Baseball's non-waivers trade deadline arrives Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, leaving three more days of flux for players and teams. USA TODAY Sports' Paul White and Jorge L. Ortiz look at teams having to decide whether to buy or sell at the trade deadline:
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Status update 51-51, seven games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, five games back for the second wild card. This is the latest in the season the Royals have been at or above .500 since 2003.
How they got here Kansas City has won six in a row, tying for its best streak of the season, and has posted a 1.11 ERA during that spell. The Royals' next nine games are against teams with a losing record, providing a golden opportunity for the up-and-down club to gain some footing in the playoff race.
What now? The Royals made it clear they intended to compete this year with the offseason acquisitions of James Shields and Wade Davis. Will they remain in that mode? Starting pitcher Ervin Santana has a 3.06 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, but he's a free agent after the season and has been mentioned in trade discussions. His status by Wednesday might determine the mind-set of the Royals, who could use an offensive upgrade at second and third base.
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TRADE DEADLINE: Who will be on the move?
NEW YORK YANKEES
Status update 55-50, fourth in AL East, 71/2 games behind first-place Boston Red Sox, 21/2 back for the second wild card.
How they got here CC Sabathia has a 4.65 ERA. Yankees batters went nine consecutive games without a homer until Derek Jeter's first-inning shot Sunday. Mark Teixeira is out for the season, Kevin Youkilis might be as well, and Alex Rodriguez hasn't played all year. Yet the Yankees are not out of it, and reinforcements are arriving.
What now? The A-Rod mess continues to hang over the Yankees, but they're not about to give up on the season. New York added Alfonso Soriano to help address its dearth of right-handed hitting, and he had a huge game in Sunday's 6-5 win vs. Tampa Bay. Jeter's return also gave the club's lethargic offense a jolt. If Curtis Granderson can have that effect when he returns in early August, the Yankees might be in business.
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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Status update 49-56, third in the NL East, 101/2 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves and 91/2 games back for the second wild card. The seven games under .500 are the lowest point for the Phillies this season.
How they got here The Phillies' current eight-game losing streak has dropped them out of contention and should be enough to persuade team brass to start moving some pieces. Age has been creeping up on Philadelphia, and the extended injury absences of Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard make a charge less likely.
What now? Philadelphia traded away two-thirds of its outfield at the deadline last season when it dealt Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino. Other high-priced veterans might follow suit this time, with Chase Utley, Cliff Lee and closer Jonathan Papelbon getting the most attention. The Phillies haven't indicated which way they will go, although they do not figure to undertake a major renovation.
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SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Status update 46-58, last in NL West, 10 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. Not since the 1997-98 Marlins has a World Series champion finished last in its division the next year.
How they got here Starting pitching, the hallmark of the 2010 and 2012 title tams, has been a sore spot as former All-Stars Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain have floundered. Going into Sunday, the Giants ranked 13th in the NL in starters' ERA at 4.64. The once-solid fielding that was supposed to complement the pitching has been absent, as demonstrated by a major league-high 76 errors.
What now? It will take swallowing some pride for a club trying to defend a championship, but the Giants need to go in sell mode. Outfielder Hunter Pence and reliever Javier Lopez, both free agents after the season, could help a contender. Lincecum fits that category too, but there's an emotional component to trading a franchise icon. Regardless, the Giants need to bolster a thin farm system.
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WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Status update 52-54, second in NL East, eight games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves, seven games back of the second wild card.
How they got here A 4-7 homestand after the break was the latest example of the Nationals failing to make a dent on the Braves' lead. Plagued by an inconsistent offense that ranks 13th in the league in on-base-plus-slugging percentage, Washington continues to underachieve after raising expectations by winning the division crown last year.
What now? GM Mike Rizzo has said there's nobody available better than what the Nationals have, provided their players perform to their abilities. But most haven't for four months, so it might be time to shake things up. Firing hitting coach Rick Eckstein smacked of an attempt to do just that, but bringing in another impact bat would have a bigger effect. Chase Utley would seem like a perfect fit, though it's hard to envision a trade between the division rivals.
GALLERY: DEADLINE DEALS
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