July is almost over and the trade deadline fast approaches. It's time to take a look at the American League power rankings.  With the addition of an extra wild card spot this next 2 plus months is going to be as exciting as it gets.

1. Texas Rangers (57-38) - Texas hasn't had much luck with their pitching staff and injuries as they just placed Colby Lewis on the DL for the remainder of the season. Naftali Feliz has been on the DL the majority of the season.  They will be looking for an arm at the trade deadline. The offense is explosive as it gets so if their pitching gets healthy they are the favorite in the AL going forward.

2. New York Yankees (58-38) - The Yankees welcome Ichiro who will look to add to an already dangerous lineup.  Ichiro gives them more speed and an experienced outfielder for the stretch run. If Phil Hughes can keep up his momentum the Yankees will be tough to beat.

3. Detroit Tigers (52-44) - The Tigers are one of the hotest teams in all of baseball right now and the offense is starting to come around which  makes them a dangerous out in October.  Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball and the recent addition of Anibal Sanchez should deepen their rotation.

4. LA Angels (53-44) - The Angels have been energized by the youngsters Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo but Albert Pujols is out of his early season funk and the Weaver, Wilson, Haren combinatin in the rotation is scary.  The Angels have gotten back into this race and don't appear to be going anywhere.

5. Oakland A's (51-44) - Perhaps the most amazing story of the season has the Oakland A's battling for a playoff spot.  Left for dead at the beginning of the sesaon the A's have won 9 out of 10 and are right on the heels of the Angels and other wild card contending teams. Josh Reddick has been huge for this team.

6. Baltimore Orioles (51-45) - Just when you think the Orioles are ready to drop out of the race they put a string of wins together.  Adam Jones has been their best player all year but getting Nick Markakis back at the top of the lineup has been huge for a team that still has a chance to make the playoffs which is a huge step for this young team.

7. Toronto Blue Jays (48-47) - The Blue Jays are a hit or miss team right now. They looked great sweeping the Red Sox without Jose Bautista over the weekend but their pitching is too inconsistent to keep them in this race. Ricky Romero has been terrible and he needs to be their best pitcher if they want to make any noise.

8. Tampa Bay Rays (49-47) - The Rays continue to hang in their without their all everything third basemen Evan Longoria.  Rumors are there tha they might try and move James Shields or Jeremy Helickson and Juston Upton is also on the block. If they can get Longoria back and hold onto Shields this team can be dangerous and one that nobody will want to see in October.

9. Chicago White Sox (51-45) - The White Sox have really hit hard times and their division lead is now gone.  They have an  up hill battle if they want to catch the Tigers. Paul Konerko is in a bit of a funk right now and they need his bat to get hot if they hope to stay in the race.

10. Boston Red Sox (48-49) - The Red Sox are simply a very big dissapointment.  The offense leads the league in runs but they cant get the pitching that they are acustomed to getting. Jon Lester and and Josh Beckett have been as bad as it gets and that can't happen for a team that relies on their aces.

11. Cleveland Indians (48-48) - The Indians continue to hang in there but don't seem like a logical contender as we hit the home stretch. Justin Masterson has been good, bad then good but they can't get any consistency out of their lineup.

12. Seattle Mariners (42-56) - The Mariners just traded Ichiro who has been a fixture of their lineup for the last 10 years. There are talks that King Felix is next but I can't see the Mariners getting rid of one of the top young pitchers in the game.

13. Minnesotta Twins (40-56) - The Twins are well the Twins. The offense is very limited and they dont have any pitching.  Francisco Liriano has shown flashes of his talents but then follows it up with a bad start.  He may be traded and if that's the case hopefully the Twins can bring back some young talented prospects.

14. Kansas City Royals (40-55) - I expected the Royals to be better than this but they can't seem to put anything together.  Jonothan Sanchez has been a failed experment and the offense just isn't clicking.