The teams that will dictate the Yankees’ and Mets’ options at the trade deadline

The Yankees have needs. The Mets have needs.

Other playoff contenders do, too.

It is that third sentence that makes the upcoming July 31 MLB trade deadline a murky proposition for those firmly identifying as buyers this year, because “other playoff contenders” could be more than 75 percent of the game based on the current standings.

If the thinking in expanding the postseason format to six teams in each league a couple of years ago was to give more teams a legitimate chance to qualify, then this season certainly has fulfilled that vision.