Everyone likes getting presents for Christmas, and baseball teams are no different. That explains the signing of Shin-Soo Choo by the Texas Rangers just before the holiday. With that final move the Rangers essentially finished their Christmas shopping giving their fan base a much improved team. Like every fan base, there is never enough, though, and there is still more the Rangers and the rest of the teams in the American League West can give their fans for Christmas.
Houston Astros
Considering the Astros are in full blown rebuilding mode, they gave their fans plenty of presents this offseason. They made a trade for a true centerfielder who should be leading off in front of franchise player Jose Altuve for the foreseeable future in Dexter Fowler, and Fowler has already endeared himself to the Houston fans. They also signed veteran pitchers Scott Feldman and Chad Qualls to help solidify their rotation and bullpen respectively. So what more could be on the Astros’ Christmas list?
There is one thing that still escapes them, and that is one more veteran arm in the bullpen with at least a little bit of closer experience. Sure, Qualls has done some late inning work in his career, but someone like Francisco Rodriguez, who has recent experience as a setup man and is a member of the 300 saves club could be just what the team needs. At the age of 31-years-old, it could be just what K-Rod needs to jumpstart his career as well. All indications point towards the Astros being done shopping for the year unless it is something small, but a move like this could be the last piece that the team needs to look legitimate for 2014.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels, like the Rangers, have given their fans just about everything they could want this offseason. They traded a big piece of their offense, but got the pitching they needed so desperately.
The best gift the Angels could give to their fans this Christmas isn’t on the free agent market, although a top of the order starting pitcher would be nice. The best gift the Angels could give their fans is a long extension with star outfielder Mike Trout.
It has been said that someone like Trout could get in excess of $300 million on the open market. With the prices going up each and every year, the best thing the Angels could do is to sign that extension now, give Trout a huge payday, and hope that in a few years, when he would have been a free agent, he looks like a bargain after inflation. The real treat for the fans, though, would be knowing that Trout will be in Angels red for a long time, making it a little of a softer blow that they’ll be seeing Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols in those jerseys well past their primes.
Oakland Athletics
The A’s have filled the stockings and put presents under the tree, but they are still short that big whopper that comes from Santa Claus.
For this team it is a right handed power hitting outfielder or designated hitter. The common name that has popped up has been former Ranger Nelson Cruz, but a big name free agent like Cruz is not really in the Oakland style.
The other issue is that Cruz would cost them a draft pick, another thing that the A’s wouldn’t like to give up, which leaves two options for them. One would be Jeff Francoeur who would be an instant fan favorite who could platoon with Josh Reddick without losing the defense that Reddick brings, and Delmon Young who would fill the designated hitter role, but should never play the field.
Young has a huge upside which is great postseason numbers. Ideally, Cruz or a trade for a similar type hitter, would be the large present under the tree. The team needs a power bat from the right side and these guys could fill that role perfectly.
Seattle Mariners
What more could M’s fans want for Christmas? They have the biggest free agent on the market in Robinson Cano. The team went out and got two big bats to play around Cano when they signed Corey Hart and traded for Logan Morrison.
There is just one thing that could really make the M’s fans’ Christmas great, and that would be a trade for former Cy Young winner David Price. It is becoming more unlikely that Price will be moved this offseason as the Tampa Bay Rays have yet to be “wowed” by an offer yet, but the M’s have the pieces to do just that if they really want to. The problem has been that the M’s don’t seem ready to part with the big time prospects that it would take to land Price. If they decide to loosen their stance on who they aren’t willing to part with, though, Price could be theirs for the taking.
Texas Rangers
As I said before, what more could the Rangers want? They went out and traded for Prince Fielder filling the power hole left by Cruz becoming a free agent and freeing up a spot for super prospect Jurickson Profar all in one move.
They also signed Choo to fill the hole in the outfield that was left by Cruz and fill the role of leadoff guy that was left in the Fielder trade when they parted ways with Ian Kinsler.
They seem set to let the in-house candidates fight it out for the right of being the team's closer in spring training as they have Tanner Scheppers who is coming off of an excellent season as the primary set-up man, and Neftali Feliz and Joakim Soria who have both spent time as closers.
What the team needs is either someone who can be the primary designated hitter or platoon with Mitch Moreland. The same two players that the A’s may be looking at, Francoeur and Young, could fill the hole if they platoon, but don’t be surprised if a reunion with Cruz is in the stars.
In the end, these are just wishes for all of the teams in the AL West. Just like gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas, we have no clue what the teams will actually give their fans before the offseason is over. Any of these gifts would be a great surprise to any of these teams, and could give their fans a very merry Christmas.