Every serious contender is likely to add pitching before the July 31 trade deadline, because every team could use a rotation or bullpen upgrade and there is likely to be a voluminous stock of arms available.
But the position player market is much more specialized, with a lot of contenders often bypassing an available star because they don't have a need at that particular spot. Which brings us to the very complicated circumstances surrounding the summer's best trade piece: Rockies shortstop Trevor Story.
He hasn't received the media attention of other shortstops, like the Cubs' Javier Baez or the Astros' Carlos Correa. But there is wide consensus among evaluators in the sport that Story is one of the game's best players, and he's headed for a huge payday in free agency next winter.
"I love me some Trevor Story," said one longtime scout. "Love everything about him -- his defense, his power, the way he plays. Everything."
During the offseason, former Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich informed interested teams that the Rockies' ownership would not approve a trade of Story. Rather, the organization's overriding hope was to keep Story and build around him, after trading Nolan Arenado (to the Cardinals, as it turned out). But there is no long-term deal in place with Story, and it's considered a fait accompli that at some point, interim GM Bill Schmidt will get the approval to move Story.
But where?
The options may be extremely limited, which is not to say that they won't get good prospect return for a coveted All-Star who could be difference-making in the second half and in the postseason.
But consider what baseball's front-runners already have:
The Dodgers have a shortstop -- Corey Seager.
The Braves have a shortstop -- Dansby Swanson.
The Phillies have Didi Gregorius, in the first year of a multiyear deal.
The Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts.
The Giants: Brandon Crawford, in the last year of his current deal.
The White Sox: Tim Anderson.
The Cardinals field Paul DeJong at shortstop and Arenado at third.
The Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Blue Jays: Bo Bichette.
The Nationals: Trea Turner.
The Mets: Francisco Lindor, a player in whom they just invested $341 million.
If the Astros remain in contention, they'd stick with Correa. If the Cubs continue to build on their recent success, they've got Baez.
If the Rays need infield help, they'd probably be more likely to call on superstar prospect Wander Franco -- and, on top of that, Story makes $17.5 million this season, which might put him out of the price range of teams like Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Oakland, small-market franchises historically reluctant to take on big money during the season.
When you go through this exercise team by team, one club stands out above all others as a possible suitor, having the most significant need while also having the ability to pay the hefty price: The New York Yankees.
Gleyber Torres is their shortstop, but he has had his struggles in the field over the past couple of years, and there is an assumption among rival executives that the Yankees will be willing to slide Torres to another spot someday soon -- maybe in 2022, maybe sooner if there is an alternative. Story would be an excellent upgrade, someone who is hitting .294 now, with a .368 on-base percentage and an adjusted OPS+ of 130.
The Yankees' lineup is very right-handed and Story, a right-handed hitter, wouldn't help with that problem. But nonetheless, Story would augment the roster.
One potential hurdle, beyond the Rockies' asking price in prospects: The Yankees' front office is apparently under orders from owner Hal Steinbrenner to stay beneath the $210 million luxury tax threshold. In order to land Story, Steinbrenner would either have to loosen the purse strings -- and now that there are fans in the stands and there is a growing sense of normalcy as more patrons are vaccinated, perhaps he'd give the OK -- or the Yankees would have to ask the Rockies to pay Story's salary in return for greater prospect return. Given the massive rebuilding project in front of the Rockies, it should be a slam dunk for ownership to give the OK to do that.
The Yankees aren't necessarily the only option. The Reds could use a shortstop. And some contender could acquire Story and temporarily move either him or an incumbent to third base, just as the Yankees slid Alex Rodriguez to third because of the presence of Derek Jeter. There is wide speculation that the Rangers have their sights set on Story, a Texas native. Even out of contention, they could execute a trade-and-sign with Story.
Similarly, the Yankees might target Story this summer, believing that once they have him on board, they could coax him into a long-term deal, just as the Mets did with Francisco Lindor.
Another thing to remember: It behooves the Rockies to move sooner rather than later in what is a lost season. They'll get greater trade return for Story in late May or early June than if they wait until the end of July.
The Yankees might have the need above all others and the resources to make it happen.