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MLB Power Rankings: Here come the Cubs

By Joshua Sadlock

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – JULY 14: Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Jean Segura #2 and Mike Zunino #3 after hitting a three run home run in the 3rd inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JULY 14: Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Jean Segura #2 and Mike Zunino #3 after hitting a three run home run in the 3rd inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
14

Kansas City Royals 47-47

Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 9

A 3-4 start to the second half was not what the Royals needed to convince themselves not to do at least a little selling off at the trade deadline. Going back to the last series before the break, the Royals are 3-7 in their last nine games.

As evidenced by the J.D. Martinez trade, it is not a great market for teams looking to sell rentals. For that reason, the Royals really may just be better off holding onto their pending free agents and collecting the draft picks at the end of the year. The one player Dayton Moore should take calls on is Mike Moustakas. The Boston Red Sox are still hard up for a third baseman, and if the Royals can get them to surrender Rafael Devers, you pull the trigger on that deal in an instant.

13

Seattle Mariners 48-49

Last week: 5-2
Last rank: 18

The Mariners have won five of six — including two of three from the Houston Astros — to start the second half. Good offense and just enough starting pitching have pushed them back to only 1.5 games out of a playoff spot. With their entire lineup healthy, the Mariners have a real shot at staying in the postseason hunt all the way until the end of the season.

It’s rare that a trade works out perfectly for both teams involved, but that’s exactly how the Jean Segura-Taijuan Walker trade played out for the Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. Walker has found a level of consistency with the Diamondbacks that he never could sustain with the Mariners while Segura is in the running for the AL batting title and plays sparkling defense at shortstop.

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