Batter Up July 16th, 2006

Perhaps the most exciting time during the regular baseball season occurs around the all star break when the contenders contemplate which trades might improve their clubs.

With the long summer ahead pitching becomes a priority. Without a deep bullpen and reliable starting pitching the road to October becomes very precarious.

The AL West is such a close race that one or two key players will tip the balance.

Click below for more!Led by the best starting pitching in the major leagues the Angels are now the favorites once again to win the AL West.

Do the Angels need to go after a big bat to help their mediocre offense?

Absolutely. With its dominating pitching the Angels can make it to the World Series.

Available hitters include Washington’s Alfonso Soriano, Baltimore’s Miguel Tejada, Philadelphia’s Bobby Abreu, and Milwaukee’s Carlos Lee. Toronto’s Shea Hillenbrand or Pittsburgh’s Sean Casey would help the Angels lineup too.

The A’s are in a quandary. It’s no secret, notwithstanding some offensive outbursts from time to time, Oakland’s batters rank near the bottom in the hitter friendly AL.

With Barry Zito more than likely leaving via free agency next winter and Rich Harden’s 2006 season in doubt, the A’s should consider adding a starting pitcher this month as well a hitter.

How about a package to the Orioles which might include second baseman Mark Ellis, minor leaguer Jason Windsor, and another top AAA prospect for second baseman Brian Roberts, pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, and club house favorite Kevin Millar?

If the club was sure that Harden would return to full form in 2007 perhaps Ellis and Joe Blanton could be dealt to the Mets for pitchers Aaron Heilman and Mike Pelfrey, plus five tool outfielder Lastings Milledge.

The A’s have been known for creative multi team deals in the past. This might be the season for the front office to roll the dice once again.

What will Texas do by the trading deadline? Injured starting pitchers Adam Eaton and Kameron Loe are due back by the end of the month.

If the Rangers could add another starting pitcher such as Arizona’s Miguel Batista, Baltimore’s Kris Benson, or Washington’s Livan Hernandez, then their chances of winning the West improve dramatically.

The Mets will certainly make the playoffs this season. To go deep into the playoffs the Mets need another solid veteran pitcher to go along with Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine.

If the White Sox are serious about trading Freddy Garcia as rumored for bullpen help, the New Yorkers should act quickly.

The Mets also need a solid second baseman. If the A’s won’t deal Ellis then the Mets should make an offer to Tampa for Julio Lugo, Los Angeles for Adam Kennedy, or to Cleveland for Ronnie Belliard.

If I’m the Giants I’m trading Jason Schmidt now. With the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Rangers, and Dodgers desperate for a pitching ace, the Giants could take a major step in retooling for the post Barry Bonds era which will begin in 2007.

The Yankees are looking for hitters. Washington’s Jose Guillen is a pain in the neck in the clubhouse, but he can swing the bat. Guillen’s price tag is considerably less than Soriano’s making him a realistic possibility to be added to the Bronx Zoo.

The Yanks need a starting pitcher and perhaps another late inning reliever. The Phils are offering former Yankee Jon Leiber or Cory Lidle, either would help the back end of the New York rotation.

Other players who should change teams this month. The Cubs Todd Walker, Greg Maddux, Glendon Rusch, and Nefi Perez, Kansas City’s Reggie Sanders, Mark Grudzielanek, and Mark Redman, Pittsburgh’s Jeromy Burnitz and Craig Wilson, Philadelphia’s David Dellucci, Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez, Cleveland’s Paul Byrd, and Minnesota’s Shannon Stewart.

With so many clubs still in contention this will be a wild month as teams try to add that key player to put them over the top.