Jays, Astros, Mets rising in MLB Power Rankings

Didn't have to make dramatic moves before the deadline, but bolstered the bullpen with additions of Steve Cishek and Jonathan Broxton while adding some pop by getting 1B/OF Brandon Moss from Cleveland.

Key Injuries: RHP Adam Wainwright (Achilles), 1B Matt Adams (quad), LF Matt Holliday (quad), CF Jon Jay (wrist)

Getting Mat Latos and Alex Wood to bolster the rotation, and veteran Jim Johnson to set up in the 'pen, will make the Dodgers formidable contenders, mostly because any pitching beyond their two Cy Young contenders is practically an embarrassment of riches.
Key Injuries:  LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), RHP Brandon McCarthy (elbow), 3B Justin Turner (infection).

Getting CF Carlos Gomez adds another bat to a lineup that has been boosted by the return of 3B Jed Lowrie, to say nothing of Rookie of the Year candidate SS Carlos Correa. Mix in a couple of new starting pitchers, Scott Kazmir and Michael Fiers, and suddenly the Astros are playing for keeps.
Key Injuries: RF George Springer (wrist).

Adding 3B Aramis Ramirez addressed an immediate need on the left side of the infield, with Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer out, but LHP J.A. Happ doesn't quite offer what a healthy A.J. Burnett was bringing to the Pittsburgh rotation. Hopefully the addition of Joakim Soriato set up Mark Melancon will make the bullpen even more formidable.

Key Injuries: 3B Josh Harrison (thumb), RHP A.J. Burnett (elbow), SS Jordy Mercer (knee).

Getting LF/2B Ben Zobrist and ace starter Johnny Cueto indicates the sense of urgency for the Royals, who recognize that their lights-out bullpen gives them the opportunity to win despite the rest of the roster being good, not great.

Key Injuries: LHP Jason Vargas (elbow), LF Alex Gordon (groin).

The lineup with the worst OPS in baseball is getting better. First the Mets added Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Braves, then called up top hitting prospect Michael Conforto and dealt for slugger Yoenis Cespedes. A competent lineup gets scary when looking at dominant arms at the top of the Mets' rotation, which is getting better with every Noah Syndergaard start.
Key Injuries: RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow), 3B David Wright (hamstring), RHP Steven Matz (lat).

There is making a move to show confidence in a team and then there is what GM Alex Anthopoulos just did for the Blue Jays, adding the best shortstop in baseball (Troy Tulowitzki), an ace starter (David Price), a starting left fielder (Ben Rever) and a couple of arms (Mark Lowe, LaTroy Hawkins) for the maligned bullpen. There is excitement in Toronto for good reason -- this is an interesting team that will be playing meaningful baseball down the stretch.
Key Injuries: RHP Marcus Stroman (knee), LF Michael Saunders (knee).

Lost nine of 11 to fall out of the AL West lead and now minus C.J. Wilson in the rotation, the Angels did some nibbling around the deadline, adding veteran outfielders Shane Victorino, David DeJesus and David Murphy, but will they have enough pitching to stay in a playoff position?
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Skaggs (elbow), RHP Jered Weaver (hip), LHP C.J. Wilson (elbow)

Didn't made bold moves at the deadline, but getting veteran RHP Dan Haren and hard-throwing reliever Tommy Hunter certainly helps, giving manager Joe Maddon more options. Not quite an all-in approach, but a step forward for a team competing for a playoff berth.

Key Injuries: None.

Getting LF Jayson Werth, 1B Ryan Zimmerman and 2B Anthony Rendon back from injury should help the Nats in the long run, but recent results (5-11 in the past 16 games) aren't great and adding closer Jonathan Papelbon doesn't mean much until the bats get going.
Key Injuries: RHP Stephen Strasburg (oblique).

RHP Mike Leake is a good addition for the San Francisco rotation and, contrary to most years recently, the Giants are hitting enough that they didn't need much an upgrade to the lineup. The defending champs can be competitive, but it seems they are a level below the best contenders right now.

Key Injuries: RHP Tim Hudson (shoulder), RHP Tim Lincecum (forearm), 2B Joe Panik (back).

Bringing in LF Gerardo Parra, an excellent fielder, gives the Orioles a chance to challenge for a playoff spot, but no pitching upgrades is something of a concern unless there's significant internal improvement over the last two months of the season.
Key Injuries: None.

The Diamondbacks didn't make any deals, perhaps thinking that they still have an outside shot at a playoff spot, but they've won seven of nine and are still six games out. That's an uphill climb.
Key Injuries: C Tuffy Gosewisch (knee), RHP Archie Bradley (shoulder), RHP Chase Anderson (tricep).

The Rays are a team that knows how to pick its spots and, given their injuries, are wise enough not to be taking a run at a playoff spot this year. If C Curt Casali and 1B/DH call-up Richie Shaffer can change that so be it, but it looks like the Rays are going to let the season play out.
Key Injuries: RHP Alex Cobb (forearm), LHP Drew Smyly (shoulder), CF Desmond Jennings (knee), RF Steven Souza (finger), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (hamstring).

There isn't a reasonable justification for the Padres not selling at the deadline, but they're going to harbour hopes of contending now that they have won eight of the past 10 games. That still leaves them six out of a playoff spot, by the way.
Key Injuries: LHP Cory Luebke (elbow), RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder), CF Wil Myers (wrist), 2B Cory Spangenberg (knee).

A seven-game winning streak might have led the White Sox to believe that they shouldn't sell, but having lost four of five since makes it a little more clear that they might have missed an opportunity to maximize the value for a pitcher like Jeff Samardzija.
Key Injuries: None.

It's been a disappointing season for the Tigers, but it could have been salvageable if not for 1B Miguel Cabrera's calf injury. After moving out LHP David Price, LF Yoenis Cespedes and closer Joakim Soria though, it's going to be tough times down the stretch. So tough, apparently, that the Tigers have let GM Dave Dombrowski go. 

Key Injuries: RHP Joe Nathan (elbow), 1B Miguel Cabrera (calf).

Not quite close enough to contend for a playoff spot, the Indians moved out 1B/OF Brandon Moss, OF David Murphy and lefty reliever Mark Rzepczynzki; the more pressing concern for being competitive right now is an injury to 2B Jason Kipnis, who has been great this season.
Key Injuries: RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow), 2B Jason Kipnis (shoulder).

Even with a favourable run differential, the A's couldn't hold on and hope that the results would swing dramatically in their favour down the stretch, so they offered up some nice trade pieces, sending LHP Scott Kazmir to Houston and super-utility man Ben Zobrist to Kansas City. Now they've resorted to grabbing Toronto's cast-offs, LHP Felix Doubront and 3B/DH Danny Valencia.

Key Injuries: RHP A.J. Griffin (elbow), RHP Jarrod Parker (elbow), RHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder).
 

After sending Johnny Cueto to the Royals and Mike Leake to the Giants there isn't much left in the Cincinnati rotation, so it's audition time for all. Anthony DeSclafani is the most established major-leaguer in the current rotation, but Michael Lorenzen and Raisel Iglesias are top prospects.
Key Injuries: RHP Homer Bailey (elbow), SS Zack Cozart (knee), C Devin Mesoraco (hip).

A mess of a season is going to finish in a downward spiral. Nevermind the mediocre lineup, but Boston's starting staff right now is going to depend heavily on prospects Henry Owens and Eduardo Rodriguez.

Key Injuries: C Christian Vazquez (elbow), 2B Dustin Pedroia (hamstring), RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm), CF Mookie Betts (concussion), RHP Rick Porcello (triceps).

Trading starting pitchers Mat Latos and Dan Haren made sense in the long run for a Marlins team that has endured a disappointing year -- they were supposed to be better than this.
Key Injuries: RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder), RF Giancarlo Stanton (wrist), 3B Martin Prado (shoulder).

Moving out a couple of pitchers (Michael Fiers, Jonathan Broxton) and three regulars (Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez, Gerardo Parra) from a bad team makes for an ugly roster for the last couple of months.
Key Injuries: None.

Not much going on here, just traded the face of the franchise, SS Troy Tulowitzki. Maybe SS Jose Reyes will be rejuvenated in Colorado, but saving $50-million probably has more of an impact for the Rocks.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Chatwood (elbow), RHP Adam Ottavino (triceps), 1B Justin Morneau (concussion), LF Corey Dickerson (foot), RHP Jordan Lyles (toe).