- Brian Symons
- Mar 5, 2021
Author: Jordan Plompen
Editor: Brian Symons
To describe the American League West in one word would be “unknown”. Two out of the five teams from the division made the playoffs in 2020 in the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros, although Houston was under .500. For almost every team there are several question marks. Unlike some other divisions, many believe there is no clear first-place team. The A’s lost 2019 MVP candidate Marcus Semien in free agency but added some bullpen pieces and veteran players. The Astros will need to deal with losing George Springer in free agency and Justin Verlander to Tommy John surgery, not to mention proving themselves after many players involved in the 2017 cheating scandal struggled during the regular season in 2020. The Angels will need to see if their rotation additions can keep them afloat. The Mariners hope Mitch Haniger can come back healthy and young players can break out. And the Rangers look to continue their rebuild with hopes of success in years to come after opening their new stadium in 2020. While there are at least three teams division-wide that have the potential to make the postseason, it would also not be surprising to only see the first-place team be playing in October. The American League West could arguably be a worse division than the NL Central from a talent standpoint. The biggest question coming from this division is this; will we see Mike Trout playing October baseball in 2021? We’ll have to wait and see.
First Place- Oakland Athletics
Projected Record- 92-70
Notable Additions- Trevor Rosenthal, Elvis Andrus, Mitch Moreland
Team MVP- Matt Olson
The Oakland A’s had yet another season of making the playoffs without spending much money or having household names on their roster. With a record of 36-24 (good enough for first in the division), they secured the number two postseason spot in the American League. However, after beating the White Sox at home in the wild card series, they were beaten by the division rival Houston Astros in the ALDS. The A’s hopes for a deep run into October were heavily altered in the previous month due to star third baseman Matt Chapman being ruled out for the postseason after having hip surgery. With fellow slugger Matt Olson having a down season in 2020, this was not the news fans in Oakland wanted to hear. It has long been noted in the bay area that the tandem of Matts at the corners of the infield has been a huge reason for their success. With the hope that they will both be back and healthy in 2021, the remaining pieces should be enough to keep the A’s in contention.
Although there were no major splashes made by Billy Beane this offseason, the right moves were made to fix holes on the roster. In what should be looked at as a good problem to have, there should be a bit of a revolving door between an abundance of outfielders and the DH spot. Newly acquired Mitch Moreland should get the majority of the starts at the designated hitter spot against right-handed pitchers, as he has raked when facing righties throughout his career and especially in 2020 (.277 BA, 9 HR, .983 OPS). Mark Cahna is likely the DH against lefties after his breakout 2019 in which he hit a career-high 26 home runs, although he has a good chance to play the outfield other days. With the remaining outfield rotation consisting of youngster Seth Brown, defensive wizard Ramon Laureano, and veterans Stephen Piscotty and Tony Kemp, there shouldn’t be many concerns in Oakland defensively. Although losing their closer from the land down under in Liam Hendricks in free agency to the White Sox, they made several supplemental bullpen moves that should ease the blow of his absence. Trevor Rosenthal was the biggest piece added. After several lost seasons, Rosenthal had a significant bounce-back season with KC and SD in 2020, with a 1.90 ERA, 0.845 WHIP, a 14.5 K/9, and 11 saves and should be locked in as the A’s closer. The additions of Adam Kolarek and Sergio Romo, as well as bringing back Yusmeiro Petit, will only help at the back ends of ballgames. Although many names on the Athletics roster are not necessarily superstars, the collective contributions by each player should give the A’s their second divisional title in as many seasons.
Potential Lineup-
Elvis Andrus, SS
Mark Cahna, LF
Matt Olson, 1B
Matt Chapman, 3B
Mitch Moreland, DH
Ramon Laureano, CF
Sean Murphy, C
Stephen Piscotty, RF
Chad Pinder, 2B
Potential Rotation-
Chris Bassitt
Sean Manaea
Mike Fiers
Frankie Montas
Jesus Luzardo
Best Relievers-
Trevor Rosenthal
Sergio Romo
Lou Trevino
Second Place- Houston Astros
Projected Record- 85-77
Notable Additions- Michael Brantley, Pedro Baez, Ryne Stanek
Team MVP- Yordan Alvarez
What a whirlwind it was for the Houston Astros the last year and a half. From coming to a win away from another world championship in October against the Nationals in 2019, to a long and trying process to uncover all information involving the 2017 cheating scandal, to improbably making the playoffs in 2020(despite being under .500) and being a win away from a rematch with the Dodgers, and ending with the disappointment of losing George Springer in free agency, the emotional roller coaster has not seemed to stop. As far as the cheating scandal goes, everyone involved in Major League Baseball is entitled to their own opinion. The biggest question mark in this category is how their road series’ in Los Angeles and New York will go with the addition of fans(although in limited numbers) for the first time in a regular-season game since they were proven, cheaters. As we saw with Joe Kelly in Houston last season, players do not take the situation lightly. With many Astros players involved in the scandal having down seasons in 2020, the question that is apparent is this; should their down seasons be ignored like other players and given the 60 game season excuse, or was the inability to cheat the reason for their abysmal numbers?
Before the cheating scandal investigation was over, the star power in Houston was known as some of the best in baseball. Although this may still be the case, it is up to their players to show that in 2021 and prove people wrong. It can be argued that the Astros infield core is the most important part of their ballclub, especially after the departure of George Springer to Toronto. Throughout the 2020 season, they were not the same players as we had become accustomed to. The combination of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and Yuli Gurriel each had the worst offensive seasons of their careers. Each player's OPS, BA, and Hard Hit% dropped drastically when compared to 2019. However, each of the same groups looked more like themselves in the postseason. Are the real players the ones we saw in the postseason, or are they actually more so the players we saw in the regular season? Although nothing was proven about cheating in the 2018-2019 seasons, including the playoffs, everyone has their suspicions. If the Astros expect to be in contention in 2021, their core will have to prove that they are as good as we saw prior to the 2020 season. While there were not many moves made by the front office in Houston this offseason, the return of Yordan Alvarez from injury seems like it has the potential to boost their lineup significantly. Bringing back Michael Brantley was a smart move, especially after losing Springer. Pedro Baez and Ryne Stanek should be helpful bullpen pieces. With Justin Verlander out for the year due to Tommy John surgery, their rotation is led by Zack Greinke, who is not what he used to be, and young players who showed potential in the 2020 postseason, but need to prove their worth over 162. Can the Houston Astros win the division? Yes, if their players prove they do not need to cheat to perform well. As of this moment, it has to be seen to be believed. Until their players show over 162 they are as good as they once were, the Astros have no business being compared to a team with a winning culture like the Oakland A’s, who have proven themselves fairly.
Potential Lineup-
Michael Brantley, LF
Jose Altuve, 2B
Yordan Alvarez, DH
Alex Bregman, 3B
Kyle Tucker, RF
Carlos Correa, SS
Yuli Gurriel, 1B
Martin Maldonado, C
Myles Straw, CF
Potential Rotation-
Zack Greinke
Framber Valdez
Lance McCullers Jr.
Jose Urquidy
Christian Javier
Best Relievers-
Ryan Pressly
Pedro Baez
Ryne Stanek
Third Place- Los Angeles Angels
Projected Record- 82-80
Notable Additions- Jose Quintana, Dexter Fowler, Raisel Iglesias
Team MVP- Mike Trout
2020 was about as different as a season could get from normal for several different reasons. It could easily be argued that the expanded playoff format was the biggest difference between last season and those before it. And yet even with that fact, the Los Angeles Angels could still not find a way for the entire nation to be able to watch Mike Trout play October baseball. The Halos ended the 2020 season with a record of 26-34, which was good for fourth in the AL West. With names in their lineup such as Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Shohei Ohtani, Justin Upton, and Albert Pujols, the Angels are not a team you would think would not make the playoffs. Although Trout was able to win his eighth silver slugger, it is apparent that baseball is one of the only sports where the leagues’ best player cannot carry their team to the postseason. Even though newly hired general manager Perry Minasian made several moves to improve the product on the field for the “other” baseball team in LA, a lot would have to go right in order to change the narrative in Anaheim.
As crazy as it may seem, 2020 was only the third time in Mike Trout’s career where he did not finish in the top three in MVP voting (stooping as low as 5th!). Pairing Trout together with Anthony Rendon looked to have the makings of a catapult to the postseason, but down years from almost everyone else in the lineup, to go along with an average pitching staff at best, it was not the case. However, this team has the potential upside to change in a hurry offensively in 2021. David Fletcher broke out in a big way in 2020, and the Halos hope that carries over. Shohei Ohtani will be back in the rotation, as well as being in full health in the batter's box after battling injuries. Jose Iglesias and Dexter Fowler are veterans who can still contribute. Barring the Angels lineup being struck by the injury bug, their offensive production should not be the issue. The real issue, which must sound like a broken record to Angels fans, is their lack of starting pitching. The additions of Jose Quintana and Alex Cobb will certainly help. However, a rotation consisting of these two veterans, as well as Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Heaney, and Dylan Bundy does not jump off the page. While it is definitely possible for each of these pitchers to have the best years of their careers to date, it is extremely unlikely. The storyline for the Halos always seems to revolve around a lack of starting pitching, and 2021 does not seem to be much different. The trade to acquire former Reds closer Raisel Iglesias was a good move, but with so many questions regarding the rest of the pitching staff, how many save opportunities will he actually have? In what has the potential to be Albert Pujols’ last season, it, unfortunately, does not appear that he or Mike Trout will be playing meaningful games in October in 2021.
Potential Lineup-
David Fletcher, 2B
Dexter Fowler, RF
Mike Trout, CF
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Shohei Ohtani, DH
Justin Upton, LF
Albert Pujols, 1B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Jose Iglesias, SS
Potential Rotation-
Dylan Bundy
Jose Quintana
Shohei Ohtani
Andrew Heaney
Alex Cobb
Best Relievers-
Raisel Iglesias
Mike Mayers
Felix Pena
Fourth Place- Seattle Mariners
Projected Record- 77-85
Notable Additions- James Paxton, Rafael Montero, Ken Giles
Team MVP- Kyle Lewis
Despite the expanded playoff format in 2020, the Mariners still found a way to increase their playoff drought to 19 seasons, the longest streak in North American sports history. With a 27-33 record, Seattle was only two games behind the Astros for the second seed in the AL West, although they still would have been below.500 if they had made it. The team was arguably without their best player in Mitch Haniger, who was an all-star in 2018. Veteran speedsters such as Dee Strange-Gordon and Mallex Smith had down years by their standards, and both have moved onto different teams in 2021. Yusei Kikuchi, the big pitching signing before the 2019 season, has yet to get his ERA below 5.00. And as recently as two weeks before spring training, President/CEO Kevin Mather resigned due to absolutely disgraceful comments about his own team and how he treated players. However with optimistic showings from young players last season and prospects yet to come, there does seem to be a glimmer of hope in Emerald City.
Young stud Kyle Lewis broke out in a big way during his first big league season, winning the AL rookie of the year award in 2020. Lewis is a plus outfielder and hitter, as he had a .801 OPS and a .985 fielding percentage last season. Former Phillies infielder J.P. Crawford won a gold glove at shortstop. Starting pitcher Justus Sheffield finally broke out, compiling an ERA under 4.00 for the first time in his career. The emergence of these players, to go along with lifetime Mariner Kyle Seager, could actually lead to some promising results. With a big three atop their rotation consisting of Marco Gonzales, Justus Sheffield, and the returning James Paxton, there is more potential than you might think. The acquisition of former Rangers closer Rafael Montero should help stabilize the back end of the bullpen. Although other big bullpen acquisition Ken Giles likely won’t pitch until 2022 due to Tommy John surgery, there is always the chance he helps out the club during a late September postseason push. With top prospect Jarred Kelenic steamrolling his way through all three levels of Seattle’s minor league system in 2019, as well as the hope that he will start the season with the major league club now that the Kevin Mather saga has been resolved, he will only help the situation. Fans in the Pacific Northwest should be hopeful. If everything goes right for this club, they have the potential to blow their expectations out of the water in 2021. Realistically, however, 2022 should be the year Seattle is aiming for. With the feels of a similar situation as that in San Diego and Toronto from the past two seasons, the upcoming offseason could be the time when the Mariners sign their Manny Machado or George Springer to go along with a young core.
Potential Lineup-
Kyle Lewis, CF
Jarred Kelenic, LF
Mitch Haniger, RF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Evan White, 1B
J.P. Crawford, SS
Tom Murphy, C
Ty France, DH
Dylan Moore, 2B
Potential Rotation-
Marco Gonzales
Justus Sheffield
James Paxton
Yusei Kikuchi
Nick Margevicius
Best Relievers-
Rafael Montero
Kendall Graveman
Brandon Brennan
Fifth Place- Texas Rangers
Projected Record- 70-92
Notable Additions- Khris Davis, David Dahl, Nate Lowe
Team MVP- Joey Gallo
Rounding out the American League West in 2021 will be the Texas Rangers. It was a brutal 60 game season in Arlington in 2020, as the Rangers had the worst record in the AL at 22-38, only three games ahead of the Pirates for the worst record overall. The season was disappointing, to say the least, as 2020 was the inaugural season of Globe Life Field. Longtime Ranger infielders Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor had extremely poor seasons by their standards. The middle infield duo, who were a part of multiple playoff teams in Texas, had their combined OPS drop over .100 points from .714 to .603, leading to the trade of Andrus to the A’s this offseason. Corey Kluber, whom they acquired before the 2020 season, only threw one inning all season. Mike Minor was nowhere close to his 2019 form and was shipped out to Oakland at the deadline. And superstar Joey Gallo took a major step back from 2019 to 2020. Gallo had a .253 batting average and a .986 OPS through 70 games in 2019, and drastically went down to a .181 BA and a .679 OPS in 2020. It is difficult to imagine a guy as talented as Joey Gallo will continue to struggle like that through 162 in 2021. With Kluber and Minor leaving Arlington via free agency, and the trade of Lance Lynn to the White Sox in December, the rotation is in shambles. If there is one aspect of the Texas Rangers that fans can try to be excited about, it would have to be the potential upside of certain offensive players, who may or may not be playing themselves into trades on July 31st.
Despite the negativity surrounding the Rangers, they did make several moves this offseason to add to their offense that could be classified as low risk, high reward moves. When Texas traded lifelong Ranger Elvis Andrus to Oakland, they took on the final year of DH/outfielder Khris Davis. Davis, known as a perennial high strikeout, high home run player his entire career, began to decline in 2019 and 2020. After hitting no less than 42 home runs from 2016-2018, he hit only 25 in 163 total games in 2019-2020. With his OPS dropping nearly .200 points from 2018 to 2019, and even worse in 2020, it remains to be seen if he can change back to the player he was. However, a player with a consistent past like his should never be counted out. From 2015-2018, Davis hit exactly .247 each season. The odds of the same exact batting average four seasons in a row are astronomically low. While averaging 40 home runs, 100 RBI, and a .849 OPS over that same span, it is not out of the question that he can find it again this year and be a trade piece in the last year of his contract. Another player they took a flyer on was former Rockies outfielder David Dahl. Although struggling in 2020, Dahl was an all-star in 2019, with a .877 OPS in 100 games. Only being on a one-year deal, it would not be surprising for Dahl to bounce back and be traded to a contender during the season. As far as internal pieces, the questions are simple. Is this the year former prized prospect Willie Calhoun breaks out over 162? Will Joey Gallo be back to his 40 homer form, to go along with his 2019 plate discipline? Can Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Nick Solak continue to impress taking over for Andrus and Odor up the middle? Can Rougned Odor show he can play well at third base? Rangers fans had better hope the answer to all of these questions is yes if they don’t want to be trampled over this season. With a starting rotation consisting of Kyle Gibson, and the best-known bullpen piece being Jose Leclerc, the Rangers’ offense will be what makes or breaks them. It is shaping out to be a long summer in Arlington. What Rangers fans should hope for is good offensive seasons from players in the first half so trades can be made to acquire prospects.
Potential Lineup-
David Dahl, CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS
Joey Gallo, RF
Khris Davis, DH
Willie Calhoun, LF
Nick Solak, 2B
Rougned Odor, 3B
Nate Lowe, 1B
Jose Trevino, C
Potential Rotation-
Kyle Gibson
Mike Foltynewicz
Dane Dunning
Taylor Hearn
Kohei Arihara
Best Relievers-
Jose Leclerc
Jonathan Hernandez
Joely Rodriguez
Many teams in the AL West have the potential to surprise fans around the league. If all goes right for the Angels and Mariners, they could be in the hunt for the second AL wild-card spot. However, that is a very big if. With neither team having a significantly huge track record by any means, they may still be a couple of years away. With the star power available in Houston, there is a chance they run on all cylinders and blow right past the Oakland Athletics. I will have to see the Astros lineup do a complete 180° from the 60 game season and play like they did in the playoffs. And even if they do, it can be argued that the A’s have better pitching and their lineup always finds ways to score. Oakland rarely falls apart before the playoffs begin, so it would not surprise me to see them take the division crown even if Houston improves. One team that will likely not surprise people is the Texas Rangers, who will most likely be a bottom-five team in the league. What people can be excited about in Arlington this summer is seeing if their players get traded to contenders at the deadline. Talent-wise, each team in the AL West has its holes. Will it be the most exciting division to watch? Probably not. However, don’t completely ignore them, folks. After all, the best player in baseball is bound to have some memorable moments roaming centerfield for the Halos in Los Angeles this summer.
SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE
