by Dayn Perry

Updated: July 22, 2008, 11:39 PM EST 206 comments

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What's a contender? For these purposes, it's any team within five games of playoff position at this writing. So here they are, and here's what they should be thinking as July 31 approaches ...

Diamondbacks

The disappointing Snakes rank 11th in the NL in runs scored despite playing their home games in a park that favors the offense. So they could use a bat. They could nab a left fielder like Brian Giles or Adam Dunn, or they could go after slick-fielding first baseman Mark Teixeira and continue allowing Conor Jackson to man left.

Red Sox

For starters, Jason Varitek, one of the least deserving All-Stars ever, needs to start hitting. In terms of the trade market, though, Boston's only pressing need is for another right-handed middle reliever. Of course, if Justin Masterson takes to his new bullpen role, then the Sox will be able to stand pat at the deadline.

Cubs

All of a sudden, the Cubs have bullpen concerns. Closer Kerry Wood is on the disabled list for the 12th time in his career (the good news is that it's a blister and not a shoulder or elbow malady), and top set-up man Carlos Marmol has an 8.83 ERA since June 1. Even after the recent addition of Chad Gaudin, the Chicago relief corps could use some help.

White Sox

More than anything else, the Sox need for Paul Konerko to start hitting and for Jose Contreras to come back from the DL in top form. As far as the trade deadline goes, the White Sox are limited by what's one of the worst farm systems in the game today. Don't expect much activity from GM Ken Williams.

Marlins

Florida catchers this season have combined to hit just .226. That's a problem. Here's another problem: acquiring a starting catcher at the trade deadline who's any sort of measurable upgrade over Matt Treanor, who should return from the DL this week. They could also use another starting pitcher. Anibal Sanchez is close to returning, but after such a long layoff he offers no guarantees.

Angels

This season, no team's third basemen have been less productive than Anaheim's, but the real problems have been getting offense from left field and DH. The Halos badly need an impact bat at one of those two positions, and they'd do well to give Brandon Wood another look at third base.

Dodgers

Here we have an exercise in triage. This season, the Dodgers are receiving sub-optimal production from second base, third base and center field. Oh, and their closer and struggling ace are also on the disabled list. The ideal addition would be Baltimore's Brian Roberts, who would provide a mammoth upgrade, both offensively and defensively, over Jeff Kent. As for Kent, at this stage of his career he could be vaguely useful as James Loney's platoon partner at first, but he merits no bigger role than that.

Brewers

The Mets' outfield could use Adam Dunn. ( / Getty Images)

Doug Melvin has already added CC Sabathia and Ray Durham to the fold, so his work is mostly done. That said, the Brewers could use additional middle relief, particularly from the right side.

Twins

It's not the Twins' historical nature to be buyers at the deadline, but they desperately need an upgrade at third base. This season, Minnesota third sackers have a cumulative batting line of .279 AVG/.312 OBP/.383 SLG, and that's just not acceptable for a corner defender in today's game. A great addition would be Adrian Beltre, who provides some pop and Gold Glove-caliber defense. Plus, he'd help the Twins against left-handed pitching, which has been another shortcoming.

Mets

The Mets need a corner outfielder in the worst way (actually, they need Barry Bonds in the worst way, but that's another topic). Met left fielders have been awful this season, and the in-house solutions are problematic. Do the Mets really want to bank on Fernando Tatis' dubious ability to continue hitting? Or on 19-year-old Fernando Martinez's ability to hit major-league pitching right now? Heck, even injured right fielder Ryan Church isn't a sure thing because of his post-concussion issues. On this front, Omar Minaya needs to make a splash, and that means nabbing someone like Giles, Dunn, Matt Holliday or Jason Bay.

Yankees

As the injuries mount, so does the wish list. Presently, the Yanks have Chien-ming Wang, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and Ian Kennedy all on the DL. Matsui and Posada, in fact, could be lost for the balance of the season. As such, the Yankees certainly need another bat, and that's the case even after the return of Johnny Damon. The same names that figure to appeal to the Mets should appeal to the Yankees.

Phillies

The Phils recently added Joe Blanton to the fold, but they could still use help at the back of the rotation. Brett Myers has been recalled from the minors, but obviously he's something less than a known quantity at this point. Failing the addition of a starter, a second lefty out of the pen makes sense. Like maybe Brian Fuentes or Damaso Marte.

Cardinals

Although the Cardinals could use an adequate offensive shortstop, the real need is pitching. Consider the problems ... Mark Mulder is back on the DL, Chris Carpenter is coming off a rough rehab outing, and Adam Wainwright won't be back until next month. Oh, and the St. Louis bullpen leads the majors in blown saves, and ranks sixth in the 16-team NL in relief pitches thrown. So effectiveness and perhaps fatigue are both concerns going forward. What the Cardinals really need is an elite, shutdown closer (Huston Street?), but those are hard to come by. If nothing else, they could use another right-handed arm in the pen.

Rays

Left fielder Carl Crawford this season is "hitting" .235 AVG/.272 OBP/.328 SLG against left-handed pitching, which simply won't do. So the Rays badly need a right-handed platoon partner for Crawford. Fortunately for them, it's not hard to find corner outfielders who crush lefties, and they've got plenty of minor-league depth from which to deal.