MLB trade deadline: Five teams to watch as executives weigh in on wild scenarios

The snow – except in Colorado – has melted. The winter coats are being shoved into the back of the closets. Summer is around the corner, and it’s time for teams to start making honest assessments of themselves.

Nearly three months remain until Major League Baseball 's Aug. 3 trade deadline, but it’s no longer appropriate to say it’s still early. The season is 40 games old, with teams having completed nearly 25% of their schedule.

The phone calls have begun, letting the struggling teams know that plenty of operators are standing by, waiting for the time they’re ready to seriously engage in trades. In a survey of club executives and scouts, here are the five most intriguing teams to watch as we slowly head into trade deadline talks. New York Mets The Mets absolutely stink, and rival executives believe they have virtually no chance to turn it around.

But, hey, crazy things can happen in this game. The Mets had the best record in baseball last June, sitting with a 45-24 record and a 96% chance to make the playoffs until their historic collapse. The Cleveland Guardians were 15 ½ games back in July last year before a finishing kick greater than Golden Tempo to win the AL Central.