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MLB power rankings: Giants, Cardinals, Indians surging before trade deadline

By Sean Sears

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 25: Paul Goldschmidt #46 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 25, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 25: Paul Goldschmidt #46 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 25, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 23: Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians leaves the field in the seventh inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 23: Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians leaves the field in the seventh inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

8. Cleveland Indians, 60-42, 2nd in the AL Central (ranked 9th last week)

With a 10-4 record since the All-Star break, the Indians are only 2 games back of the Twins in the AL Central and have a two-game lead in the Wild Card, making clear postseason contenders at the moment. But even with the success of this team turning things around this season, the Indians are still coming up in trade rumors surrounding starter Trevor Bauer.

The 28-year-old Bauer is unlikely to re-sign in Cleveland after the 2020 season and the Indians have mulled over the idea of moving their ace now to try and maximize the return for Bauer if they are truly convinced he’s gone after next season. So far, that seems unlikely with the Indians streaking at the moment, but if a team does come to them with a massive offer for Bauer, team President Chris Antonetti and GM Mike Chernoff would have to seriously consider it. The Indians will face the Royals and then the Astros before the deadline, expect the Indians to keep Bauer for the moment and try to make one last run with this group before considering re-tooling in the off-season.

7. Tampa Bay Rays, 58-47, 2nd in the AL East (ranked 7th last week)

The Rays have lost three consecutive series against the Yankees, White Sox, and on the Red Sox leading to a 3-7 record over their last 10 games. And what makes matters worse is that the Red Sox are now only a .5 game behind the Rays for 2nd place in the AL East and are sitting now a game back from the final Wild Card spot behind the Athletics.

And to make matters worse, the Rays will be without Cy Young winner Blake Snell for at least four weeks and will undergo elbow surgery. Tampa Bay was one of the most active teams prior to the Snell injury news, so expect them to be in the conversation for starters like Matthew Boyd, Zach Wheeler, and Noah Syndergaard if he’s made available. There’s also been interest for the Rays in a few bats like Hunter Pence, Nick Castellanos, and Jesus Aguilar, in hopes of adding a veteran presence to this young group. But this next month of baseball will either make or break the Rays playoff dreams.

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