Baseball's July 31 Trade Deadline Approaches

As someone who has taken more of an interest than I have in the past in Major League Baseball, especially regarding my favorite teams Tampa Bay and Miami, it is disturbing to arrive at this point a little more than two thirds through the regular season as the July 31 trading deadline approaches and many teams will dramatically alter their rosters, largely depending on where they are in the standings.  Those teams who feel that they are still in reasonable contention for the post-season this year will be looking to add some star talent to their lineups to bolster their prospects.  And exactly where do they expect to find that star talent? Nowhere other than from the teams that don't entertain much hope of reaching the post-season.  This brings it back to Tampa Bay and Miami.  Both teams are slightly under .500 and, while each is capable of reaching the playoffs, they are currently relatively low in the standings.  And if either loses a couple more games before the trading deadline, their management may decide to trade away players that I have come to follow and identify with the teams.  Tops among these stars is Tampa Bay's Cy Young Award-winning starting pitcher David Price.  But he isn't the only one who could go.  I don't think it is wise of franchises like the Rays and Marlins to invest so much time and energy publicizing their players to the fans just to deal them away with still around fifty games to go.  It conveys the impression that they have given up on their team for the season...so why shouldn't their fans as well??!!