The American League felt wide open last season. That feels like the case again this year.
The Detroit Tigers paced the first half as the best team in baseball but remain a young team with flaws. The New York Yankees are deep in the mix as the reigning American League champions, though they face plenty of competition in the AL East with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.
The Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners also clash with October visions in the AL West as another pair of contenders.
Long story short? There is no true favorite to represent the American League in the World Series in a few months.
The MLB trade deadline could and should change that.
There’s enough parity in the league and a lack of separation among contenders that whichever club acts more aggressively by 6 p.m. ET on Thursday could gain enough momentum to ride to the World Series.
The Tigers and Yankees could use a bat with Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez as a prime candidate. The Red Sox lead the charge for those in need of a frontline starter. Garrett Crochet is an ace at the top of that staff, though Boston could certainly benefit from another top arm in front of Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito.
For another year in the American League, it’s anyone’s game. An aggressive trade deadline very well could be the difference by October.
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