The American League West has been the worst division in baseball this season. While they may have two teams around .500, that has not been the case for most of the season. For most of the season, all five teams have had records under .500. It is a large reason why the American League has been so weak this season. With all these teams having such confusing seasons, it’s going to make for a very interesting trade deadline. Here is what the goal of each AL West team should be going into the deadline.
What Each AL West Team Should Target at the Deadline
Texas Rangers, High-Leverage Relievers: The Rangers currently hold a slim half-game lead for first place in the AL West. If they want to stay in first and build a bigger cushion, they need more trusted arms in their bullpen. Sure, the Rangers’ bullpen has been solid all season, pitching to a 3.82 ERA. But they have been relying on a committee and lack a big-name reliever in their pen. This is not always effective in a pennant chase or in the playoffs. They need at least one big-name reliever to give fans confidence that this level of success can continue. They could look for a reunion with Aroldis Chapman, who is going to be the best reliever available. They could also take a chance on Jeff Hoffman and hope he pitches more like he did in 2024.
Seattle Mariners, A Closer: The reigning AL West champs of the division are hanging on to the last wild card spot in the American League. They are also only a half game behind the Rangers. But what has been holding the Mariners back is Andres Munoz’s struggles. He has an ERA near five and has blown five games this season. They need someone more reliable in the back end of the rotation. Just like the Rangers, they should try to make a run for Chapman. He’ll be the lockdown guy that keeps the Mariners from blowing games. Another potential option that will fix these problems is Kenley Jansen. He has nine saves this season and has finished 18 games for the Tigers. He’d be a nice complementary piece to Munoz.
Houston Astros, Good Hitting Outfielders: Despite a bad start to the season, the Astros have gotten themselves back into contention. They are 42-44 and only two games out of a playoff spot. If they want to continue their push towards October, they need more production from their outfielder. As a group, they have the lowest average and on-base percentage in the league. One of their targets could be Jarren Duran. Sure, he has struggled this season, but he is an opposite-field hitter and could get a boost from Daikin Park’s short left field. They also could target Jake McCarthy. His numbers are very similar on the road as they are at home, so you don’t have to worry about him being a Coors Field Merchant.
Athletics, Starting Pitchers With Control: The Athletics are one of the most intriguing teams in all of baseball. They have developed one of the best young hitting cores in the league. But this has only given them a record of 40-45 and left them three games out of a playoff spot. The A’s are a team that feels close to contending but isn’t there yet. Sure, they should take a shot this season with how weak the AL is, but shouldn’t sell the farm on rentals to do so. They should look for starting pitchers who are under contract past this season. The best guy for this is Clay Holmes. He is set to start rehabbing and should make a start before the deadline. He had pitched to a 2.39 ERA in 52 2/3 innings, and would quickly become the ace of the A’s.
Los Angeles Angels, Move Whatever You Can To Get Prospects: To the surprise of no one, the Angels are in the basement of the AL West again. It is another disaster season that led to the firing of their general manager. It appears the Angels are moving towards another shift in organizational philosophy. All but ensuring they will remain at the bottom of the West for years. At this point, they should be moving everything of value to replenish their barren farm system. Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano should be the main guys that they try to move. They could land packages that bring multiple intriguing prospects to restock their system. Other guys that could be on the move are Kirby Yates and Jo Adell, if the Angels decide to tear down the roster.
