Season-preview capsules: AL West
Send a link to a friend
[March 26, 2019]
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST (in
projected order of finish)
HOUSTON ASTROS
To review: 103-59 in 2018, first in AL West, lost in ALCS
What's new: Additions include OF Michael Brantley, C Robinson
Chirinos and LHP Wade Miley. Gone are C Brian McCann, UT Marwin
Gonzalez, DH Evan Gattis, LHP Dallas Keuchel and RHP Charlie Morton.
Cause for concern: Versatile RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is out for the
2019 season after needing Tommy John surgery, and former top
right-handed pitching prospect Francis Martes is suspended 80 games
after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Ace
RHPs Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole are each on track to become
free agents after the season.
Projecting 2019: The Astros are once again among the favorites in
the AL, returning a star-studded roster that will benefit from the
addition of three-time All-Star Brantley. With Verlander leading the
staff, pitching remains a strength, and top right-handed pitching
prospect Forrest Whitley isn't far from adding himself to the mix.
Outfield prospect Kyle Tucker could stick in the majors after making
his debut last season, adding to a core that received a long-term
boost in the form of 3B Alex Bregman's six-year, $100 million
extension.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
To review: 80-82 in 2018, fourth in AL West
What's new: Additions include C Jonathan Lucroy, 1B Justin Bour,
RHPs Matt Harvey, Cody Allen and Trevor Cahill and new manager Brad
Ausmus. Gone are RHP Garrett Richards and former skipper Mike
Scioscia.
Cause for concern: DH Shohei Ohtani (Tommy John surgery) won't be
ready for Opening Day in addition to not being able to pitch all
season. LHPs Tyler Skaggs (forearm) and Andrew Heaney (elbow) remain
injury-prone this spring.
Projecting 2019: The Scioscia era has come to an end in Los Angeles,
but the Angels made sure the Mike Trout era will last the bulk of
the star outfielder's career with a record-shattering, 12-year deal
worth more than $430 million signed this spring. Trout remains a
perennial MVP candidate capable of keeping the Angels in striking
distance in the AL nearly himself. He'll soon get help in the form
of top outfield prospect Jo Adell, who reached Double-A last season.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
To review: 97-65, second in AL West, lost AL wild-card game
What's new: Additions include UT Jurickson Profar, OF Robbie
Grossman and RHP Marco Estrada. Gone are C Jonathan Lucroy, 2B Jed
Lowrie and RHPs Trevor Cahill and Jeurys Familia.
Cause for concern: LHP Sean Manaea's 2019 season is in question as
he continues to recover from arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Meanwhile, 1B Matt Olson (29 HRs in 2018) will miss the early
portion of the season after undergoing surgery to address a hand
fracture.
Projecting 2019: It's tough to gauge expectations for the A's, who
shocked baseball with a playoff run last season after three straight
last-place finishes in the AL West. The roster remains one of the
cheapest in baseball and short on star power, but 3B Matt Chapman is
poised for superstardom after proving he's more than a glove at the
hot corner last season. Left-handed pitching prospect A.J. Puk's
expected return from Tommy John surgery could offer a bright look
into Oakland's future, though the Athletics' stock took a hit when
2018 first-rounder Kyler Murray announced he intends to play in the
NFL over MLB.
[to top of second column] |
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) throws to first base
and retires New York Mets catcher Wilson Ramos (not pictured) in the
second inning of a spring training game at FITTEAM Ballpark of the
Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
SEATTLE MARINERS
To review: 89-73, third in AL West
What's new: Additions include C Omar Narvaez, 1B/DH Edwin
Encarnacion, 1B/OF Jay Bruce, SS Tim Beckham, OFs Domingo Santana
and Mallex Smith, LHP Yusei Kikuchi and RHP Hunter Strickland. Gone
are 2B Robinson Cano, DH Nelson Cruz, SS Jean Segura, RHP Edwin
Diaz, C Mike Zunino and LHP James Paxton.
Cause for concern: RHP Felix Hernandez couldn't hold a rotation spot
last season; he'll make $27 million in the final year of his
contract in 2019. The loss of Cano, Cruz and Segura isn't offset by
the additions of Encarnacion and Bruce, and Diaz saved 64 percent of
the team's wins last season.
Projecting 2019: After years of appearing poised to end their
lengthy playoff drought, the Mariners blew it up this offseason and
appear headed toward a rebuild. Seattle could bounce back quickly,
though, as key pieces obtained in trades -- such as LHP Justus
Sheffield and RHP Justin Dunn -- aren't far from the majors. Adding
former top shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford from the Phillies gives
Seattle a wild card as it looks to establish a new core.
TEXAS RANGERS
To review: 67-95, fifth in AL West
What's new: Additions include C Jeff Mathis, 3B Asdrubal Cabrera, OF
Hunter Pence, RHPs Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller, LHP Drew Smyly and
first-time manager Chris Woodward. Gone are 3B Adrian Beltre, C
Robinson Chirinos, UT Jurickson Profar and RHP Bartolo Colon.
Cause for concern: Texas committed more errors than any other AL
team last season, and overcoming that flaw doesn't figure to get any
easier with Beltre's retirement. Behind LHP Mike Minor, the Rangers'
rotation is a bunch of question marks.
Projecting 2019: The Rangers are making things interesting with
gambles on arms such as Smyly and Miller, but it's likely the team
will once again struggle this season. Further development from RF
Nomar Mazara and cutting down LF Joey Gallo's lofty strikeout totals
will be key areas of focus as Texas continues its rebuild, which
isn't expected to leap forward as none of the team's top prospects
have played beyond Double-A.
--By Kyle Brasseur, Field Level Media
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |