Kuzul

There is still plenty of baseball left to play. With the exception of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, every division is more or less up for grabs.

But the fate of teams’ pursuit of the playoffs and World Series can sometimes depend on the performance of key players. For instance, if A.J. Burnett, who has sported a 2.73 ERA (versus park-adjusted 130 ERA+) to date, were to pitch poorly in the playoffs, his regular-season triumphs would all be for null.

Below are five players who must prove they’re clutch in the 2013 pennant races.

All statistics (through July 8) sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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Even with all the advanced statistics, it’s still sometimes difficult to truly project how a player will perform in the future. Teams often roll the dice with young and veteran players alike, signing them to lengthy extensions and free-agent contracts in the hope that their past performances will continue.

But while some contracts do work out for the better, many do not. Whether caused by freak injury or puzzling ineffectiveness, teams are often left with players performing at a fraction of their big salaries.

In the case of Albert Pujols, for instance, the Los Angeles Angels are on the hook for another eight seasons of the declining hitter. If a 33-year-old Pujols can’t pass the muster, it’s unlikely the 41-year-old version (the last year of his contract) will either.

Below are the worst contracts in baseball, position by position.

All statistics (through August 4) sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com.

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With the July 31 trade deadline looming, less than two weeks remain for teams looking to make a non-waiver deal.

The deadline represents an integral period of time for both contending and rebuilding organizations. Contenders, like the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, must decide if this year is theirs and sacrifice a bit of the future to improve the present.

On the flip side, a team like the New York Mets would have to juggle an already-livid fanbase if they entertained trading homegrown closer Bobby Parnell, for instance. While a big return for Parnell would help fill gaping voids for 2014 and beyond, it’s never a popular decision to throw in the towel—especially in New York.

Regardless of a team’s direction, the strategy must be a resolute one: Failure simply isn’t an option.

Below are five MLB teams that can’t afford to fail at the trade deadline this year.

All statistics sourced (through July 18, 2013) from Baseball-Reference.com.

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