With the second half of the season set to begin on Friday and the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline fast approaching, Major League clubs have some important decisions to make as they evaluate their teams heading out of the All-Star break.
Now that the Midsummer Classic is in the books and the season is about to enter its stretch run, MLB.com previews the second half for all 30 teams and what they might do at the Trade Deadline to load up for a postseason run or build for the future. Clubs are listed alphabetically by division.
• Up-to-the-minute standings
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: President of baseball operations Mark Shapiro has all but officially ruled out the Blue Jays embarking on a full-blown rebuild, but some changes to an aging roster should still be expected in the weeks leading up to the Trade Deadline. Toronto is expected to explore the market for its pending free agents, while possibly looking to add players with multiple years of control. More >

Orioles: The Orioles are still in postseason contention, but if they're going to try to make a run, they're going to have to beef up their rotation and add a starter. If not, perhaps they will trade some of their relief pitching (closer Zach Britton would bring back a nice haul from a contender), in hopes of adding to their farm system. More >
Red Sox: The Red Sox are in the thick of the postseason race, which should make for a busy next couple of weeks for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski as he decides which tweaks are necessary to put the franchise in the best position to make a World Series run. Dombrowski's focus will likely be on the offense -- particularly third base. More >
• Feinsand: Tight standings keep Deadline unpredictable
Rays: In a change from last season, the Rays look like buyers as the Trade Deadline approaches. Back-end bullpen help, a left-handed specialist and a bat off the bench are needs. But will the team simply answer those needs from within the organization? Or will it shop outside the organization? More >

Yankees: While the pitching staff remains a relative weakness, general manager Brian Cashman jumped at the chance to bolster his depth at first base shortly before the start of the second half, acquiring 26-year-old Triple-A first baseman Garrett Cooper from Milwaukee for lefty reliever Tyler Webb. Cashman said that he sees this year's roster as at least an American League Wild Card contender if everything breaks right, so the focus is likely to be on getting to a postseason series while not mortgaging the club's chances in 2018 and '19. More >
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AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Indians: It's World Series or bust again for the Indians, who have not won it all since 1948. The biggest need for the Tribe appears to be starting pitching help. One fit would seem to be A's righty Sonny Gray, and Cleveland and Oakland have swung three deals in the past three years combined. More >

Royals: General manager Dayton Moore has indicated he will evaluate his team's needs and look for ways to improve a team that appears ready to compete for another postseason appearance. More >
Tigers:Justin Verlander believes the team can turn its season around in the second half, but the Tigers' front office may consider a potential rebuild instead. More >
Twins: Minnesota finds itself in an interesting position heading into the Deadline, as the club was expected to be a seller but has played well enough to remain in contention for the AL Central crown or one of the two AL Wild Card spots. More >

White Sox: Even after landing a quartet of prospects from the Cubs for lefty Jose Quintana, general manager Rick Hahn will continue to listen to offers for pretty much everyone and anyone on his roster. Meanwhile, top prospect Yoan Moncada could reach the Majors early in the second half. More >
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels: Coming out of the All-Star break, the Angels enter what will likely be a season-defining stretch for the club. Whether they emerge as buyers or sellers at the Deadline will hinge entirely on the club's ability to keep itself in the Wild Card mix over the next 2 1/2 weeks. Helping matters: Superstar outfielder Michael Trout is expected back on Friday. More >
Astros: The Astros have their sights set on a World Series title, and the club could use a couple more arms for the postseason. The Astros have the prospects to make a deal, and they are expecting ace Dallas Keuchel back at the end of July. More >

Athletics: The A's aren't done turning over their roster, so they will likely be busy heading into the Trade Deadline. Oakland appears to be heading toward a youth movement that will further shape a seemingly promising future. More >
Mariners: General manager Jerry Dipoto has made it clear he's looking to acquire pitching, if possible, to bolster his team both this year and beyond. The Mariners are looking to snap the longest postseason drought in the Majors, having gone 15 years without an appearance. More >
Rangers: The Rangers are in Trade Deadline limbo as they begin the second half of the season. Texas still has postseason aspirations, and a 10-game road trip to open the second half may determine the club's fate. More >

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves: Though the Braves want to remain competitive in the second half, they have some internal pieces that would allow them to deal expendable veterans without conceding this season. That said, it remains to be seen what kind of interest left-handed starter Jaime Garcia and right-handed reliever Jim Johnson might draw after struggling over the past couple of weeks. More >
Marlins: Brace for anything when it comes to the Marlins as the Deadline approaches. The front office is leaning toward making trades and receiving future assets for some players if the club falls farther out of contention by the end of July. It's just a matter of being given the green light, but when that might come is anyone's guess. More >
Mets: The next 2 1/2 weeks could rank among the most important in recent club history. Most likely, the Mets will deal some veterans, call up some prospects and start looking toward next season -- their window to compete for a championship, they believe, still open in 2018. More >
Nationals: The bullpen is an area the Nats have been looking to address since the offseason, but they were unsuccessful last winter in acquiring the big-name closer they desired. Coming up short this time around could be the difference in how successful the club is in the postseason. More >

Phillies: The second half is all about the young players on the 25-man roster and prospects in Triple-A. The Phillies are playing for 2019 and beyond, which is why they are expected to trade just about every veteran in line to become a free agent following the season. More >
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers: The clock is ticking toward the Brewers' fascinating decision. With the club's rebuild progressing ahead of schedule, general manager David Stearns must decide whether it is already time to tap the team's restocked farm system in order to add Major League talent at the Deadline. More >

Cardinals: Though a postseason spot is still within reach, the Cardinals will have a potentially more complicated approach leading up to the Trade Deadline and are likely to fall somewhere in the middle. They'll look for ways to flip short-term assets into long-term ones and to minimize the effect on the farm system, while seeking players who can contribute beyond 2017. More >
Cubs: Hoping to catch the division-leading Brewers in the second half, the Cubs strengthened their rotation by acquiring the highly sought-after Quintana the day before the start of the second half. Beyond the veteran left-hander, however, both Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and manager Joe Maddon stressed that the answer to getting the team on a good roll is better performances by the current roster. More >

Pirates: The opening stretch of the second half is key for the Pirates. With trade rumors swirling around Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole, the Pirates will look to capitalize on their strong finish to the first half and force their way back into the NL Central picture. More >
Reds: The Reds are a team to watch leading up to the Deadline. The club will need a hot start to the second half to avoid being a seller. The most obvious trade chip the Reds have is All-Star shortstop Zack Cozart, who can be a free agent after the season. More >

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs: With his team firmly in the hunt for a postseason berth, general manager Mike Hazen has been talking to clubs about possible deals for weeks. As Arizona looks to hold onto the top NL Wild Card spot, the team's most pressing need looks to be a right-handed power outfield bat. More >
Dodgers: With a World Series title their motivation, the Dodgers will look to fortify their pitching staff without decimating the farm system at the Deadline. The club has a favorable schedule, too, with 30 of its first 36 games in the second half against teams with losing records. More >

Giants: Unaccustomed to operating in anything but "win-now" mode, the Giants will likely downshift into a "win-soon" strategy as the Deadline approaches. Starting pitchers Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore are likely to draw trade interest, with the Giants thought to be seeking a lively bat in return. More >
Padres: Expect general manager A.J. Preller to be busy ahead of the Trade Deadline again this season. The trade chips aren't quite as obvious as they were a year ago, but with the Padres out of contention, they're once again in the business of acquiring young talent -- so long as it comes at the right price. More >

Rockies: The Rockies will be focused on improving their bullpen leading up to the Deadline. Barring a collapse in the second half, Colorado is most likely battling for home-field advantage against the D-backs in the NL Wild Card Game. More >