The Seattle Mariners exit the All-Star break holding the second wild card and in a prime position to add to their roster as the trade deadline approaches.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto answered questions on a range of topics that included Cal Raleigh, the MLB trade deadline and more.

Rays in holding pattern on deadline plans. The Rays will enter the second half a game and a half behind the Mariners for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League.

With the All-Star break now in the rearview, the next major item on this season's MLB calendar is the trade deadline, and the coming days will go a long way toward deciding where teams on the fence between buying and selling ultimately land.

All told, 16 teams — or more than half the league — own at least a 20 percent chance of making the postseason. This time last year, eventual playoff teams had odds of 43.9 percent (Mets), 39.5 percent (Padres) and 7.6 percent (Tigers). The Twins were at 82.7 percent. Sorry to remind you, Minnesota.

After winning the World Series in 2008, and getting back to there the next season, former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro traded for Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Hunter Pence, signed Cliff Lee as a free agent to go along with a star-studded lineup.

With Major League Baseball's trade deadline less than two weeks away, the rumor mill is now in full operation. One name in particular seems popular among contenders: Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller,

Could the Detroit Tigers bolster their lineup with the addition of Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna?