Should Dodgers buy or sell at trade deadline?

Each week, The California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race. Here is this week’s edition, identifying which teams should be buy or sell with the Aug. 3 trade deadline less than a month away (records through Saturday morning):

1) Dodgers (58-31)

Buy … and sell? After all, the reigning two-time World Series champions are once again the best team in baseball. Assuming their starting rotation, which remains without Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, gets and stays healthy, they have virtually no needs. That doesn’t mean they won’t look for upgrades.

Like with all available star players, they’re all but certain to check in on Tarik Skubal if the Tigers look to move him. At the same time, the Dodgers have used the deadline in recent years to bolster their highly ranked farm system by selling off excess pieces, as well. That figures to be the playbook again this summer. (Last week: 1st)

2) Brewers (54-32)

Buy. And not out of the bargain bin. Once upon a time, CC Sabathia arrived at the deadline and keyed the Brewers’ magical 2008 second-half run. Maybe Skubal, or another top starter, could do the same for a Milwaukee team that remains on the Dodgers’ heels for the best record in the league. (Last week: 2nd)

3) Phillies (49-39)

Buy. And keep the momentum rolling. Thanks to their star-studded rotation, the Phillies have overcome their disastrous opening month and are on the verge of overtaking the slumping Braves for first place in the NL East. Now, they need to shore up a lineup that is woefully short on depth. (Last week: 5th)

4) Rays (52-33)

Buy. Like you mean it. In a mediocre American League, the door is open for the small-market Rays to make a deep postseason run. Their pitching staff ranks sixth in ERA. But their lineup lacks power, with the fifth-fewest home runs in MLB this year. The long ball is king in October. Tampa Bay could use more pop. (Last week: 6th)

5) Yankees (49-38)

Buy. And be patient. Priority No. 1, of course, is surviving until Aaron Judge, Max Fried and others come back from injuries — a challenge that was dauntingly underscored by their recent seven-game losing streak. But longer term, they could still use more help, especially at catcher. (Last week: 3rd)

6) Cubs (49-39)

Buy. Some more. The Cubs got an early start on trade season, acquiring David Peterson from the Mets last week. They’re also trending up again, winners of 11 out of 14. Now, they need to keep going, with further improvements to a banged-up rotation continuing to be the best place to look. (Last week: 8th)

7) Braves (51-35)

Buy. Before it’s too late. The good vibes are gone in Atlanta, with the Braves mired in a 6-14 slump over the last month that has sounded alarm bells about the direction of their season. It’ll help to get Ronald Acuña Jr. back from injury. But there are any number of holes — from the rotation to bullpen to lineup depth — that this recent stretch has shown could still need to be filled. (Last week: 4th)

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8) Cardinals (46-39)

Buy. Sort of. For as fun as this season has been in St. Louis, where the Cardinals maintain a wild-card position, this remains a young team just reemerging from a rebuild. One big question will be Dustin May, whose resurgent season has hit a snag in his last two outings (2 ⅔ combined innings, 11 total runs, with a comebacker off his ankle mixed in). He’s on an expiring contract and could fetch something on the trade market. How they handle him will be a barometer for their deadline plans. (Last week: 9th)

9) White Sox (45-42)

Buy. Sort of. Everything we wrote about the Cardinals above also applies to the White Sox, who are also competing ahead of schedule and don’t need to get out over their skis at the deadline. Trust the process. Wait for Munetaka Murakami to get healthy. And be OK with smaller additions where it makes sense. (Last week: 7th)

10) Marlins (47-42)

Buy. Sort of … again. Another team in a similar spot as the White Sox and Cardinals, the Marlins have catapulted themselves back into contention with a 20-6 run through June. Their version of May will be former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who has been the subject of trade rumors for years but has a team option for next year that might be worth exercising. (Last week: 15th)

11) Guardians (47-42)

Buy. For real. Long known as one of the most difficult teams to swing a trade with, it might be time for Cleveland to do what it takes to make a bigger splash. The AL is wide open. Their weak division has helped them survive José Ramírez’s injury. They can still be a real contender but need another real hitter in their lineup first. (Last week: 12th)

12) Mariners (45-44)

Buy. And hope the offense finally turns things around. The good news in Seattle is that they have a super rotation. Reports are they could use the deadline to build a super bullpen, too. But none of that will matter if their lineup can’t figure things out. An addition there would help. But any real revival will have to start with the stars — especially Cal Raleigh — they already have. (Last week: 10th)

13) Rangers (45-43)

Buy. But carefully. We still aren’t sold on the Rangers being a contender. But in the pitiful AL West, all it took was one six-game winning streak to jump into first place. Thus, Texas should look to add. But anything too drastic might turn out to be a waste. (Last week: 19th)

14) Pirates (44-45)

Buy. And show Paul Skenes you’re serious. Yes, we know Skenes isn’t having his typically dominant season. But what better way to reinforce faith with the reigning Cy Young winner than by giving him something to play for in the second half of this season? Upgrade the lineup. Bolster the bullpen. Don’t give up on a wild-card chase yet. (Last week: 13th)

15) Diamondbacks (43-44)

Sell. But not all the way. The Dbacks’ pitching situation has been a mess all season. Dreams of a stout Corbin Burnes-Merrill Kelly-Zac Gallen rotation have not come to fruition. So, take this year as a reset, stock up on more young talent and hope Burnes can return to health and be an impact arm in 2026. (Last week: 14th)

16) Padres (43-44)

Sell. And wait ‘til next year. We know this is not general manager A.J. Preller’s style. But the Padres’ slow decline in recent years has come into focus during a horrific seven-game losing streak. Thus, this might be the time for them to sell off some non-core pieces and try to at least rebuild prospect capital to position themselves for a return to contention next year, when they shouldn’t be as hamstrung financially now that their ownership situation is settled. (Last week: 11th)

17) Nationals (46-43)

Sell. And don’t mess up the bullpen again next year. As enticing as a push for the playoffs might seem, especially after winning five out of six, it feels like the other shoe is always waiting to drop in the bullpen. Maybe a couple more strong weeks will change our mind. But for now, keep the focus on the future. (Last week: 20th)

18) Blue Jays (42-46)

Buy. And bank on that October DNA still being there. The Blue Jays, after all, have shown they can make noise once they reach the playoffs. The deadline should give them a chance to fix their roster, from the rotation to the lineup, and provide some support while they wait for some of last year’s postseason heroes — first and foremost, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — to turn things around. (Last week: 16th)

19) Astros (43-47)

Buy. Because you don’t have much other choice. The Astros’ window might be closing. But they still have a championship core that, given the state of their division and league, is worth giving one more shot at an October run. Yordan Alvarez has been keeping the team afloat, at least by AL West standards. Add an arm and a bat and see where it gets you. (Last week: 18th)

20) Red Sox (38-48)

Buy. Because what other choice does Craig Breslow have? The Red Sox finally showed some fight by sweeping the Yankees last week. But even if they didn’t, trying to salvage this season might have still been the best way for their embattled GM to save his job. (Last week: 26th)

21) Twins (42-47)

Sell. Like you were always going to do. The Twins are within reach of the playoffs. But they still seem miles away from being a real contender and have one of the most intriguing trade pieces in Joe Ryan. (Last week: 21st)

22) Orioles (41-48)

Buy. And pray for late-season magic. The Orioles already went through their rebuild. And while this season has been a nightmare, there’s still enough talent on the roster to make it worth giving yourself a chance. (Last week: 22nd)

23) Athletics (41-47)

Sell. And keep building for the future. The young star talent is emerging. But the A’s rebuild is still moving as slowly as their stadium construction in Las Vegas. (Last week: 17th)

24) Tigers (38-50)

Sell. Begrudgingly. The most pivotal trade deadline team, thanks to Skubal, the Tigers still have the third-worst record in the AL. Cut your losses. Create a Skubal sweepstakes. And hope you didn’t cost yourself too big of a return by not moving him this winter. (Last week: 23rd)

25) Reds (40-47)

Sell. Whatever you can. The Reds don’t have much to dangle, but they aren’t going anywhere, either. So get what you can and see how the young core develops in 2027. (Last week: 24th)

26) Royals (35-53)

Sell. And save Bobby Witt Jr.’s prime. Even with the superstar shortstop vying for an MVP, it’s another lost season in Kansas City. They need to use this deadline to try to make sure that doesn’t happen again. (Last week: 25th)

27) Mets (36-52)

Sell. And hope David Stearns hasn’t lost it. Owner Steve Cohen told the New York Post that his once-wunderkind of an executive isn’t going anywhere. So see if Stearns can find value on the trade market and restructure the roster to bounce back next year. (Last week: 27th)

28) Giants (36-51)

Sell. And hope Buster Posey knows what he’s doing. Moving the big contracts of Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers or Willy Adames will be tough. But that’s the position Posey put himself in. He’ll have to show better feel at the deadline to try to fix this dumpster fire of a mess. (Last week: 28th)

29) Angels (36-53)

Sell. For real this time. Bringing in John Mozeliak was a good first step. Now, let him do what none of his predecessors under Arte Moreno were allowed to and initiate a true rebuild that has been long overdue. (Last week: 29th)

30) Rockies (36-53)

Sell. Whatever that means. The Rockies have been so bad, for so long, that they’ve rarely had big pieces to move at the deadline. That’s again the case this year. Their rebuild remains focused on internal development. But might as well look around and see what you can get. (Last week: 30th)

Award Tracker: National League Rookie of the Year

1) JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals (.261 average, 12 home runs, 35 RBIs, .758 OPS)

The Cardinals have found a franchise centerpiece in the 23-year-old Wetherholt. A well-rounded player who works counts and draws walks, Wetherholt is also a plus defender who has emerged as a Gold Glove candidate.

2) Sal Stewart, Reds (.257, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, .813 OPS)

Stewart is only the third rookie ever to reach the 60-RBI mark before the All-Star break. The others: Albert Pujols (2001) and Pete Alonso (2019).

3) TJ Rumfield, Rockies (.293, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, .860 OPS)

Rumfield was the NL Rookie of the Month in May and June. Acquired from the Yankees over the winter, the first baseman represents a major victory for Rockies baseball operations president Paul DePodesta.