3 Teams That Should Be Buyers at MLB Trade Deadline to Improve World Series Odds (Padres, Guardians, Astros To Buy)

When I'm feeling a bit down, I like to hit up my local TJ Maxx or Ross and find a dashing new shirt at discount prices. It feels good to add some splash to my wardrobe at a bargain.

MLB teams looking to make a second-half push don't quite have a discount store they can walk into, but there are a number of downtrodden clubs happy to part with great talent ahead of the trade deadline.

Which teams should be buyers to improve their World Series odds? Similar to how the Kansas City Royals acquired Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist to push them over the hump back in 2015, is there a deadline deal that will give a club the edge to make a World Series run?

3 Teams That Should Be Buyers at MLB Trade Deadline

San Diego Padres

The Padres are a club I'm looking to fade moving forward thanks to their poor lineup, but with a variety of quality hitters likely available at the trade deadline such as Josh Bell, Andrew Benintendi, and Trey Mancini, San Diego would be wise to survey the market to bolster their World Series dreams.

With just the 27th-ranked OPS over the last four weeks, this lineup is in desperate need of a jumpstart. The Padres are a pathetic 5-12 in their last 17 as a favorite, in large part due to their poor offense, and are running out of time to wait for Fernando Tatis' return.

They've got virtually no chance to win their division with the Dodgers in tow, but they're two games up in the Wild Card race and sit at +700 to win the NL Pennant and +1500 to win the World Series over at WynnBET Sportsbook. I'd love nothing more than to see these incredible jerseys in the playoffs, so I'm hopeful the ever-transactional A.J. Preller makes a move to get their offense back on track.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians have the youngest roster at every level of competition, play in the weakest divisions in MLB, and possess one glaring weakness that must be fixed: offense against left-handed pitching.

I've been the resident Cleveland fan all season, but even I have to admit their 29th-ranked OPS against southpaws is an ugly wart.

They've got the star power, bullpen, and defense to succeed if they fix this Grand Canyon-sized hole. I'm desperate to see Jose Ramirez in the playoffs and the Guardians' rebuild is certainly ahead of schedule.

By sending off some of their youth to acquire a strong bat against left-handed pitchers, the Guardians can continue their accelerated rebuild with eyes for a World Series birth. They sit two games behind the Twins in the AL Central and I'll go to my grave arguing their odds of +4000 to win the AL Pennant and +10000 at WynnBET are an incredible value, so fingers crossed they make a move to fix the only issue on the roster.

It wouldn't hurt to give the Rangers or Athletics a call and see if Martin Perez or Frankie Montas are available either. Cleveland, this is for you. Don't squander my love.

Houston Astros

The Astros have the second-best odds at WynnBET to win the AL Pennant (+250) and third-best to win the World Series (+500), so what could they possibly do to bolster their chances?

Well, just like Achilles was unbeatable until the Trojan prince Paris found his heel, Houston has one undeniable problem: their catchers.

Martin Maldonado has been horrendous offensively, batting .167 with a .235 on-base percentage, and even local radio in Houston is trying to find answers for the black hole in the lineup.

Cubs' backstop Willson Contreras is starting in the All-Star Game tonight and is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. With Chicago struggling through a lost season, this marriage makes too much sense to not happen.

Houston already has one of the best lineups, pitching staffs, bullpens, and defenses in all of MLB, so shoring up this weakness would solidify them as World Series contenders. They'd likely become the AL favorite over the Yankees if they acquired Contreras, given the difficulty of the AL East and ease of the AL West. Thus, the Astros should be banging trash cans outside Wrigley Field desperate to make this deal happen.

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.