Two days remain before the deadline, which falls at 6 p.m. Eastern on Monday, August 3, according to CBS Sports' tracker. The two Los Angeles clubs go into the weekend from opposite ends of the standings and with opposite problems.

The Dodgers

They are 69-41, a .627 winning percentage, and lead the National League West, per ESPN's standings. That is the position of a club that does not need to do anything and can therefore be selective.

Their one completed move so far is small: they acquired right-hander Seth Halvorsen from Colorado on July 20, CBS Sports reported. Bullpen depth, not a headline.

The headline they are attached to is Tarik Skubal. The Tigers left-hander is the most valuable player who might change teams, and the Dodgers are among the clubs reported to be pursuing him. That is reported interest, not a deal. Nothing has been agreed, and the asking price for a pitcher of that class in a season where almost nobody is out of the race has been the obstacle all month.

The Angels

They are 42-68, a .382 winning percentage, fifth and last in the American League West, 13.5 games back. There is no version of the next two months that ends in October baseball.

The Angels have been involved in one deal, on July 29, with Texas. Accounts of who went in which direction differ, so we are not going to name the players until it is clear. What is not in question is the posture: a club this far out sells, and the question for the front office is only which pieces to keep.

Around the league

The completed deals so far, per CBS Sports, are mostly rotation and bullpen work by contenders.

Milwaukee took right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., left-hander Colton Gordon and cash from Houston on July 15. Minnesota added right-hander Dean Kremer from Baltimore on July 31 and left-hander A.J. Minter from Atlanta on July 30. Boston picked up outfielder Jahmai Jones from Detroit on July 14 and infielder Curtis Mead from Washington on July 25.

Why so little has moved

The structural reason is that too few teams have given up. When the standings are compressed, the clubs that would normally be sellers in late July still think they are buyers, and the supply of available players stays thin while the demand stays high. That pushes prices up and deals late.

Which means the next 48 hours are likely to carry most of the activity, and that the Dodgers, who need nothing and can wait, are in the better position of the two Los Angeles clubs in more ways than the standings show.