Twins, Mariners, Padres, Rockies, Astros, and Cubs are out of it this season. Astros already gave away their slugger Carlos Lee to the Marlins, but there are a few other teams that need to make similar moves as the Marlins to try to get back in the playoff picture before the deadline hits.

1st Tampa Bay Rays 

The Rays are sitting in 3rd in the toughest division in baseball. Now I picked them to win the AL East so they will need to make some sort of a move to catch up to the Yankees and Orioles. They have an amazing pitching staff, but have not been receiving the offensive support it needs. Don't be surprised if they look to trade one of their big name starters, such as Shields or maybe an outfielder such as B.J. Upton or Matt Joyce. With Longoria out, they have not been able to support their pitching staff enough to remain a big factor in the east. I think the Rays need to make a move most because there is obviously no stopping the Yankees from being a hot team and they need to watch out for the flaming Red Sox and what the Orioles may become with their recent pick up of Thome. If they Rays want to see the postseason they will need to become a team that puts up a lot more points for Price, Hellickson, and Moore. A leading .249 average is not going to do it, Pena, Scott, and Zobrist will need another clutch bat along with Longoria to make another late comeback like last year.

2nd Arizona Diamondbacks 

The Diamondbacks took home the NL West last season, and things only seemed to be going up for them with their pick up of Kubel and Cahill. But the 2012 season has not favored them, but only the Dodgers and a little bit of the Giants. The Diamondbacks currently sit six games behind the Dodgers as they have been facing injury issues all season. Upton and Young have both hit the DL and now their pitching staff has slipped as Hudson recently joined the DL, possibly for the entire season. The Diamondbacks offense has started to get back on track with Upton's power and clutch hitting from Hill and Roberts. Arizona recently brought in young pitcher Trevor Bauer as a possible solution, but things have not turned around for them yet. I expect to see them make a move after the All-Star break for an arm such as Ryan Dempster to make a big turn around for the playoffs. Aaron Hill has turned out to be a big pick up with his cycles. The DBacks are just looking for a dominant arm to keep them in the picture and give them a fighting chance with two division rivals already out in front. 

3rd Milwaukee Brewers 

The Brewers would be the third most desperate team for a new boost in the lineup. With Prince Fielder across the lake in Detroit, the Brewers offense has not been the same. Ramirez has been a positive pick up, but they will need more as the bullpen has not been as clutch as they were last season. The Brewers currently sit a full seven games behind believe it or not the Pirates in the NL Central and have the offensive Reds and dinged up Cardinals in between them. If the Brewers want to catch up and get in the fight they will need to pick up a good bat to provide more offense and a clutch arm to come out of the bullpen. Braun and Ramirez have provided good power, they just need more of a consistent hitter to be on base when those big strokes take place. This will be no easy task, as the Cardinals will be getting their team back together and off the DL and the Reds bats seem impossible to slow down. Luckily the only threat on the Pirates is McCutchen. A wildcard seat is still possible for the Brewers, but a big transaction that turns out to be a difference maker will be necessary.

A few more teams to mention would be the Blue Jays, Braves, Mets, Indians, Cardinals, and Tigers. Each of these teams has either suffered some injuries or have not been performing as well as they hoped so far. I expect each one of them to also try and make a deal with a team such as the A's, Padres or Cubs to bring in some support to their currently out of contention team.