MLB Trade Speculation: 3 Teams That Could “Wow” Angels in Jered Weaver Deal

Jered Weaver is one of the Major League Baseball's greatest young pitchers. 

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim sit three games back in the American League West. 

Also, the Angels fear Weaver will take them to salary arbitration in the offseason. This could result in one of the biggest arbitration-based pay increases in MLB history. 

These three points put the Angels in a tough spot, one where moving Weaver at the MLB trade deadline is a likely option. 

Weaver is a great pitcher, and many teams would be vying for his services if he's available. 

Here is a list of three teams that would make sense. 

As always please comment with your opinion on the Weaver story. I'm always interested. 

New York Yankees

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CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 20: Ivan Nova #47 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 20, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Whenever a big name enters the trade speculation, the New York Yankees are always in the mix. 

The Yankees have the money and assets to attract the Angels. 

Jered Weaver might just be the person the Yankees need to put them over the hump and win the AL East. 

The Yankees lack depth in their starting rotation, and adding a proven ace like Jered Weaver would be huge.

If it weren't for a couple of surprising performances from the likes of Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, the Yankees would be desperate to land Weaver. 

Expect the Yankees to make a run at acquiring Weaver.

Boston Red Sox

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BOSTON, MA - JUNE 20: Andrew Miller #30 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after he gave up a three-run home run to Orlando Hudson #1 of the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on June 20, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The Boston Red Sox should also be in the mix when it comes to acquiring Jered Weaver. 

Like the Yankees, the Red Sox are also lacking depth in their starting rotation. 

If the Red Sox find out that the Yankees are making a move towards Weaver, they should do the same. 

The Red Sox only sit 1.5 games ahead of the Yankees for the division, and maybe each team feels that whoever pays for his services will likely take the division. 

This could result in an all-out bidding war for Jered Weaver, which can only be good for the Angels. 

St. Louis Cardinals

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ST. LOUIS, MO - JUNE 19: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals holds his wrist after a collision with Wilson Betemit #24 of the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on June 19, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)

The Cardinals are a third team with money to burn and in need of pitching help. 

The Cardinals have just lost Albert Pujols for four to six weeks with a fractured forearm, and this means that they are going to need even more defensive help if they are to keep pace in the NL Central, where they are currently in a tie for first with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cardinals, make no mistake, are clearly third in the race to obtain Jered Weaver; however, expect them to at least try for the deal.