We are now in the third part of the MLB division previews with the American League West now up for analysis. Last year the Texas Rangers stunned the baseball world and captured the division crown from the upstart and surprising Houston Astros. This year the division promises to have a lot of parity and it should be an interesting race with a lot of teams that have some major flaws, but the Astros clearly are the favorites and have the most well-rounded roster.
(Note: Teams in order of finish in 2015)
Texas Rangers
Top Offseason Move: Signing of OF Ian Desmond
The Rangers did not do much this offseason as they were limited by budget constraints, but they did sign Desmond who should seriously lengthen their lineup, to a very reasonable deal. I know some people do not like it because they gave up the 19th pick, but they also get a compensatory pick back from Yovani Gallardo signing with the Orioles, and Desmond is insurance at multiple positions. He is a solid fit and should be motivated to prove doubters wrong.
Key Departure: SP Yovani Gallardo
The Rangers did not lose much and even losing Gallardo is not a big deal. However, Gallardo did give them valuable innings last year and with this pitching staff a huge question mark due to injuries in the past, the innings Gallardo provided had huge value. That being said they will be fine without him, and should have better options going forward.
X-Factor: SP Derek Holland
Holland is capable of pitching very well and the Rangers are going to need him to pitch well if they are going to make the playoffs once again. Having Cole Hamels for a full season should help, but if Holland cannot once again be the number two or three starter for the Rangers, they will be relying on an awful lot of back-end of the rotation guys to keep them afloat. Holland is one guy who can really put together some great performances, and his potential is much greater than that of fellow starters Chi Chi Gonzalez and Colby Lewis.
Pitching Staff Rank: 1st
This staff really has a lot of question marks. Yu Darvish will not return until May at the earliest, Martin Perez and Holland have had injury problems, Lewis is a back-end starter at best who pitches to contact and Gonzalez had very low strikeout rates and high contact rates. These starters could put it together and become a solid unit, but there are a lot of questions here. That being said, I still think they get positive returns on most of them, though.
Lineup Rank: 1st
Love our content? Check out the GoingFor2 Live Podcast Network!
This lineup is really ferocious. Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre, Desmond, Mitch Moreland, Joey Gallo, Elvis Andrus, and Shin-Soo Choo should put fear into opposing pitchers as all of them can work the count, get on base, and hit for power. If this lineup stays healthy and produces what they have in the past, this team could be scary good offensively and will really take pressure off the pitching staff.
Houston Astros
Top Offseason Move: Acquiring CP Ken Giles
The top move of the Astros was to lock down the back-end of their bullpen and they did so by acquiring a young fireballer who is under team control for several more years. The price was steep and I question whether or not he was worth all they gave up, but there is no doubt this makes them a vastly better team today and in the next few years.
Key Departure: SP Scott Kazmir
Kazmir was acquired before the deadline and his first bunch of starts were outstanding, but Kazmir wore down at the end of the year and was not the same guy by the end of it. I know they were not going to pay him due to restraints and the money they had spent other places, but this was a guy who was pretty consistent for the first 175 innings, something they will surely miss this year.
X-Factor: SP Doug Fister
One of my favorite moves of the offseason was signing Fister to be a back-end of the rotation guy. When Fister was at his best he was a command guy who generated a ton of ground balls with his cutter, but he struggled the past couple of years with injuries and saw his strikeout rate dip. If Fister can become at least close to what he was this is a steal for the Astros. I think there is more in there and this will be one of the top bargains on the offseason.
Pitching Staff Rank: 3rd
The staff gets points for having the reigning Cy Young winner heading their rotation, but there are some question marks in there. Dallas Keuchel is fantastic, Lance McCullers had a very strong rookie year, Collin McHugh is a solid pitcher and they took a flyer on Fister. They also have Scott Feldman as their fifth starter and Mike Fiers as a depth option. Some good quantity, but not a ton of quality.
Lineup Rank: 2nd
This lineup should be a lot better this year with a full year of young phenom Carlos Correa in the middle of the order. Throw in a full season of Carlos Gomez and George Springer as well and this team should be set in the top to middle of the order. The question is can Colby Rasmus replicate his prior season? Can Jon Singleton prove to be a big league hitter and hit even .230? This team has some black spots, but the top is very strong.
Los Angeles Angels
Top Offseason Move: Acquisition of SS Andrelton Simmons
A very good move by the Angels to acquire one of the top defensive shortstops we have ever seen and to be honest, they did not give up much. They gave up their top two prospects, but for the Angels that wasn’t much considering their weak farm system. I like the move, but they needed a hitter too, and Simmons is not that. Not a fan of this being their big move.
Key Departure: none
The Angels did not lose anyone of note and that is important as they have a number of weaknesses in their lineup and in their rotation. Lots of questions here.
X-Factor: SP Andrew Heaney
This rotation needs a pitcher to step up. Jered Weaver looked like a shell of his former self, throwing just 86 mph, down from 92 mph just a few years ago, C.J. Wilson is inconsistent and a third starter at best, and Matt Shoemaker had severe ups and downs last season. That leaves the young Heaney as the guy who needs to step up and provide innings and a low ERA for this team that probably will not score many runs.
Pitching Staff Rank: 5th
This staff, as mentioned above, lacks a lot. Garrett Richards is a very good starter, but if he misses time there is no one on this staff capable of dominating a lineup two or three times through. For a team that has as big of a payroll as the Angels do you think they would spend it a bit more wise and invest in a durable mid to top of the rotation guy, but Shoemaker, Hector Santiago, Weaver and Wilson is not going to strike fear into opposing offenses.
Lineup Rank: 4th
This lineup has the best player in the game and a solid number two hitter in Kole Calhoun. They also have a very good cleanup or three hitter in Albert Pujols. After that though there is a huge drop off. Daniel Nava, C.J. Cron, and Yunel Escobar figure to be important pieces for this team and those guys are all average at best as overall hitters as they all have glaring weaknesses that have been exposed in the past. This is a rough lineup, no way around it.
Seattle Mariners
Top Offseason Move: Acquisition of 1B/DH/OF Adam Lind, SP Nate Karns
Jerry DiPoto has made some solid moves since he took over as their general manager. I love the Lind deal as Lind gives them another bat that fits perfectly in the number five hole, and he has a solid contract for this year. I also like the Karns deal as they added to the depth of their rotation with a guy who is perfect number three starter when healthy behind Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma.
Key Departure: RP Carson Smith
Giving up Smith for Wade Miley was a questionable decision for DiPoto as Smith has five more years of team control and although Miley is under control for two more years and a club option at reasonable rates, he got shelled in about every third start last season. They could have gotten a better haul than Miley for a young power reliever, someone they will definitely miss.
X-Factor: SP Taijuan Walker
Walker was an extremely hyped prospect in the Mariners system and he has the stuff to match that hype. Last year he didn’t have a great year, but I think it was a learning experience for him as he pitched just under 170 innings and still struck out almost a batter per inning. If Walker can limit the batters that get on base and be more efficient with his pitches I think he can have a big year.
Pitching Staff Rank: 2nd
This staff may have holes in it and Miley, Walker, Karns and James Paxton may not be getting many people excited, but they still possess one of the top pitchers in baseball and one who has been solid for the past three years now in Hernandez and Iwakuma respectively. This staff is in a much better place than most others and I am bullish on them this season.
Lineup Rank: 3rd
This lineup has always struggled to score runs, but the good news is they have Nelson Cruz returning and have added Lind, Leonys Martin, and Nori Aoki to their roster. This team will not be lighting up the scoreboard and may struggle at times, but they are better off than the Angels and A’s.
Oakland Athletics
Top Offseason Move: Acquisition of OF Khris Davis, remake of bullpen
Davis is not a great hitter and he struggles to hit for average, but when he makes solid contact look out. Davis does get on base at a reasonable clip and should provide some thump into this lineup at a reasonable price. The bullpen also added Ryan Madson and Liam Hendriks and should have enough arms to shorten games for their very thin staff.
Key Departure: P Jesse Chavez, IF Brett Lawrie
Chavez is a bigger loss than people think due to his ability to be a swing pitcher. He could pitch effectively out of the bullpen for one or a few innings and could also be a solid starter. They did get back Hendriks, who is a good reliever in his own right, but they will no doubt miss Chavez’s contributions.
X-Factor: OF Khris Davis
I just mentioned Davis above and he is a key to their lineup and team. You know this team will pitch decently well because that is what they are set up to do, but will they hit enough and where will their power come from? Josh Reddick cannot be counted on to provide 25-30 home runs and Billy Butler is a high on base guy with limited power. They need Davis to be that 30 home run guy he proved he could be last year.
Pitching Staff Rank: 4th
This staff gets points for having Sonny Gray in it along with Kendall Graveman, but to rely on the reclamation of Rich Hill as one of their starters is a mistake in my opinion. I do not see Hill having that success again this year and I have a very hard time believing that this guy will finally stay healthy having to pitch more innings.
Lineup Rank: 5th
This lineup is extremely weak and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish as the worst offense in the American League. This team usually does not have a ton of great hitters and rely on situational hitting, but this year they seem saddled with bad splits and low power and on base guys.
Projected Division Finish:
1. Houston Astros
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland Athletics
[wysija_form id=”1″]
ATTN Dynasty Commissioners: Do you want to do something cool for your league? How about a 1-hour live show dedicated to YOUR league? Team-by-team breakdowns, rankings, and more. For details and to book a show, visit: GoingFor2.com/plp.
