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Buy or sell? Trade target recommendations based on potential impact

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps I'm biased, but I'd wager that baseball has the most exciting trade deadline of any of the major sports. Although not every deadline is as actually jam-packed with excitement, top stars regularly move in baseball, with names such as Manny Machado, CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, David Price, Manny Ramirez and lots more moving to new teams for the homestretch.

Thanks to baseball's ending the August waiver trades, July 31 might be even more exciting than usual, given that the more ironclad early deadline creates more urgency. You can no longer pick up an extra starting pitcher or a fifth outfielder on a second trip to the trade buffet. This matters for contenders because with only six teams definitely out of the playoff hunt, not having a Plan B or even a Plan C might be the difference between October baseball and October golf.

Because Wednesday ought to look a bit like the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, let's give the likely or possible trade targets stock recommendations, based on the impact they could make on their new teams.