Moving through Major League Baseball’s trade deadline buyers and sellers, we reach the AL West. With a tight race shaping up in this division, it is likely that quite a few teams could be buyers as the 2011 trade deadline looms.
American League West
Texas Rangers
- First Place, AL West
- Playoff Chances: Moderately High
- Strengths: Offense
- Weaknesses: Pitching
It is unclear at this point whether the Rangers are a shoo-in for the playoffs, just one year removed from a World Series appearance. They are in contention to win the division, but they are a team that likely needs to make moves if they plan on reaching the playoffs. Their offensive production has been high this year, but it is their pitching that is preventing them from being a truly elite team. They are ranked 6th in the MLB in quality starts, so it isn’t necessarily the pitching that is ruining things for them, it is the relievers. Look for the Rangers to pick up some help in the bullpen to shore up their staff. If nobody else makes moves in the division, the Rangers should walk away with it – but that likely won’t be the case.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Second Place, AL West
- Playoff Chances: Moderate
- Strengths: Pitching
- Weaknesses: Offense
The Angels are hovering around .500 right now, thanks mainly to their pitching staff which is ranked in the top 10 in just about every major category. Their offensive struggles, however, have been well documented. High priced Vernon wells is struggling to maintain a batting average above .200 and their entire starting infield has combined for fewer than 30 home runs to date. This isn’t exactly a lineup that gives pitchers fits. I highly doubt that anyone would want to take on Wells’ 26.6 million/year salary which likely means that he is there to stay. Unless they get rid of some of his salary, however, they really are handcuffed in terms of the moves they can make. I don’t see the Angels as a part of any blockbuster deals, but they need to make some moves if they think they have a shot at winning the division.
Seattle Mariners
- Third Place, AL West
- Playoff Chances: Low
- Strengths: Pitching
- Weaknesses: Offense
To say that offense is the Mariner’s weakness is almost an understatement. They are ranked dead last in 3 major offensive categories and 2nd to last in a fourth. You could put a tee out there on home plate and they probably wouldn’t put up runs. On the flip side, their pitching staff is ranked in the top 5 in every major pitching category, a big part of the reason why this team is still within striking distance in the American League West. With all of that being said, however, don’t expect a whole lot of movement coming from the Emerald City. If anything, they might even be looking to unload some players. If the Mariners want to get out of this perpetual rebuilding stage that they’ve been in for the past couple years, they need to unload big salaries and that means King Felix and Ichiro MIGHT (and I stress MIGHT) be on the way out.
Oakland Athletics
- Fourth Place, AL West
- Playoff Chances: Low
- Strengths: Pitching
- Weakness: Offense
The A’s may be in last place, but they are still within striking distance of the division lead. In fact, out of all the last place teams in baseball, they are the fewest games out of first, giving the fans in Oakland a glimmer of hope. Historically, the A’s have been cheap when it comes to signing free agents and making trades, and I wouldn’t expect this year to be any different. They feature a pretty strong rotation which is a plus for any young team. Their offense is just too inexperienced to take advantage of good opportunities. This is a team that will probably be in contention next year and for a few years following, so don’t expect any big moves to come from this organization (either selling or buying). The A’s have what we like to call the scraps and seconds approach, basically putting together a decent team that will make the playoffs when other teams in the division have a down year.