The last stop on our trade deadline needs tour is in the American League West. The West has two teams that will be buyers and those teams are the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

We have already seen how serious the Rangers are this trade season as they acquired Cliff Lee from division rival Seattle earlier in the week. Here are the deadline needs for the Rangers and Angels.

Texas Rangers

Record: 50-37, first place in AL West

Needs: Starting Pitching, Backup Infielder

The Rangers fired the first shot of the trading season when they acquired LHP Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners for 1B Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. Lee gives the Rangers something they haven’t had in about 25 years — a legit ace.

Acquiring Lee solves the Rangers biggest need, so what else could the Rangers use? I feel they could still use a veteran backup corner or middle infielder. Getting someone who is capable of filling in for Ian Kinsler or Michael Young would allow Ron Washington to keep those guys fresh and more importantly, healthy.

Potential Targets: Adam Kennedy, Craig Counsell, Bobby Crosby, Jeff Keppinger, John McDonald

 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Record: 47-43, second place in AL West. Fourth in Wild Card

Needs: Third Base, First Base, Bullpen

The Angels need a lot at the trade deadline and I am not sure they can get everything they need. The Angels used to be a team built on depth, but thanks to recent free agent departures and injuries, the Angels are really thin this year.

The injury to Kendry Morales might have been the death blow to the Angels this year. Trying to replace his production has been a very hard task. Anaheim could make a splash and go after Lance Berkman or Prince Fielder or they could after a serviceable guy like Lyle Overbay. The Angels could also use a third baseman as Maicer Izturis and Brandon Wood have not been the answer this year.

The Angels keep bringing in mediocre closers to help their bullpen and it really hasn’t worked out. The Angels rank 11th in the AL in bullpen ERA and Scot Shields, Kevin Jepsen, and Brian Fuentes are having down years. No Angel reliever has an ERA under 3.50 — that is not good.

Potential Targets: Derrek Lee, Prince Fielder, Lance Berkman, Lyle Overbay, Adam Dunn, Miguel Tejada, Jorge Cantu, Adam LaRoche, Kyle Farnsworth, Will Ohman, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Octavio Dotel

 

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