One move each AL West team must make before the trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline is July 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and because only 11 teams have winning records, it promises to be the most intriguing day of the season.

In the AL West, the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels will surely part ways with several players, and it's possible the Houston Astros and reigning champion Texas Rangers will join them as sellers. Meanwhile, the division-leading Seattle Mariners are only a few pieces from being a legitimate World Series contender.

With that in mind, here is one move each AL West team must make ahead of the trade deadline.

(All statistics and records are through games on 6/18.)

Houston Astros (33-40)

The move: Trade third baseman Alex Bregman 

Coming off seven consecutive AL Championship Series appearances, the Astros find themselves in a position they haven't been in nearly a decade. Houston is on the outside looking in at the postseason, sitting 7.5 games back of the third AL wild-card spot. 

Although GM Dana Brown said earlier in June that he doesn't "see any scenario where" the Astros are sellers, he should consider moving Bregman if the team doesn't win consistently soon.

Bregman, a two-time All-Star, is in the final season of the six-year, $100 million contract extension he signed in 2019 but has struggled during his contract year. In 69 games, Bregman has a slash line of .241/.303/.400 with nine home runs and 33 RBI. Houston didn't offer Bregman a new deal this past winter and given his underwhelming start to the season, it seems unlikely the team will offer him the contract he's seeking. 

Even so, many teams searching for a rental bat would be interested in the third baseman should Houston decide he's expendable. Unless Brown intends on re-signing Bregman, which could turn out to be a mistake on its own, there's little reason to hold onto him past the deadline. 

Los Angeles Angels (29-44)

The move: Trade RHP Tyler Anderson

Los Angeles will likely be sellers, especially considering it thinned what was an already weak farm system at last season's trade deadline. The Angels have multiple intriguing veterans they could ship elsewhere, including impending free-agent OF Kevin Pillar and OF Taylor Ward — the team's most valuable trade chip.

Even though Los Angeles should explore trades for nearly every player on the roster, it must cash in on Anderson's value and cut ties with the 34-year-old.

On the surface, Anderson's numbers are impressive enough that he should draw considerable interest from contending teams. In 87.1 innings this season, the southpaw has a 2.58 ERA, the ninth best in the majors among qualified pitchers. However, Anderson has walked 38 this season, the third most in baseball.

Additionally, Anderson's underlying metrics suggest he could be a second-half regression candidate, as he has a 4.65 expected ERA and an expected FIP of 5.08, the third highest of his career. If he doesn't get shelled during his next few starts, the Angels should be able to persuade a pitcher-needy team to pay a decent price for Anderson. 

Oakland Athletics (27-48) 

The move: Trade RHP Mason Miller 

Among a laundry list of other issues, the A's have long been criticized for trading seemingly every promising player they've had. But it makes sense to deal Miller at the deadline even though he is one of the few bright spots for the team.

Miller has the potential to be a multiple-time All-Star during his career, but his value will likely never be higher than it is now. And as we've seen countless times in the past, relievers — no matter who they are — aren't consistently dominant from season to season.

In addition to having the second-highest fWAR (1.3) and K/9 rate (15.70) among qualified relievers this season, Miller has a 2.20 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 13 saves. The right-hander would be the most-sought reliever on the trade market if Oakland made him available, and considering he's under club control through 2029, the team would net a massive haul for Miller. 

Seattle Mariners (44-31)

The move: Acquire White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. 

The most notable fire sale at this year's deadline will take place on the South Side of Chicago, and it appears everything must go. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the White Sox are willing to move star outfielder Robert, who'll be in high demand from teams looking to make a splash.

Seattle has arguably the top rotation in the majors this season, ranking fourth in ERA (3.29) and first in WHIP (1.01) and innings (442.2). The offense, on the other hand, is disappointing (23rd in OPS, .674). With the arms to make a deep playoff run and a farm system loaded with top-end talent, the Mariners must acquire an impact bat.

Robert has only played in 20 games this season due to a hip flexor strain, and while his slash line of .176/.247/.486 is concerning, he has showcased the power we've come to expect from him. Nine of Robert's 13 hits this season have gone for extra bases, seven of them home runs. A change of scenery would benefit Robert, who could be invigorated by joining a talented young Mariners team that could contend for a World Series for the foreseeable future. 

Texas Rangers (33-40)

The move: Trade RHP Kirby Yates 

Another team in a difficult spot with the trade deadline looming, Texas has several massive decisions to make in the coming weeks. The Rangers are 7.5 games back from the final AL wild-card spot, but Max Scherzer (herniated disc) is close to returning, and right-handers Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle and 3B Josh Jung should be back this season.

While this might discourage the Rangers from blowing up the roster at the deadline, it might be in their best interest to become a soft seller by trading players who aren't in the team's long-term plans. Although Texas owns the third-highest bullpen ERA in the majors (4.79), it has two members from the group, Yates and David Robertson, who could fetch a nice return for the team.  

Yates, in particular, is the name Texas should be the most motivated to move. After making a resurgence with the Atlanta Braves last season, the 37-year-old is off to a stellar start to his Rangers tenure, posting a 1.07 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 10 saves in 25.1 innings. There's no telling how the reliever market will shape up, but Yates would undoubtedly be one of the most desirable rental arms at the deadline.