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Five MLB teams that need to make a trade deadline move

Jorge L. Ortiz
USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs threw down the gauntlet with their acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, daring anybody to stand in the way of their first World Series title since 1908.

Chris Archer is not 'untouchable.'

And while teams are fond of saying they only focus on what they can control, the rest of the contenders now know how high the bar has been set as they pursue their own championship aspirations. The first step in that road is reaching the playoffs, and even clubs currently in first place may need some help to secure a spot.

Here are five teams that need to make a move:

Acquiring Aroldis Chapman gives Cubs a championship look

Texas Rangers 

The Houston Astros are nipping at their heels, having sliced 6½ games from what was a 10-game margin in less than four weeks. Now Texas is losing Prince Fielder for the rest of the season due to a neck ailment that requires surgery.

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An even bigger concern for the Rangers might be a rotation that has delivered just four quality starts in the last 22 games. No wonder, then, the Rangers have been linked to any number of starting pitchers on the trade market, from Chris Archer to Jeremy Hellickson to Vincent Velazquez. Texas desperately needs a reliable arm behind Cole Hamels, especially considering the fits-and-starts nature of Yu Darvish’s return from Tommy John elbow surgery so far.

General manager Jon Daniels has expressed a strong preference for a controllable pitcher, not just a two-month rental, but is willing to consider all options.

Daniels may also want to explore upgrading at catcher, where Texas has been relying on the tandem of Robinson Chirinos and Bobby Wilson. The highly available Jonathan Lucroy would be a nice improvement, and the Rangers have the kind of young talent in the likes of Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo that could prompt the Milwaukee Brewers to part with their All-Star catcher.

Baltimore Orioles  

The Orioles have won five in a row to remain atop the American League East, with the starters allowing a combined five earned runs during the streak as Vance Worley and Dylan Bundy contributed strong outings after moving over from the bullpen.

That doesn’t figure to last, judging by the collective ERA of 4.89 compiled this season by Baltimore starters, with only Chris Tillman winning more than five games. A steady veteran such as Rich Hill, provided he’s over his blister issues, could go a long ways toward helping the offensively potent Orioles maintain some separation from their challengers.

Chris Sale to the Dodgers and other MLB deadline trades that should happen

San Francisco Giants

For all their offensive woes and their starters’ proclivity for yielding home runs of late – 16 gopher balls in a 1-8 beginning to the second half of the season – the Giants are most concerned about the bullpen. That’s not surprising, given that San Francisco’s 17 blown saves are tied for the highest total in the National League.

Closer Santiago Casilla, who’s 21-for-26 in save chances, seems likely to get shifted to the eighth inning if the NL West-leading Giants can swing a deal for the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jeanmar Gomez or the Brewers’ Jeremy Jeffress. Neither one is in Chapman’s league, but they would come at a more reasonable price.

Miami Marlins

The rumors linking them to Hellickson won’t die, for good reason. The Phillies right-hander has certainly impressed the Marlins in person, holding them to six hits and one run over 14 innings in his two starts since the All-Star break and going 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four outings against them this season.

Jeremy Hellickson has been linked to several teams.

Miami is in the thick of the wild-card race but lacks proven starters behind Jose Fernandez and just lost Wei-Yin Chen to an elbow injury. Hellickson could slide right in as his replacement, but there are several other options on the market, including the likes of Archer, Hill, Matt Moore, Andrew Cashner, Edinson Volquez and Hector Santiago.

White Sox

The three recent walkoff wins have breathed life into the White Sox’s chances of staying in the race, but realistically, it may be time to explore what they can command for top starters Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. Sale’s comments after his jersey-demolition fiasco – calling out manager Robin Ventura and questioning the club’s commitment to winning – are a sign he’d rather be elsewhere.

The White Sox’s middling farm system could get a major influx of talent in exchange for Sale, who is enjoying another Cy Young Award-caliber season and is under team control through 2019, with an average salary of $12.7 million over the next three seasons. There are reports the Los Angeles Dodgers could make No. 1 prospect Julio Urias available in a package for Sale, this market’s top game-changer.

GALLERY: MLB TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER

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