With the trade deadline approaching, one Red Sox need is a catcher capable of eventually replacing veteran Jason Varitek.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

BOSTON — We’ll be into August on Friday, and this morning a mere three games separate the top-three teams in the American League East. Is it possible that the division title will be determined by which general manager makes the best trading deadline deal?

This much is clear: One of these teams will not play into October, despite the fact that all three are on a pace to win close to 90 games or more.

Injuries will play a role, of course, and so, too, will the schedule. If it comes down to the latter, the Red Sox have a decided advantage over the Rays, at least, because of its home-heavy slate of games beginning the final weekend of August. The Rays play 17 of their final 24 on the road.

But what deals get made — or not made — will have an impact, too.

Already, the Yanks hold the edge there after landing outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four prospects. Nady gives the Yankees a useful outfielder and a potent bat to help make up for the loss of Jorge Posada and the continuing absence of Hideki Mastui.

Marte gives manager Joe Girardi a dependable lefty out of the bullpen, something the Yankees have lacked perhaps since Mike Stanton.

The Yankees had been involved in ongoing talks with the Seattle Mariners about lefty Jarrod Washburn, who would have given the New York rotation another lefty starter. Washburn may be a back-of-the-rotation pitcher at this point and besides, reports last night indicated the talks had hit a snag. The Mariners were in talks with other teams involving Washburn.

With the news yesterday that Posada has elected season-ending surgery, the Yankees are also in the hunt for catching help. But there isn’t much available beyond the likes of Gerald Laird or Miguel Olivo. At best, the Yanks could hope to get someone to share the load with Jose Molina the rest of the way.

And what of the Rays? Their primary need is bullpen help. Toward that end, they had been interested in Brian Fuentes, who reportedly has been taken off the market by the surging Colorado Rockies.

Beyond Fuentes, the Rays may pursue other lefties — including Atlanta’s Will Ohman and the Cubs’ Scott Eyre. The Rays can use depth in the bullpen, given that closer Troy Percival is almost 39 and has already had two stints on the disabled list this season.

The Rays also emerged yesterday as one of the suitors for Mark Teixeira, who would give them a true middle-of-the-lineup presence. Teixeira would force Carlos Pena into DH duty and will cost plenty as the Braves try to recoup some of the prospects they dealt to Texas to land him at last year’s deadline.

The Rays’ system is loaded with front-line talent, but GM Andrew Friedman must determine how much to sacrifice for short-term help. Having assembled so much young talent, the Rays are positioned to compete for years to come, but falling short of the postseason this year could be a huge disappointment to a fan base that is just now getting excited about the club in its 11th year of existence and do nothing to help their efforts in getting funding for a new ballpark.

Finally, there are the Red Sox, who continue to search for takers for Manny Ramirez while at the same time, boost some trouble spots — left-handed relief and catching.

An ESPNdeportes report last night, which had the Sox talking to Houston about shortstop Miguel Tejada was summarily dismissed by both organizations.

Eyre is someone the Sox targeted at the deadline several years ago when the lefty was with San Francisco, only to find the asking price prohibitive. They are interested again and expect to get back to the Kansas City Royals on Ron Mahay.

The Royals have held off from going into sell mode, intent as they were to finish with a .500 record. But 12 games under .500 — their record going into last night — represents a steep climb and the feeling is that the Royals will grapple with that reality soon and deal off some parts.

Finding a young catcher who might be close to taking over as the team’s starter for the aging Jason Varitek, 36, will be decidedly more difficult, though there is speculation that the Rangers might consider moving Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the key part obtained for Teixeira last year.

The Rangers have the largest number of young catching prospects in the game, including Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez. Landing one will likely cost the Sox a premier pitching prospect like Michael Bowden, and while Bowden is considered to be close to untouchable by the organization, he might be moved for a highly regarded catcher.

Even if the Sox land their catcher of the future, that’s unlikely to help them much over the next two months. The Sox might have to be content with the return of David Ortiz, while hoping the bullpen corrects itself in time.

smcadam@projo.com