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The Times’ MLB power rankings

Kansas City's Kendrys Morales is called safe at home plate as Toronto catcher Russell Martin shows the ball to home plate umpire Angel Hernandez at Rogers Centre on Friday.

Kansas City’s Kendrys Morales is called safe at home plate as Toronto catcher Russell Martin shows the ball to home plate umpire Angel Hernandez at Rogers Centre on Friday.

(Tom Szczerbowski / AFP / Getty Images)
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Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals didn’t make any huge deadline deals. The Astros must have changed their passwords. (1)

2. KANSAS CITY: Raise your hand if you had Kendrys Morales making the most acrobatic slide into home plate of the year. (2)

3. PITTSBURGH: Tough break for A.J. Burnett, placed on the disabled list late in what he said is his last season. (3)

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4. DODGERS: Their total payroll is higher than the gross domestic product of Kiribati. (5)

5. N.Y. YANKEES: The Yankees, meanwhile, are suddenly frugal. To be fair, rent in New York is pretty steep. (8)

6. SAN FRANCISCO: Madison Bumgarner nearly started a brawl after a hitter flipped his bat… after a pop out. (7)

7. WASHINGTON: Bryce Harper got ejected in the 11th inning of an important divisional game. Clown move, bro. (6)

8. HOUSTON: The Astros improved at the deadline without sacrificing their farm system. (9)

9. ANGELS: The Angels couldn’t improve much at the deadline because they’d already sacrificed their farm system. (4)

10. N.Y. METS: Wilmer Flores, who sobbed when he thought he’d been traded, rewarded the Mets’ loyalty with a walk-off. (12)

11. TORONTO: The Blue Jays are selling out for this season. Next step: actually making the postseason. (13)

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12. CHICAGO CUBS: The Cubs’ record would lead the National League East. They’re in third in the Central. (11)

13. BALTIMORE: The Orioles averaged only 3.7 runs per game in July. (20)

14. MINNESOTA: Phil Hughes said he’d try to break news of a trade on deadline day. He was unsuccessful. (10)

15. TEXAS: The Rangers’ rotation should be formidable next year with Cole Hamels and the return of Yu Darvish. (16)

16. TAMPA BAY: The Rays don’t crack the top 20 in runs, hits, home runs, average, on-base percentage or slugging. (14)

17. SAN DIEGO: The Padres think they can still make the postseason and have suddenly found a spark. (17)

18. ARIZONA: Welington ¿Castillo had seven home runs all season — then he hit four in three games. (25)

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19. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Can someone tell the Sox, silent at the deadline again, that¿ trading is allowed? (19)

20. CLEVELAND: Sports Illustrated predicted on the cover the Indians would win the World Series. Hindsight is 20-20. (18)

21. DETROIT: The Tigers, sellers despite being 3 1/2 games back of the wild card, should change their logo to a white flag. (15)

22. ATLANTA: The Braves, the third-youngest team in the league, are well stocked for the future. (22)

23. CINCINNATI: Well, the Reds will always have the Home Run Derby. (21)

24. SEATTLE: Remember when this team was the favorite in the American League West? (23)

26. MILWAUKEE: Will ¿Francisco Rodriguez be a waiver trade candidate? (24)

25. BOSTON: General Manager Ben Cherington said fixing the roster “won’t be easy.” (26)

27. MIAMI: Death, taxes and Marlins salary dumps. (27)

28. OAKLAND: From Aug. 1 last year to Aug. 1 this year, the¿ Athletics were 25 games under .500. (28)

29. COLORADO: After years of speculation Troy Tulowitzki was finally traded. But was the¿ return big enough? (29)

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30. PHILADELPHIA: Cole Hamels thanked Philadelphia in a newspaper ad. You’d be grateful if you left the Phillies too. (30)

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