At the deadline... you are either a buyer or a seller. Anything else is standing still and I don't care much for standing still. You have to get serious about fixing the offense right now in order to have the proper information for the trade deadline.
Like always I recommend flat out honest competition for playing time. It's time to stop waiting for some of these players to be better.
For the Next 33 days... Assuming health... the 13 position players look like this.
The OF is where the major pain point is... The quickest way to fix the OF is removal of the major pain points.
C - Jeffers/Vazquez
1B/3B - Lewis/Julien/Solano
2B/SS - Correa/Polanco/Farmer
OF - Kirilloff, Wallner, Taylor, Castro
DH - Buxton
These players compete against each other for the most playing time. Plenty of playing time available for all who are earning it. I don't care how much money they make they compete against each other.
If Polanco is injured for example, Larnach can be called up by sliding Castro into 2B mix or Julien into the 2B mix with Kirilloff moving back to the 1B mix. If you want to bring Miranda back... you can by moving Lewis into the OF mix. There is enough flexibility here to let your best bats play and help you find your best bats.
Yep Kepler is gone and so is Gallo. If you can trade them do it immediately otherwise DFA. WE all have 3 years worth of data that says who they are right now is who they have been. They didn't get that shift change rule bounce we thought they might. Move on.
If not in contention after 33 days... All expiring contracts are moved. All of them.
If in contention... look for offense... don't go nuts and sell the farm for a Goldschmidt. Look for the solid but not spectacular hitter. They can be had at a much cheaper price... I am looking primarily for someone who can play 1B... more bang for your buck.