Teams deciding whether to fish or cut bait

DALLAS – Time is almost up, general managers.

Is your team a buyer, a seller or a bystander?

The non-waiver trade deadline arrives next Sunday. GMs have one week to make deals to improve their clubs, or look for ways to dump luxury items.

Here is how it should break down:

Buyers

Baltimore went into the weekend still trying to pull off a deal for Florida right-hander A.J. Burnett. With the pitching for Boston and the New York Yankees crumbling, the Orioles can steal the American League East.

The Red Sox and the Yankees will do something. Boston needs bullpen help. The Yankees need another center fielder. They have used five starters in center, and all have failed.

Closer Dustin Hermanson’s back problems worry the Chicago White Sox, who have a big lead in the American League Central. Philadelphia left-hander Billy Wagner is a possibility.

Minnesota needs bats for third base and designated hitter. The Twins can trade major league relievers.

Washington became a buyer when it picked up outfielder Preston Wilson and left-hander Mike Stanton. The next move in the National League East is up to Atlanta, which needs an outfielder. Creative general manager John Schuerholz does not have much wiggle room with the payroll.

The Chicago Cubs will always be buyers. They could end up with Cincinnati slugger Adam Dunn.

St. Louis runs away with the N.L. Central, but the Cardinals have problems in the outfield. Reggie Sanders is out because of a broken leg, and Larry Walker is finished.

San Diego, best of the terrible N.L. West, has already traded for third baseman Joe Randa to replace disappointing Sean Burroughs. The pressure is on GM Kevin Towers to improve on last year, when he kept his club out of the playoffs by tossing away useful right-hander Ismael Valdez.

Sellers

Tampa Bay puts on its annual garage sale. Closer Danys Baez and outfielder Aubrey Huff could move, if general manager Chuck LaMar tones down his demands.

Kansas City fields calls about relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Mike MacDougal.

Cincinnati center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. could be the most significant player traded.

Pittsburgh left-hander Mark Redman probably will join his sixth team in five years as a rental player.

Everyone on Colorado’s roster is available. Getting out of Coors Field could only help right-hander Jason Jennings.

Tweeners

Always the innovator, Oakland general manager Billy Beane created a new category: teams that buy and sell at the same time.

Oakland regularly does that. Arizona, Florida, San Francisco, Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers want to follow the lead and trade expensive veterans for younger and cheaper major league talent.

On the fence

Houston, Milwaukee and the Rangers appear unlikely to do anything significant. That would change for the Rangers if the New York Mets will take second baseman Alfonso Soriano.

The Mets are still trying to determine their status. So are Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. Hurry up, GMs. It’s time to earn your salary.