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The AL West and NL West’s top teams are serious contenders for a World Series run and now we will find out who is going to buy and who is going to sell. The Mariners have surprised baseball fans around the country with their surge even without stud second baseman Robinson Cano. The Astros have the best pitching staff in baseball and they are looking to repeat as World Series Champs. The NL West is extremely competitive with the last place Padres just a few games behind the division leader Diamondbacks. With that being said, let’s break down each team’s possible trade deadline status as the race in both western divisions heats up.
AL West
Houston Astros
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Trade Deadline Status: Buyers
News flash! The Astros are a nuclear absurdity of talent and they are built for yet another postseason run. Their offense is strong and the pitching staff is probably the best in baseball. However, their bullpen is in need of a little bit of a boost. After Kelvin Herrera was traded to the Nationals, a prime target was off the market. Zach Britton is a name that has been floating around the Astros since the Orioles began to really tank and he is one of the most ideal fits in Houston. The Astros are always ready to add pitchers and there’s a reason to their madness. They want to win now. It can never hurt to add arms to the bullpen and pitching staff.
Seattle Mariners
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Trade Deadline Status: Buyers
Well, look at what we have here! The Mariners are easily the biggest surprise team in baseball and there is no shortage of talent in Seattle. Mitch Haniger has been on fire as of late and the pitching staff is really clicking. The Mariners will most likely go after more pitchers in order to strengthen their pitching staff. J.A. Happ has been a name that has been tied to the Mariners and there is a very real possibility that Happ does end up in Seattle. The two most likely landing spots are either New York or Seattle. Adam Jones could also be a name that comes up in trade talks as the Orioles are looking to sell virtually their entire team.
Los Angeles Angels
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Trade Deadline Status: Probably Buyers
Potentially losing Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani to Tommy John Surgery would be an even bigger blow to a team that is super competitive. Mike Trout is not human and he is easily one of the best players in the game right now. The Angels will most likely look to add arms so that they can try and push their way into the playoffs. Look for the Angels to try and go after Jeurys Familia from the Mets in the bullpen, Cole Hamels from the Rangers, and potentially Chris Archer or even Michael Fulmer. The Angels are throwing their name into every pot that they can find and hopefully someone would be willing to bite on one of their offers. This team isn’t out just yet.
Oakland Athletics
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Trade Deadline Status: Barely Sellers
The A’s are still in contention for a wild-card spot but they will most likely sell only a few pieces. Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis are the two names that the A’s will most likely shop and they can most likely get some decent prospects in return. Jed Lowrie may be finding himself back on the Red Sox come July 31st and Davis could be heading to either the Nationals or Diamondbacks. Both Washington and Arizona could use a bit of a boost in the outfield and Boston could become even more dangerous using Lowrie as a utility man.
Texas Rangers
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Trade Deadline Status: Sellers
The Rangers are struggling mightily this year and they will be looking to deal some of their well-known pieces. The name that sticks out the most is Cole Hamels. Hamels is a seasoned veteran that knows how to compete and win in the postseason. The Yankees appear to be a major front-runner in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes and it’s only a matter of time until he is traded to a World Series contender. Could the Rangers get some of the Yankees’ top prospects in return? Possibly. Bartolo Colon could possibly be on the move as well. The Big Sexy could potentially end up in a place like Los Angeles and suit up for the Dodgers. Is the Big Sexy’s career in the final stretch? We will find out soon.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
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Trade Deadline Status: Buyers
Let’s keep this right to the point. The Diamondbacks are ready to go all in on Manny Machado. If Arizona can pull off that trade, they will become the team to beat in the NL West. Simple as that. Khris Davis has been brought up in the Arizona trade deadline talks and he would add some serious speed and depth to the outfield out in the desert. In addition to position players, pitchers such as Chris Archer and Michael Fulmer have also been brought up. If one of the two could team up with Zach Greinke, then it could be a problem for other teams. However, Patrick Corbin could be the only piece that may be leaving Arizona. The bidding war could become very high for the talented lefty but it’s still unclear as to where he will be after the deadline.
Los Angeles Dodgers
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Trade Deadline Status: Buyers
Like the Diamondbacks and a group of many others, the Dodgers are pursuing Manny Machado with flying colors. Where the Baltimore superstar will end up is still a mystery right now but the suspense just keeps on building up. Pitchers like Zach Britton, and Bartolo Colon could become Dodgers by the end of July and it will definitely add a bit of a spark to a team that has been rather lackluster through the first half of the season. The Dodgers are an odd team to evaluate at this point because they have a lot of talent. However, when will the talent wake up and be on full display like it was last season?
San Francisco Giants
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Trade Deadline Status: To Be Determined
The Giants are probably the biggest wild-card when it comes to the trade deadline. If they step up their game and overcome the injury bug, they will buy. However, if they continue to slip, they will sell. The decision of buying or selling may be made just a few days before the deadline and who knows what the Giants could do. If they were tempted to sell, they would get a lot in return for Madison Bumgarner. He is easily the most attractive feature on the Giants’ roster. The dominant lefty has had his fair share of struggles over the years but is a force when he is clicking on all cylinders. Bumgarner could potentially end up on a team that had the highest bid and it could potentially turn into a bidding war like Storage Wars.
Colorado Rockies
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Trade Deadline Status: Buyers and Possibly Sellers
The Rockies have some pieces that they could sell and they could also have the ability to add players as well. Brian Dozier is a name that could be added from the Minnesota Twins. The reliable second baseman could make his way over to the Mile High City as a result of an expiring contract and the uprising of the fourth overall Twins prospect Nick Gordon. Wade Davis is the most notable name that could be on his way out of Colorado. The Rockies’ bullpen is an absolute dumpster fire and will try to potentially trade some of their current pieces for new members that could hopefully stabilize an absolutely abysmal group.
San Diego Padres
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Trade Deadline Status: Probably Sellers
The Padres aren’t too far behind in the NL West race but it could get ugly very fast. The Padres are looking to sell pitchers Brad Hand and Tyson Ross at the July 31st deadline and they can get some solid prospects in return. Hand has been tied to the Boston Red Sox has a result of Craig Kimbrel’s struggles and it could make the Red Sox a bit more stable in the bullpen. Ross has been linked to the Yankees should they strike out on the Hamels, Fulmer, and Happ sweepstakes. It seems more likely that Hand will be on his way out of San Diego and they will try and groom their farm system for a few more years.
