Los Angeles Angels
Speaking as a Yankee fan, I should HATE this team. Speaking as a baseball fan, I LOVE watching this team. I don't know how they do it, whether it's the Rally Monkey or the California weather, but this team is just always good. Even after the start of their season, which saw their 3 best pitchers on the disabled list, their best young player die tragically, and injuries to Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter, they JUST. CONTINUE. TO. WIN! It's completely unbelievable to me.
But, here we are again, the first half is over and the Angels are poised to make another run at the division and another playoff appearance, as they open the second half at 49 - 37 and 1.5 games ahead of the Texas Rangers.
If the Angels think they can weather the storm of injuries to their outfield and not trade for any additional help out there, I think an infield bat and glove like Felipe Lopez of the Diamondbacks is someone that could certainly boost their offense.
On the pitching side, they should be in the thick of things in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. They have the prospects they'd need to make a deal (think Brandon Wood, Ervin Santana and 2 other prospects). Or, they could go the safe route and look to acquire the Doug Davis' or Ian Snell's of the world. Either way, I see the Angels being very active near the trade deadline.
But, here we are again, the first half is over and the Angels are poised to make another run at the division and another playoff appearance, as they open the second half at 49 - 37 and 1.5 games ahead of the Texas Rangers.
If the Angels think they can weather the storm of injuries to their outfield and not trade for any additional help out there, I think an infield bat and glove like Felipe Lopez of the Diamondbacks is someone that could certainly boost their offense.
On the pitching side, they should be in the thick of things in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. They have the prospects they'd need to make a deal (think Brandon Wood, Ervin Santana and 2 other prospects). Or, they could go the safe route and look to acquire the Doug Davis' or Ian Snell's of the world. Either way, I see the Angels being very active near the trade deadline.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers, for the first time in years, are finally having a good season! Rangers fans are excited about the chances this team has for the second half, hell, even the players are optimistic for a change! 48 - 39 and only 1.5 games behind the Angels (who they have OWNED this season) and there are reasons for much optimism in Texas.
I don't even need to discuss their offense. It's good and doesn't need any tinkering with whatsoever. Michael Young, Marlon Byrd, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Elvis Andrus, they're all good, they can all hit. This time will go as far as Mike Maddux and their pitching staff can take them. Adding a bullpen arm is an important aspect (the same names from before, whether it's a Qualls, Hawkins, etc) for the team to maintain their level of success, but the biggest crutch this team has is in their starting rotation. They have no true ace. Don't get me wrong, Kevin Millwood has been good and they have a lot of talent in that rotation, but they're missing that big game starter that every team craves.
If the Rangers owner Tom Hicks wasn't in the financial trouble that he is currently in, you can bet your bottom dollar that Elvis Andurs, Taylor Teargarden and Neftali Perez would be at the airport boarding a flight for Toronto, while Roy Halladay flew to Texas. The Rangers will hang tough with the Angels the second half, they'll beat them head to head, but it's how they do against their other opponents that'll determine how this season ends for the Rangers. They just need one more man to get them over that hump...
I don't even need to discuss their offense. It's good and doesn't need any tinkering with whatsoever. Michael Young, Marlon Byrd, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Elvis Andrus, they're all good, they can all hit. This time will go as far as Mike Maddux and their pitching staff can take them. Adding a bullpen arm is an important aspect (the same names from before, whether it's a Qualls, Hawkins, etc) for the team to maintain their level of success, but the biggest crutch this team has is in their starting rotation. They have no true ace. Don't get me wrong, Kevin Millwood has been good and they have a lot of talent in that rotation, but they're missing that big game starter that every team craves.
If the Rangers owner Tom Hicks wasn't in the financial trouble that he is currently in, you can bet your bottom dollar that Elvis Andurs, Taylor Teargarden and Neftali Perez would be at the airport boarding a flight for Toronto, while Roy Halladay flew to Texas. The Rangers will hang tough with the Angels the second half, they'll beat them head to head, but it's how they do against their other opponents that'll determine how this season ends for the Rangers. They just need one more man to get them over that hump...
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are a lot better than people think. Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn as a top 3 are as good as any other 3 in the league. Russell Branyan was the surprise of the first half, pounding out 22 home runs. Ichiro Suzuki is having another stellar season, batting .362. They are lurking. Consider them the Marlins of the American League. At 46 - 42 they remain just 4 games behind the Angels in the AL West. They're only 5 games behind the Yankees in the Wild Card. They are there for the long haul.
With the recent trade of Yuniesky Betancourt and Ronny Cedeno batting just .168, they could be in the market for a middle infielder (Jack Wilson, Freddy Sanchez). They could also try and make a big splash by acquiring a power bat to have in the meat of the order (Aubrey Huff or Miguel Tejada even).
The Mariners are one of the few teams who aren't in dire need of pitching help. They have a strong top 3 of their rotation, Jason Vargas has come on nicely posting a 3.87 era and Brandon Morrow still figures into the discussion of being their 5th starter. (I'd say maybe they'd be interested in someone like Ian Snell or Carl Pavano, but I think Morrow is better than both). There had been rumblings that the Mariners were looking to possibly trade Erik Bedard, but they can't in good conscience do it. Nor would it make sense to do it when they're this close to being in the playoff race
The Mariners bullpen is arguably their greatest strength. Closer David Aardsma has saved 20 games and boasts a miniscule 1.96 era, while middle relievers Mark Lowe, Miguel Batista and Sean White have provided incredible relief as well.
While I'm not sure the Mariners have the talent to sustain a full season of this type of success, I think they will go right down to the wire and be in the discussion for the playoffs, if nothing else. It'll be an entertaining summer in Seattle, for the first time since the Sonics moved to Oklahoma (ouch, was that too soon?).
With the recent trade of Yuniesky Betancourt and Ronny Cedeno batting just .168, they could be in the market for a middle infielder (Jack Wilson, Freddy Sanchez). They could also try and make a big splash by acquiring a power bat to have in the meat of the order (Aubrey Huff or Miguel Tejada even).
The Mariners are one of the few teams who aren't in dire need of pitching help. They have a strong top 3 of their rotation, Jason Vargas has come on nicely posting a 3.87 era and Brandon Morrow still figures into the discussion of being their 5th starter. (I'd say maybe they'd be interested in someone like Ian Snell or Carl Pavano, but I think Morrow is better than both). There had been rumblings that the Mariners were looking to possibly trade Erik Bedard, but they can't in good conscience do it. Nor would it make sense to do it when they're this close to being in the playoff race
The Mariners bullpen is arguably their greatest strength. Closer David Aardsma has saved 20 games and boasts a miniscule 1.96 era, while middle relievers Mark Lowe, Miguel Batista and Sean White have provided incredible relief as well.
While I'm not sure the Mariners have the talent to sustain a full season of this type of success, I think they will go right down to the wire and be in the discussion for the playoffs, if nothing else. It'll be an entertaining summer in Seattle, for the first time since the Sonics moved to Oklahoma (ouch, was that too soon?).
Oakland Athletics
While the Oakland Athletics are in last place in the AL West, 12 games behind the Angels and are 12 games under .500 at 37 - 49, their season is long over, but I don't see them as being sellers at the deadline. The only trading chip they have in Matt Holliday hasn't hit a home run in nearly 6 weeks and is in a tremendous slump. His stock could not be any lower than it currently is. He's staying put. You can't trade Jason Giambi, because he's not even a shell of his former Yankee self. He's basically a corpse who goes to the plate 4 times a game.
In addition to that, there are no pitchers on their roster that Billy Beane should even dream of trading. They are setting themselves up nicely for the future having a young rotation of Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson. Top that off with Andrew Bailey in the bullpen and you've got yourself a great young ball club. While the Athletics won't make any noise in the form of making the playoffs, they should be an ultra competitive team to play the rest of the season and will look to build on any second half success they see and carry it over into next season. But, this is going to be an odd trading deadline when Billy Beane won't be a factor at all.
In addition to that, there are no pitchers on their roster that Billy Beane should even dream of trading. They are setting themselves up nicely for the future having a young rotation of Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson. Top that off with Andrew Bailey in the bullpen and you've got yourself a great young ball club. While the Athletics won't make any noise in the form of making the playoffs, they should be an ultra competitive team to play the rest of the season and will look to build on any second half success they see and carry it over into next season. But, this is going to be an odd trading deadline when Billy Beane won't be a factor at all.
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