MLB Power Rankings: The Deadline Approaches

Baseball fans welcome back to another installment of the Boss Rush Entertainment MLB Power Rankings! I hope everyone enjoyed the time off during All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, but now it’s time to get back to business with a new power ranking. Next week we will publish a winners and losers article focused on the MLB trade deadline; enough talk, it’s time to rank the MLB, 

1. San Francisco Giants (-)

The Giants are on a warpath to prove that they run the NL West. MLB rumors suggest that the Giants may be looking to add an outfielder at the deadline, but I honestly think this team is great as is. 

2. Boston Red Sox (-)

The biggest advantage that the Boston Red Sox have had this season is their ability to win games against the division (namely the Yankees who they have only lost one game to in 12 played so far). No one in the AL East has the depth or coaching that Boston has, so they should run away with the division. 

3. Chicago White Sox (+2)

The White Sox have the easiest path to a division title in the AL, but they also have the ability to win the entire league as long as they can stay healthy. The White Sox have been linked to trying to make a deal for relief pitching; if the White Sox can add depth to their bullpen, I think it allows them to be more conservative with their starting pitching. 

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
5. Houston Astros (-2)

Aside from the occasional garbage can being hit right before a big pitch (Sorry, they already got caught for that), the Houston Astros have been eerily quiet at the trade deadline. I think the Astros need to look at adding depth in the outfield.

6. Tampa Bay Rays (-)
7. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

Coming back from the All-Star break the Brew Crew has become the biggest surprise to me in the NL. Back in early June, I thought the Brewers showed gaping issues in their pitching and their bats were more inconsistent than the MLB The Show online servers; fast-forward to late July and the Brewers look like the heavy favorites to win the NL Central. 

8. San Diego Padres (-)
9. Oakland Athletics (-)
10. New York Mets (-)

For a majority of the year, I have referred to the NL East as a “garbage truck on fire”, I continue to stand by this statement, but I will now add “why does anyone in the NL East think they have an actual chance to win the NL this year”? It baffles me to think that the Mets are being linked to Kris Bryant at the deadline; the Mets at best are a team that won the games against bad teams that they needed to win. There is no doubt in my mind that if the Mets win the NL East they will lose in the divisional round of the MLB Playoffs. 

11. New York Yankees (+2)
12. Seattle Mariners (-1)

The Mariners are a team that could go either way at the trade deadline. I personally think the Mariners should sell this year, but only sell players they don’t have long-term control of. The Mariners are a year or two from being a serious contender in the AL West but they need the pitching to be consistent before they can take the leap to the next level.

13. Toronto Blue Jays (+1)
14. Cleveland Indians (+1)

Any other year I would say that the Indians would be buyers at the deadline, but with the dominance of the White Sox, and the lack of investment by the owners in this year’s team is enough of a reason for me to say that the Indians will sell their bullpen. 

15. Cincinnati Reds (-3)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (+4)
17. Atlanta Braves (+1)

The Braves traded for Joc Pederson late last week, but this move isn’t enough for me to think the Braves have momentum going into the deadline. The Braves are in the middle of a massive road trip to the NL West and if this trip doesn’t go well they could sell Pederson before the deadline. The Braves are clearly struggling without their leader Acuna, but I don’t think this team had much of a chance before the injury. 

18. Los Angeles Angels (-2)

Shohei Ohtani is on an entirely different level, that is all. 

19. Philadelphia Phillies (-) 

The Phillies need to become buyers at the deadline. There’s only 5 games that separates the Braves, Mets, Phillies, and Nationals; I think the Phillies could win the division if they end up getting another big bat.  

20. Chicago Cubs (-3)

The Cubs…where do I even begin? As a lifelong Cubs fan, I almost had a heart attack this week when Kris Bryant randomly was pulled from their game against the Cardinals. Within the next few days, I believe the Cubs will trade Kris Bryant and Javy Baez. Cubs fans, we will host a vigil live on Friday night next week (on twitch!) to celebrate the lives of Kris and Javy should the front office decide to trade these two Cubbie legends.  

21. Detroit Tigers (+1)
22. Washington Nationals (-1) 
23. Colorado Rockies (+1)

Please for the love of god trade Trevor Story to the Yankees. 

24. Miami Marlins (-1)
25. Minnesota Twins (-)

The Twins traded Nelson Cruz this week, and I think the Twins are the AL version of the Cubs; the Twins are a team that can help make or break a team at the deadline depending on what they decide to sell. 

26. Kansas City Royals (-)

I am hearing more and more reports that the Royals are finally willing to deal Whit Merrifield. 

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)
28. Texas Rangers(-1)
29. Baltimore Orioles (-)
30. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

How did your favorite team do in this week’s rankings? Comment below and we will give you a shoutout on the BRE Twitter account!