MLB: Four teams with a big decision to make at the trade deadline

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KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 15: A detailed view of baseballs in a basket on the field during batting practice prior to Game Four of the American League Championship Series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on October 15, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

With the trade deadline less than a week away, the time is now for teams to decide if they should go for gold or make a selfless move for the future. That decision is particularly difficult for four MLB teams.

The decision to expand the MLB playoffs from one wild-card entry per league to two wild-card entries per league was one of both genius and cruelty. While the change certainly makes for an exciting watch, it must drive general managers crazy. Rebuild? Stay Put? Add on? Buy huge? Buy small? These are questions way too many front offices are currently pondering. Worst of all, teams must now draw an imaginary line pertaining to being too far from playoff contention, or still within reach.

The current wild-card standings place six American League teams within five games of the two wild-card leaders. On the other hand, only the Chicago Cubs are within shouting distance in the National League wild-card race. However, the true NL entertainment lies in the Central division, where the Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, and Cardinals all have something to fight for.

Most of the teams in contention will survive no matter the outcome. But some teams are in a dire scenario. Deciding how aggressively or tentatively to chase contention is a great problem to have. Though, at some point, the decision has to be made…is competing for a shot at a one-game playoff worth forgoing an opportunistic rebuild? Four teams must answer that question.

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