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MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.The second half has arrived, but that doesn't mean it's easy to make perfect sense of what's going on in baseball, even with the trading deadline a little more than two weeks away.
The top five or 10 teams are buyers. The bottom five are sellers, assuming there's anything of value (we're looking at you San Diego).
In between is a mass of clubs that could choose to be bold by joining either the former or the latter group. It's up to them to decide, and up to us to decide where they belong in this week's Rankings. Pinch-hitting for Will Brinson this week is yours truly. Read up after the jump.
- 1. Dodgers | Record: 56-32 | Previous Week: 1
Jonathan Broxton is out with a sore toe that might end up being a chronic problem if the Dodgers don't do something about it. In the meantime, you can bet the Dodgers are looking for a little depth for their late-inning relief. - Jeff Fletcher - 2. Red Sox| Record: 54-34 | Previous Week: 2
The embarrassment of riches in the starting rotation continues to carry the Sox, which is a good thing given the recent slump in the bullpen. Would they entertain the notion of moving John Smoltz to relief to balance out their pitching staff? - Josh Alper - 3. Yankees| Record: 51-37 | Previous Week: 3
The New York papers are abuzz with talk of a trade for Roy Halladay, a sure sign that a solid first half hasn't satisfied everyone's expectations for the Bronx Bombers. It would be cheaper, though, if Joba Chamberlain could get back on track and give them regular quality starts. - JA - 4. Rays | Record: 48-41 | Previous Week: 10
Have they been stalking Boston and New York while waiting to make their move, or are the defending American League champions stuck in a hangover that they can't get out of? A good start to the second half may tell the story. - JA - 5. Angels| Record: 49-37 | Previous Week: 4
The bullpen, a major issue in the first half, finally started putting it together in the past few weeks. Angels relievers had allowed an .809 OPS through June 22, and .666 since then. - JF - 6. Tigers | Record: 48-39 | Previous Week: 8
The Tigers are pretty average offensively, but it should be fun to watch the race for team leader in home runs down the stretch. Brandon Inge leads the team with 21, but Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera both have 18. Given Inge's display at the Home Run Derby, bet on one of the other two to finish with the most. - 7. Phillies | Record: 48-38 | Previous Week: 9
The sluggish start appears to be a thing of the past, and now the defending champs can start turning an eye to October. Rebounds from Cole Hamels and Jimmy Rollins would do wonders, but giving Lou Marson a look behind the plate could make for a big improvement at the weakest spot in the Phillies lineup. - JA - 8. Cardinals | Record: 49-42 | Previous Week: 5
You can always count on Albert Pujols, but he's likely to get the Barry Bonds treatment down the stretch. Can the rest of the Cardinal offense pick up the slack? You know they are going to get good pitching, barring injury. - Matt Snyder - 9. Rangers | Record: 48-39 | Previous Week: 6
Chris Davis is gone for now, but the Rangers still have two sub-par regulars in their lineup in catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and shortstop Elvis Andrus. Both are a big part of their future, but with the team in contention this year, they need to get them going or find suitable temporary replacements to hang with the Angels. - 10. Giants | Record: 49-39 | Previous Week: 7
Jonathan Sanchez pitched a no-hitter, so now may be the perfect time to trade him. Even though he looked great in the no-no (against the Padres) and he said he's made adjustments to be more consistent, there is still enough doubt with him that the Giants ought to swap his potential for a proven bat right now, if possible. - JF - 11. Rockies | Record: 47-41 | Previous Week: 12
How about some love for catcher Chris Iannetta? He doesn't sport a high batting average, but there are plenty of other things to like -- 20 extra-base hits, a .350 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging average. Those numbers are reminiscent of Jason Varitek (in a good way). - 12. Mariners | Record: 46-42 | Previous Week: 14
If the M's are going to find a bat somewhere, they might want to consider trading Brandon Morrow. Obviously something hasn't worked with his development in Seattle, but he's still young and talented enough that other teams will see his value. - JF - 13. Twins | Record: 45-44 | Previous Week: 16
If you're looking for a team to push the Tigers for the division crown down the stretch, this is it. The Twins are in the middle of the pack in the American League offensively and have seen their pitching improve of late. Mediocrity in the junior circuit should be enough to win the Central division. - 14. White Sox | Record: 45-43 | Previous Week: 13
Bartolo Colon doesn't seem all that broken up over Michael Jackson's death as manager Ozzie Guillen intimated a while back. The portly right-hander has been impressive in a pair of rehab starts in the minor leagues, posting a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings of work. At that rate, he'll be back in the White Sox rotation before long. - 15. Marlins | Record: 46-44 | Previous Week: 15
Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco have kicked things into a high gear since the start of June and have carried the Marlins into the mix for a playoff spot. Staying there will likely take a return to form from Dan Uggla since the team isn't likely to make a significant (aka costly) move for outside help. - JA - 16. Brewers | Record: 45-43 | Previous Week: 11
Once J.J. Hardy starts to hit, they'll have one of the most prolific offenses in the league, but that hasn't been a question mark thus far. They simply have to get much better starting pitching to make the postseason for the second consecutive year. - MS - 17. Blue Jays | Record: 44-46 | Previous Week: 21
A 3-12 stretch to end the first half, Roy Halladay trade talks and a sputtering offense lead to only one question for the Canadian nine. When do the Maple Leafs get back on the ice? - JA - 18. Cubs | Record: 43-43 | Previous Week: 18
They have the talent to make a run, but do they have the intangibles? They need to get healthy, and people like Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley need to earn their significant salaries. - MS - 19. Astros | Record: 44-44 | Previous Week: 20
It's hard to see how they can stick close to .500 with only two decent starting pitchers, but they've done it thus far. Michael Bourn has been a real pleasant surprise to the offense. - MS - 20. Braves | Record: 43-45 | Previous Week: 17
Getting rid of Jeff Francoeur helps psychologically, but Ryan Church isn't going to be the difference-maker the Braves need on offense. They're always willing to make a deal, though, and no one has run too far away from them yet. - JA - 21. Reds | Record: 42-45 | Previous Week: 19
Track the progress of Homer Bailey. If he blossoms into what everyone thought he would two years ago, the Reds have serious starting pitching flexibility in the offseason -- which should allow them to trade for a better offense. - MS - 22. Mets | Record: 42-45 | Previous Week: 22
The Mets have a built in excuse thanks to the copious injuries they've suffered this season, but Omar Minaya still needs to answer the question of why he thought such a top-heavy team could stand the 162-game gauntlet without more depth to help them weather the storms. - JA - 23. Orioles | Record: 40-48 | Previous Week: 24
All signs continue to point toward a brighter future, which means it's time to jettison the guys who can help this year's contenders. Danys Baez, Aubrey Huff and maybe even George Sherrill are the kinds of players that should find bidders before July 31 and shouldn't be in Baltimore on August 1 - JA - 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 38-51 | Previous Week: 28
The Diamondbacks are an enormous disappointment, but they have two players who make it worth it to watch them anyway. Justin Upton looks like he could became one of next great stars in the game, and Dan Haren is every bit as good as Tim Lincecum (without the video game commercial, of course). - 25. Athletics | Record: 37-49 | Previous Week: 27
Now the Matt Holliday Trade Watch is going to go to Defcon 1. The guess here is that he's going to wind up in St. Louis, but the A's aren't going to get Brett Wallace back. - JF - 26. Royals | Record: 37-51 | Previous Week: 25
Anyone care to explain the Yuniesky Betancourt trade for Kansas City GM Dayton Moore? Yes, the Royals' shortstop situation is bleak, but Betancourt fits in well at the position in that sense -- he's a lousy defender and a worse hitter. Making matters worse, Moore surrendered a pair of prospects to swing the deal. - 27. Pirates | Record: 38-50 | Previous Week: 23
They are fully committed to rebuilding while letting the kids play. There are some more trades coming, and that will make 2009 yet another losing season. This administration, though, is building the right way. They aren't looking to break the streak with one season and then start losing again. They are trying to build a lasting winner, and you have to take some lumps in the process. - MS - 28. Indians | Record: 35-54 | Previous Week: 29
It's all over but the shouting for the Tribe in '09. Now it's time to wonder and speculate if the Indians will move any more big pieces for future gains. Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee figure to be the center of that talk, but neither is a slam dunk to go with both signed for next season. - 29. Padres | Record: 36-52 | Previous Week: 26
San Diego has shuffled 46 players in and out of games already this year. If you can name more than 15 of them, give yourself a pat on the back. Or get a life. - JF - 30. Nationals | Record: 26-61| Previous Week: 30
Jim Riggleman is in the dugout now, but the only reason to pay attention to the Nationals is the coming deadline to sign first overall pick Stephen Strasburg. If they fail, this will go down as the worst season in baseball history no matter how many games they wind up winning. - JA
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