The 2020 MLB regular season is le s than four weeks old and yet the trade deadline is le s than two weeks away. The Aug. 31 deadline is right around the corner and teams don't have much more time to evaluate their roster, determine their trade deadline approach, and pursue upgrades. We've already reached trade deadline crunch time. This year's trade deadline will be unusual for many reasons. Not only do teams have le s time to evaluate their roster (and evaluate trade targets), but so many more teams are in the race thanks to the expanded postseason. You can count on one hand the number of teams more than three games out of a postseason spot right now.Buyers figure to outnumber sellers at the deadline but who really knows? Money is expected to be tight following the COVID-19 pandemic and rentals may be le s desirable given the po sibility the season (or an individual team) is shut down at some point in September. No one wants to give up a prospect(s) for a rental only to have the season wiped out. Here are a few things to know as we head into 2020 trade deadline season: The trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31. Fred Lynn Jersey Waiver trades after that date are not allowed.Players must be in the organization at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 15 to be eligible for the postseason roster.Only players included in a team's 60-man player pool are eligible to be Matt Barnes Jersey traded this year.Teams can get around the third point with players to be named later. If a trade partner wants a player not included in your 60-man player pool, you can use a player to be named as a placeholder. Make the trade now, then, once the season ends and everyone is eligible to be traded, that player is named. was dealt for a player to be named earlier this month. There is no getting around the first and second points. The Aug. 31 trade deadline is a hard deadline -- eliminated August and September waiver trades last year and they were not brought back this year -- and any player acquired after the trade deadline (via waivers or free agency) must be in the organization by Sept. 15 to be eligible for the postseason. No exceptions. . Now let's take a moment to examine each and attempt to discern their trade deadline approach. Are they a buyer or seller? Heck, some teams may do both. Here's a look at each club with the trade deadline le s than two weeks away. Sportsline postseason odds:52.7 percent Buyer or seller? Buyer and sellerThe started David Ortiz Jersey the season very poorly and they've done a nice job digging out of that hole, but, as their postseason odds suggest, they still have a ways to go. Their impending free agents include lefties and -- -- and role players and . A year ago Ray was a significant trade chip. Now his value is way down and he's unlikely to receive a qualifying offer after the season. Arizona may take whatever they can get for him at the deadline and look to replace him with a non-rental who can help them next year and beyond. A lower scale version of last year's "trade and add " sequence, basically. This unusual season has been, well, unusual for the D-Backs. I don't expect it to alter their trade deadline approach much. They'll march forward with the big picture in mind. Sportsline postseason odds:85.0 percent Buyer or seller? Buyer The rotation is in shambles. hurt and done for the season. is hurt and could return in September. is so compromised he went unclaimed on waivers. The have a powerhouse offense and a clear need in the rotation. History tells us GM Alex Anthopoulos will be aggre sive at the deadline -- he added and in deadline deals while with Toronto, and last year he imported Shane Greene, , , and others -- and there's no reason to believe this year will be any different. The Braves and matched up last year for the Melancon trade. Is there a deal to be made this year? The money would be an obstacle (Cueto is owed $21 million in 2021) but it's a potential fit. Sportsline postseason odds:36.2 percent Buyer or seller?Seller The are a surprise contender early this season though I expect GM Mike Elias Joe Kelly Jersey to stay the course with the rebuild rather than give up young players or prospects for immediate MLB help. He already traded Bleier last month and it feels like only a matter of time until is dealt as well. is healthy and has pitched well in the early going. With the pitching market unsettled, Cobb may be one of the best available starters, and Elias could jump on the opportunity to move him. Rentals like , , and won't be off-limits. Maybe not or either. I wouldn't rule out the O's pursuing a young player who can help in 2021 and beyond. Those are hard to come by though. Seller until proven otherwise. Sportsline postseason odds: 9.1 percent Buyer or seller?Seller Woof. What a disaster this season has been for the Red Sox. At this point, there is no amount of buying that can quickly repair a pitching staff that owns by far the worst ERA in baseball. The sell-off started with the trade in February and will continue at the deadline with impending free agents like Jr., , , , and . Hard to see a reason for Boston to keep them at this point. The deadline Jimmie Foxx Jersey x-factor: J.D. Martinez. He's owed a lot of money ($19.375 million each in 2021 and 2022) and he can opt out after this season, though that seems unlikely with the free agent market expected to be depre sed. Martinez has been just OK this year. If a team still views him as a difference-maker and he's available in a salary dump, maybe a trade happens. Bradley, Moreland, Perez, Pillar, and especially Workman are prime trade deadline fodder though. Sportsline postseason odds: 97.1 percent Buyer or seller?Buyer Coming into the season it wasn't hard to see scenarios in which the crashed and sold at the deadline, or started hot and were aggre sive buyers. They're a clear buyer now and the bullpen figures to be the No. 1 priority. I wouldn't expect the Cubbies to subtract from their MLB Hanley Ramirez Jersey roster though I do wonder whether there's a rebuilding team out there willing to roll the dice on , a former high draft pick and top prospect who's fallen out of favor and hasn't played much this year. Almora for a rental (or non-contender candidate) reliever could make sense. The and Orioles stand out as rebuilding teams with a need in the outfield and bullpen arms to peddle. Either way, expect the Cubs to go hard after relievers at the deadline. and the bullpen is a clear weakne s. Sportsline postseason odds:60.3 percent Buyer or seller?Buyer It has been an uneven start to the season for the but they didn't s