The Yankees are floundering, the Phillies are rising, and the Mets are streaking.

Yet, they all seek the same basic needs from the same pool heading into this week’s famed MLB trade deadline Thursday at 6 p.m.

Come to think of it, most contending teams are racing against the clock with the Yankees, Phillies and Mets for three common links — an extra bat, a closer or setup man, and a reliable starter.

Over the next three days, the three aforementioned teams can see their seasons either potentially refueled, or gradually emptied down the stretch run over the final two months.

Usually, there is more hype than action at the trade deadline, but this one should be more active for all three teams.

Are you fastened in for what could be coming?

Here’s some possibilities ahead, as well as a look back at a former Tamaqua star.

Justin’s Justice ... In a recent Times News Lehighton Facebook poll, the question was presented on whether the Phillies should bring up IronPigs’ center fielder Justin Crawford at the trade deadline.

Well, 78 percent believe Crawford should be in the Phils’ outfield, and 22 percent believe he should finish the year in Allentown.

In his first 80 games, Crawford hit .326 with three homers and 31 RBIs along with 18 doubles and 31 stolen bases. He had an OBP of .409 and an OPS of .840.

Stay tuned to see if Crawford is moved for the division push.

Dombrowski’s Doldrums ... Many believe Phils’ director of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski needs to pull the trigger on a big deal or two this week after a mild winter that brought Max Kepler and Justin Romano, both of whom have not filled their anticipated roles.

There was some scuttlebutt that Dombrowski would try and pry loose Minnesota outfielder Bryan Buxton or Oakland counterpart Brent Rooker (21, 57, .272), but it appears neither wants to leave their respective current homes.

Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan (9, 36, .287, 11 steals) is on the radar of a number of teams as well. However, veteran Pirates outfielder Brian Reynolds, who is having a down year (10, 40, .231) may be an option that slips under the radar, but he is signed through 2030. If acquired, Kwan could possibly serve as the Phils’ leadoff hitter.

Move Across the Diamond? ... There has been some active chatter that the Phils will pursue Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who has a big bat (36, 87, .249), and likely would be a rental. The Cubs are reportedly in hot pursuit of him.

With that move, Alec Bohm — when he returns from his rib issue — would move across to play first and either Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber would make the move to left field to bump the struggling Kepler. There also is the increasing and intriguing Otto Kemp factor, as the rookie could have an opening.

However, Suarez isn’t known for his glove, and either Harper or Schwarber in left field isn’t the greatest alignment.

Close the Door ... Currently, the Phils have turned to Matt Strahm as their first option as their closer, and Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks will also fill the role.

Dombrowski needs to make a strong play for Oakland’s Mason Miller (1-2. 3.76, 20 saves), or Minnesota’s Jhoan Duran (5-4, 1.90, 16 saves), who both are very affordable and can be long-term solutions. The asking price for Duran would be higher, but it’s worth it.

If the Phils get Suarez, they may want to add closer Emmauel Clase, who is another highly coveted closer. Both Suarez and Clase would involve some coveted minor league pieces.

Dombrowski could also be looking at the Angels’ Kenley Jansen.

Metropolitan Messages ... The Mets also apparently have joined the Suarez chase, and owner Steve Cohen would provide the necessary funds. Suarez could solve a void left at third by Mark Vientos’ horrific season.

New York is looking into bringing back Luis Severino from the A’s to fill out the starting rotation and move Clay Holmes back to the bullpen. Holmes has pitched past five innings only twice this season, and his ERA is on the rise.

Kwan and Clase are also in the Mets’ mix, as they are after a center fielder who can hit, while Clase could be a set-up man or closer with Edwin Diaz.

The Bombers Have Been Grounded ... At the time of this writing, the Yankees sat 6.5 games behind the Blue Jays, with the Red Sox on their heels and the Rays right behind. They had a productive May with a 17-9 record and held a seven-game lead on May 28 after a mediocre April, during which they were 13-14.

Since June 1, the Yanks have played to a 22-26 record, and haven’t found their rhythm. Things certainly can get worse with Aaron Judge going on the injured list — likely for two weeks — with a flexor strain.

Besides Judge (.342), Paul Goldschmidt (.291) and Cody Bellinger (.284) were the only regulars hitting above .260. Giancarlo Stanton was at .270, but has only played in 27 games.

The Yanks did solve one major issue by acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, who has two years left on his contract.

Still, the Yanks were hitting .254 overall, but dipped to .248 since June 1.

Shortstop Anthony Volpe, who has been the New York local whipping boy, has hit .190 since June 1, and .173 since July 1. Yanks’ brass have kept him in the lineup, mainly due to not having a suitable replacement until they recently picked up ex-Met Amed Rosario, who should get some time.

Catcher Austin Wells, who was the league’s runner-up Rookie of the Year last season, is hitting .226 since June 1 in spite of his six homers and 23 RBIs.

On an upswing, Jazz Chisholm is hitting .302 since June 1, and appears to have settled in at second base. Despite his fielding problems in left field, Jasson Dominquez is batting .265 over the past two months.

It seems likely that the Yanks won’t go after another bat at the deadline, and instead stay with the current lineup. The only change likely will be the recall of outfielder Spencer Jones, who was tearing up Triple-A at Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. At last count, Jones was hitting .400 with 13 homers in 19 games.

If you have a free night, it’s worth taking a ride to Scranton to see the 6-7, 240-pound, left-handed hitting Jones, who can be the bookend to the 6-7, right-handed hitting Judge.

Add It to the Bill ... Yanks’ GM Brian Cashman stated the Yanks would be busy at the deadline.

Look for Cashman to add a starter and a bullpen arm — Clase will be on the list with the collapses of potential free agents Devin Williams and Luke Weaver.

The Yanks recently have been linked to a pair of starters in the Pirates Mitch Keller (4-10, 3.53) and the Padres Dylan Cease (3-10, 4.59), who will be a rental. Both of them are having off years and shouldn’t require much in return.

Follow That Blue Jay ... Arguably the hottest team has been the Blue Jays, who had a 17-4 record through their first 21 games this month. After Saturday’s game, Toronto had the majors’ best record (62-42), the first time since they won their first World Series in 1992. Last season, the Jays were 74-88 and a had a fifth-place finish.

Toronto also had 13 players over the majors’ average, hitting .262 as a team.

Vlad Guerrero, who the Mets and Yankees were salivating over with the thought of having him in their lineup via free agency, decided to stay in Toronto. He had 13 homers with 57 RBIs and a .291 average, and is among seven players in their lineup under the age of 30.

Veteran 35-year-old George Springer, who the Blue Jays signed as a free agent a few years ago, has slid into the DH role, and was batting .287 with 17 homers and 55 RBIs.

Their pitching staff has been a solid matured unit, headed by Chris Bassitt (11-8, 3.88), who is on course to match or better his career-best season in 2023 (16-8, 3.60). Forty-year-old Max Scherzer’s presence should help.

Ex-Phil Jeff Hoffman has a 6-3, 4.78 line with 24 saves out of the bullpen, and ex-Phil Spencer Turnbull is a spot starter. Ex-Yankee Chad Green can be a valuable long-inning provider.

The Blue Jays should benefit from their schedule, as the lone teams with winning records aside from their division they will face are the Dodgers, Rangers, Reds and Astros.

They have one series left with the Yankees (in New York Sept. 6-8), and have six games with the Rays that includes their final three games.

Unless they have a collapse or become riddled with injuries, Toronto may be on its way to its first divisional title since 2015 when it went 93-69. The Jays should easily pass that mark this season, as they would have to go just 22-36 to eclipse it.

Ex-Met Jose Reyes (.285) was at shortstop in 2015, and ex-Phil Ben Revere (.319) was in left field.

Scrapbook ... Each week, I’ll look back at a former standout from our area.

Casey Rother earned varsity letters in baseball at Tamaqua and helped lead the Blue Raiders to the PIAA District 11 Class 3 A title in his senior year of 2017. In that same season, Rother hit .472 with two homers, 20 RBIs, and 10 doubles.

Rother then further excelled at Lehigh University, as he became only one of two players in the Mountain Hawks’ program to be named First-Team All Patriot League three times.

He also is Lehigh’s all-time leader in home runs (32) and RBIs (168), second in hits (234) and fourth in at-bats (723) and doubles (47). He was a Third Team Collegiate Baseball All-American in 2022.

Rother saw limited action with Texarkana of the Texas Summer League in 2020, and played in 41 games and hit .308 with Mat-Su of the Alaska Summer League in 2021.

Rother is currently an assistant coach at Lehigh.

The Yankee Who Should Have Been a Phillie ... Over the years, the Phillies have made some notable trades, always highlighted by Steve Carlton in 1972.

Yet, in 1999, Andy Pettitte nearly became a Phillie. At the time, Pettitte had a 7-8 mark with a 5.65 ERA and was in the Yanks’ doghouse. Phils’ GM Ed Wade offered prospects Adam Eaton and Reggie Taylor, but the Yanks backed down at the last minute.

Pettitte finished the year with a 14-11, 4.70 slate, and he beat the Phils in two World Series’ game in 2009.

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