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5 predictions for the MLB trade deadline

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The MLB trade deadline is just one week away, and with a market depressed in value and so many teams still on the playoff bubble, it's shaping up to be an unpredictable stretch of wheeling and dealing. Our editors took a shot at predicting what's in store for one of baseball’s most exciting weeks of the season:

Astros make a splash

Even after sending a boatload of young talent to Philadelphia for Ken Giles this winter - and notwithstanding, of course, all those highly touted kids that graduated to Houston over the last couple seasons - the Astros still boast a pretty impressive stable of minor leaguers, and though their 25-man roster is good enough to get them into the postseason, Jeff Luhnow will probably move some more prospect capital to ensure a division title and circumvent the coin toss that is the wild card. Jonathan Lucroy, maybe? Carlos Beltran? With Texas floundering, the Astros - who own the fourth-best run differential in the AL - will pounce. - Jonah Birenbaum

Rangers acquire starter from Rays

Having been in talks for the past several weeks, the Rangers and Rays will finally swing a deal as they match up too perfectly with one another not to. Texas general manager Jon Daniels is eager to add a starter with Derek Holland and Colby Lewis out another month, so acquiring at least one of Matt Moore or Jake Odorizzi should be a top priority. The Rangers are reluctant to part with either Jurickson Profar or Joey Gallo, but if Tampa Bay is willing to move Chris Archer, there could be a blockbuster in the works. The Rays have never had a problem developing pitching, though scoring runs continues to be the team's Achilles' heel. The Rangers have plenty of position players to make a deal work and the hard-charging Astros should supply enough pressure to make the Rangers desperate to deal. - Brandon Wile

Marlins land two starters

The Miami Marlins are rumored to be in the market for a starting pitcher, but it says here they won't stop there. With the club in the thick of the playoff race and offseason pickup Wei-Yin Chen sidelined with an elbow injury, expect the unpredictable Marlins front office to swing a pair of deals to bolster the rotation behind Jose Fernandez and Adam Conley. The Marlins have plenty of options to consider in the mid-to-backend starter market: they're believed to have interest in Jeremy Hellickson and Andrew Cashner, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if they're linked to everyone from Rich Hill to Jake Odorizzi in the coming days. - Dan Toman

Chris Sale will not be traded

Jersey-cutting gate put the Sale trade speculation into high gear over the weekend, with several reports surfacing in the immediate aftermath. But why would the White Sox trade him? With apologies to the excellent Jose Quintana, Sale's their one superstar right now, and on a team-friendly contract to boot. There may be a "king's ransom" on the table, but it doesn't appear to matter to the White Sox, who will be content to hold onto their big-ticket southpaw and keep trying to build around him instead of starting over. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

Orioles out-deal AL East rivals

After watching the Blue Jays own last July and Red Sox the winter (and earlier this month), the Orioles will make some major noise this week as they push toward trying to recapture their AL East crown. Though the club spent handsomely to keep Chris Davis in black and orange this past offseason, the Orioles have been notoriously timid recently when it comes to making major moves. That's not to say they'll go out and trade for Sonny Gray before the deadline, but don't be surprised to see the Orioles nab the outfielder (Melvin Upton, Jay Bruce) and/or pitcher (Andrew Cashner) the rival Blue Jays covet, while trying to keep pace with the trigger-happy Red Sox. - DT

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