Baseball Trade Deadline Nearing!

The current baseball economy has made deadline deals more difficult. Veterans have bloated contracts and teams are holding onto young prospects more than ever.

General Managers are increasingly nervous because of prior trades that went sour. But, teams still want to improve their team for the playoffs and their chances for winning the World Series. So eventually, deals happen. Hope is sparked from these deadline trades.

Let's take a look at the buyers, sellers, the muddled middle, and pat-standers over the next month:

Buyers:

New York Yankees - With Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes on the DL the Yankees need another pitcher. They will be searching the trade market for pitchers to help fix their bullpen. Unfortunately, the Yankees have already missed C.C. Sabathia and Rich Harden and will have to settle for the B-list pitchers.

Boston Red Sox - This team is headed to the playoffs. But, they do need another middle reliever to win the World Series. They have the farm system and payroll to get what they need and they want to win.

Tampa Bay Rays - The Rays are in first place in the AL East and to celebrate why not be buyers at midseason. They could bring in Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn to add some pop to the Rays' offense.

Chicago White Sox - Thanks to the demise of the Tigers and Indians, the White Sox unexpectedly have a shot at a postseason ride. So they need to improve their pitching before the Tigers come to their senses and make a push for the playoffs.

Detroit Tigers - Another big spender in need of a starting pitcher. The Tigers are winning just enough to keep hope alive. Just like the Yankees they lost out on the big name pitchers, but they still have good options with Erik Bedard and A.J. Burnett.

Los Angeles Angels - Owner Arte Moreno doesn't have anymore money to spend on expensive players. But, the Angels are playing well and will likely add some cheaper options to improve their chances in the playoffs.

Texas Rangers - The team is in the race because of their bats. The pitching staff needs another veteran pitcher. The Rangers are likely to make a move before the trade deadline.

New York Mets -Jerry Manuel would like a relief pitcher, a corner outfielder and a player who actually cares. The team needs players that wants to win and can stay healthy. The team doesn't mind spending money so they should be able to get a quality player.

Philadelphia Phillies - The offense is a scoring machine and the Phillies don't need to improve it. The team could use a starter to replace Adam Eaton or Brett Myers in their rotation for the playoffs. G.M. Pat Gillick is unlikely to stand pat during this trading season.

Milwaukee Brewers - They have a shot at making a charge and running down the Cubbies. They made the big move to get C.C. Sabathia. That move made a statement that the Brewers want to win this season and that they will be buyers this season.

Chicago Cubs - The Cubs have the money and the motivation (the 100 years thing) to do whatever it takes to win it all. The team already brought in Harden, but they still could bring a couple more spare parts to finish out their roster for a playoff run.

Arizona Diamondbacks - Baby 'Backs were great at the start of the season as they hit and pitched their way into first place in the NL West. But, since the start of the season Arizona has played poorly. The team could use a veteran bat to settle down the youngsters and they have the prospects to get a quality veteran.

Los Angeles Dodgers - The Dodgers are so close to winning the NL West. They could use another good bat with some power like Matt Holliday.

Middle of the Road:

Minnesota Twins - Low payroll. The team has a chance at the playoffs. But they won't sacrifice the long-term expectations for this season.

Atlanta Braves - Despite their poor play for the first half of the season and the loss of John Smoltz, the Braves could make a deadline deal because they've proven they're able to make a late charge. On the other hand the Braves can't win on the road and John Schuerholz won't trade valuable prospects for a run at the playoffs that seems hopeless.

Florida Marlins - A team patched together with such a small amount of money would not compromise its low payroll by bringing in the missing piece to earn a wild-card berth. But, because the Marlins are playing well they are unlikely to deal away any players for some more prospects.

St. Louis Cardinals - The team is in the race for winning the NL Central. But, unlike the Cubs and Brewers, the Cardinals front office seems unwilling to improve the pitching staff which needs another quality pitcher.

Sellers

Toronto Blue Jays - The Blue Jays are the fourth team in a tough division. So what should they do? They will trade away A.J. Burnett for some prospects and give up on the season.

Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles still are getting beat in the AL East. Except now they can't keep up with the Rays, either. Melvin Mora, Brian Roberts, Aubrey Huff and Jay Payton are tradable. The Orioles have many players that teams looking for veterans will be interested in.

Cleveland Indians - The Indians have already dealt Sabathia. The team has thrown in the towel for the season and will probably try to deal a couple more veterans before the end of the trade deadline.

Seattle Mariners - This team is in ruins and it is time to break up the roster and get as much as possible. The team has already released Richie Sexson. Soon to be dealt are Erik Bedard, Adrian Beltre, and Jose Vidro. The Yankees might even be desperate enough to take Carlos Silva.

Washington Nationals - Dmitri Young is likely to be traded to an AL team that could use him as a designated hitter. Other minor pieces might also go.

Cincinnati Reds - This team is appalling and is ready to deal away the few stars it has. Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn will be leaving Cincinnati before the end of July. The only question is what the Reds will get in return for the two veterans.

San Diego Padres - The Padres have been awful and Greg Maddux deserves one more chance with a contender. The Padres are looking to deal and plenty of teams are looking for veteran pitchers.

Colorado Rockies - The Rockies want a load of prospects for their top stars. But, they do appear to be shopping Holliday and some team is going to jump at the chance to get the young star.

Off the Market

Kansas City Royals - The team can't win this year so they won't be making any moves to make a playoff charge. But, the Royals aren't ready to breakup their roster for next year and will be off the market at this year's trade deadline.

Oakland Athletics - The Athletics already traded away Harden. Billy Beane usually trades only one or two players each year for new prospects. Oakland is doing well enough in the AL West that Billy Beane will see whether this roster can reach the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Pirates - The 'Bucs would love to trade highly sought veterans for prospects. All that is holding that trade back is the fact that the Pirates don't have any veterans that fit into that category.

Houston Astros - The Astros have no chance at making the playoffs. But they seem uninterested in dealing any of their veterans.

San Francisco Giants - This team has no chance and is looking to deal players. Unfortunately, the team has no one that is wanted by other teams.