The trade deadline isn’t just about figuring out who needs what. It’s also a matter of who needs what the most.That’s why we have our Urgency Index. Every few weeks from now until the Aug. 3 trade deadline, we’ll break down not only what certain teams need at the deadline, but rank how badly they need them — looking at how the teams are performing in the moment and how likely that is to change going forward.This week, we’ve got Tim Britton on bats, Eno Sarris on starting pitchers and Johnny Flores Jr. on relievers.Bats1. San Diego PadresThe Padres rank last in the majors in runs per game, and that lackluster offense is actively undermining an all-world bullpen that ranks as one of the best units in baseball. The problem is deciding where a new bat would fit for San Diego because the areas that require the most improvement are currently manned by the team’s stars. You’re not acquiring a player to displace Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, or Fernando Tatis Jr., even though all three carry an OPS below league average.Ramón Laureano’s likely season-ending hip surgery, combined with Tatis’ versatility and the uncertainty in the afetrmath of Jake Cronenworth’s concussion, does open the door to add an outfielder to the mix.2. Philadelphia PhilliesWe’d probably have the Phillies on the list and targeting a corner outfielder, even if Adolis García were healthy. García’s OPS is .599 on the season, and it will remain that way now that he’s likely done for the year with a shoulder injury. Philadelphia has already made a stopgap move to replace García in bringing in Derek Hill from the White Sox to at least play against lefties.A right-field platoon might pass muster — if so many of the Phillies’ established hitters weren’t also having down years. Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and JT Realmuto are all going through it, and they’re less likely to be replaced at the deadline. So buffering right field in a real way takes on greater importance for a Phillies team whose window is sliding downward.3. Cleveland GuardiansThe year is 2035. Projected for a fourth-place finish in the American League Central, the Guardians enter the summer near or in first place. Stephen Vogt is going to win Manager of the Year. Pundits evaluate the team, roll their eyes, and say with exasperation, “That team really needs an outfielder.”The situation is not as dire as it has been in recent years, when Cleveland has found ways to overcome it and both make and advance in the postseason. But despite a really nice rookie season for Chase DeLauter and some solid work by Angel Martínez, the Guards’ outfield is still below league average offensively, and they’re projected to be the sport’s lowest-scoring offense going forward, in part, because of recent injuries to DeLauter and José Ramírez.4. Texas RangersIt’s 2026, and the Rangers are still waiting on the Evan Carter they saw during their championship run in 2023. Carter and Wyatt Langford haven’t been as solid as they were last season, meaning an outfield that added Brandon Nimmo still ranks toward the bottom in the league in production. (Carter’s out with an oblique strain right now, though the thinking is he’ll be back relatively soon.)The Rangers are still waiting for the Evan Carter that posted a .917 OPS in the 2023 postseason to arrive. (Harry How / Getty Images)More broadly, it’s 2026 and the Rangers are still waiting on any semblance of that 2023 offense to bring them back to the postseason. Texas has ranked in the bottom third of the league in offense three years running.5. Arizona DiamondbacksJust a couple years removed from owning the sport’s best offense, Arizona ranks 30th in baseball in production at first base, 29th in center field, 27th at DH and 25th in left field. (Corbin Carroll, to his great detriment, can only play one outfield position at a time.) And so a team right in the National League wild-card picture has several avenues to explore for improvement.Honorable mentions: Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners