The time of the year has arrived when all eyes of the sporting world are on the Super Bowl, the NBA & NHL are at their halfway marks, and the countdown begins for pitchers & catchers to report to MLB camps. Once Katy Perry has belted “Firework” & the confetti falls on the field for the NFL champion, attention can truly be turned to baseball. With that in mind, it is not too early to assess how one of the more interesting divisions in baseball, the AL West, is shaping up for 2015.
Houston Astros
Manager: A.J. Hinch
Key acquisitions: RP Luke Gregerson, RP Pat Neshek, SS Jed Lowrie, C/OF Evan Gattis, OF Colby Rasmus, 3B Luis Valbuena, SP Dan Straily, C Hank Conger
Key departures: OF Dexter Fowler, SP Nick Tropeano, C Carlos Corporan, SP/RP Michael Foltynewicz
Offseason moves: The Houston Astros have finally begun to climb out of the abyss with an offseason that has seen the team acquire some veterans to surround their growing youth corps under 
new manager A.J. Hinch. GM Jeff Luhnow said at the beginning of the offseason that he wanted to address the bullpen, as Astros relievers had the worst ERA in the majors at 4.80. He promptly signed two of the bigger relief pitchers on the free-agent market, Luke Gregerson & Pat Neshek, to fortify a huge hole on the club.
The Astros made a trade with the Atlanta Braves, sending 3B prospect Rio Ruiz & right-handed pitcher Michael Foltynewciz to acquire C/OF 
Evan Gattis, who has one of the best power strokes in the game with 22 HRs in just 369 ABs in 2014.
The Astros also reunited with Jed Lowrie, who has a career .261 average, to play SS until top prospect Carlos Correa is ready in a year or two, and signed FA OF Colby Rasmus (18 HRs in 2014) to replace Dexter Fowler, who was traded for two players expected to contribute to the 2015 team, 3B Luis Valbuena & SP Dan Straily.
The Astros also acquired C Hank Conger from the Angels, an excellent pitch-framer who has some pop with the bat.
Outlook: After years of retooling & more inactivity in the Hot Stove season than a couch potato, the Astros upped the payroll this offseason (largely due to finally resolving the local TV revenue fiasco) & Luhnow made several moves to improve the team.
The bullpen has added quality arms & while neither Gregerson nor Neshek is a proven closer, both will be in the mix along with RP Chad Qualls to close games with the Astros.
The lineup has added home run power with the additions of Gattis & Rasmus to hit alongside George Springer & Chris Carter, but they will all strike out a lot while swinging for the fences. Springer will be a key, as he was one of the most exciting players in baseball with 20 HRs in 295 ABs in his rookie campaign, but he must avoid the sophomore slump.
Astros 1B Jon Singleton has to improve as a hitter after a rookie season where he hit .168 & struck out 134 times in just 310 ABs, while Matt Dominguez may be sharing 3B with newly acquired Luis Valbuena. If neither Dominguez nor Singleton can cut it, Hinch has the flexibility to play Carter or Gattis at 1B, while Luis Valbuena & Marwin Gonzales can handle 3B until prospect Colin Moran is ready.
Much will be expected from Jose Altuve, MLB’s leading hitter in 2014 with a .341 avg., to wreck havoc on the basepaths as a tablesetter for this powerful lineup, and have C Jason Castro rebound from his subpar season.
Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, and Scott 
Feldman lead the Astros rotation, but their quest to land another FA starter in Ryan Vogelsong fell flat after he re-signed with the Giants. The Astros still could add another arm before the season starts, but right now a lot is dependent on Keuchel & McHugh pitching as well as they did last year, and youngsters like Mark Appel & Asher Wojciechowski being called up to contribute at some point in the season. Is this a winning team, as Jeff Luhnow boldly proclaimed on MLB Network?
A lot will have to go right for that to happen, including repeat stellar starting pitching, a solid bullpen & a lineup that hits a lot of home runs, but right now, a more modest improvement to around .500 would be another big step for the Astros, especially in the difficult AL West.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Manager: Mike Scioscia
Key acquisitions: OF Matt Joyce, SP Andrew Heaney, SP Nick Tropeano, 2B Josh Rutledge
Key departures: 2B Howie Kendrick, RP Kevin Jepsen, C Hank Conger, RP Jason Grilli
Offseason moves: Coming off a 98 win season in the American League last season, the Angels have done minor retooling under GM Jerry Dipoto this offseason. The Halos did trade away their longtime pillar at 2B, Howie Kendrick, to the crosstown Dodgers, in order to pick up starting pitching depth with the promising Andrew Heaney.
The Angels acquired another young pitcher by dealing C Hank Conger to the Astros for Nick Tropeano. The most likely candidate for 2B is Josh Rutledge, acquired from the Rockies for minor league reliever Jairo Diaz.
Outlook: The Angels are the team to beat as the defending AL West champion, with Mike Scioscia proving once again he is one of the best managers with the majors’ best record in 2014. The 
Halos have spent their offseason building the pitching depth with Heaney & Tropeano in case ace starting pitcher Garrett Richards, who had leg surgery last August after his season ending injury, is not ready to start the 2015 campaign or he struggles to regain form.
Richards, Jered Weaver & Matt Shoemaker will headline the Halos’ rotation, while the team hopes for a strong bounce-back season from erratic lefty C.J. Wilson, which is like wanting another hit single from Duran Duran. There were rumblings the Angels would add another big time starting pitcher, but to this point Arte Moreno seems content not to exceed the 189 million luxury tax threshold.
Losing Kendrick will hurt their lineup & the double play combo with Erick Aybar, but the Angels wanted a young pitcher with high upside like Heaney & are confident they can patch together enough offense to stay competitive. The Angels have another big contract player needing to show something in 2015, and it is not Albert Pujols, who as quietly as one can (for a 254 million dollar player) put up 28 HRs & 105 RBIs in 2014.
Josh Hamilton slugged just 10 HRs in 338 ABs & ended 2014 with about as big a decline as oil prices. While no one expects Hamilton to regain his All Star status, having a solid year of production would boost the Halos’ lineup. And of course, barring injury, there should be no slowdown from AL MVP Mike Trout.
For the Halos to repeat as division champions & go back to the playoffs, they are going to need Richards healthy all season, their number 4 & 5 starters to pick up the slack, closer Huston Street to anchor their pen, and production from the big names in their lineup.
Oakland Athletics
Manager: Bob Melvin
Key acquisitions: 2B Ben Zobrist, RP Tyler Clippard, 3B Brett Lawrie, 1B Ike Davis, DH Billy Butler, SP Jesse Hahn, RP Eury De La Rosa
Key departures: 3B Josh Donaldson, 1B Brandon Moss, SP Jeff Samardzija, SP Jon Lester, SP Jason Hammel, SS Jed Lowrie, RP Luke Gregerson, C Derek Norris, C John Jaso, 3B Alberto Callaspo, 2B Nick Punto, OF Adam Dunn
Offseason moves: GM Billy Beane has once again used the Hot Stove season to turn over the A’s roster in a way that would make fantasy owners do a double take. His first moves were relatively quiet, signing free-agent Billy Beane to be the team’s DH & picking up Ike Davis from the Buc to play 1B.
His next move, however, sent shockwaves throughout the industry by trading away All Star 3B Josh Donaldson, still under club control for another few years, to the Toronto Blue Jays for 3B Brett Lawrie, minor league pitchers Sean Nolin & Kendall Graveman, and heralded 18-year-old SS Franklin Barreto. Beane then flipped power-hitting 1B Brandon Moss to the Indians for minor league 2B Joe Wendle.
Free-agent-to-be starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija was the next to depart in Oakland’s fire sale, going with pitcher Michael Ynoa to the Chicago White Sox for SP Chris Bassitt, C Josh Phegley, 1B Rangel Ravelo, and SS Marcus Semien. The A’s then acquired SP Jesse Hahn & RP R.J. Alvarez from the San Diego Padres for C Derek Norris & SP Seth Streich. Beane still was not done, as he wanted to open 2015 with a deal & acquired 2B Ben Zobrist & SS Yunel Escobar from the Tampa Bay Rays for C John Jaso, CF Boog Powell, SS Daniel Robertson, and cash. A’s fans did not have much time to buy a Yunel Escobar jersey, because he was flipped for RP Tyler Clippard from the Washington Nationals.
Outlook: The A’s under Billy Beane reshuffle their roster every offseason (and this past one was head spinning as noted above), but it is hard to question the man & his Moneyball methods. The A’s have been to the playoffs three straight years, although this upcoming season will test that run.
The A’s went for it last season getting ace pitcher Jon Lester from the Red Sox at the trading deadline, but ended up with a late season slide that saw an epic collapse against the Royals in the wildcard game. Whether that was the impetus or not, Billy Beane decided to blow up the roster & restock the farm system to prepare for 2015 & beyond.
The biggest shocker was sending their career .805 OPS All-Star 3B Josh Donaldson, not eligible for free agency until 2019, to Toronto in a trade. Brett Lawrie, his replacement at 3B, has been oft injured, but has the talent to be a solid major leaguer. The A’s picked up Royals’ DH Billy Butler to give them sock in the lineup, but his slugging percentage was only .379 last season with 9 HRs in 549 ABs, so hard to tell if the 28 year old is on the downside or his power numbers will rebound.
By far their best move so far is getting two-time All Star Ben Zobrist, who can play a multitude of positions & owns a career .254/.354/.429 stat line. A lot will point to the A’s & their pitching staff for a reason to keep them in contention. Despite losing Lester, Samardzija, and Hammel, they have an ace in Sonny Gray (14-10 with a 3.08 ERA in 2014), veterans Scott Kazmir & Jesse Chavez, and the expected return of Jarrod Parker & A.J. Griffin to the rotation after injuries kept them out last year.
The bullpen is now a question mark despite the acquisition of Tyler Clippard because of the news that flame throwing closer Sean Doolittle will be out with a tear in his right shoulder.
For the A’s to win the division, they are going to need their starting pitching to remain among the elite, their bullpen to patch things together in the wake of the Doolittle injury, and the new pieces in the lineup to take to their new surroundings. And remember that just as sure as Hollywood will churn out superhero films, Billy Beane will make multiple moves in 2015 … stay tuned.
Seattle Mariners
Manager: Lloyd McClendon
Key acquisitions: OF/DH Nelson Cruz, OF Justin Ruggiano, SP J.A. Happ, OF Seth Smith
Key departures: OF Michael Saunders, DH Kendrys Morales, 1B Justin Smoak, OF Corey Hart, SP/RP Brandon Maurer, OF Chris Denorfia
Offseason moves: The Mariners made the big splash in the 2013-14 offseason by outbidding the New York Yankees (is that really possible?) and signing 2B Robinson Cano to a long-term 
contract. Their 2014-15 Hot Stove season has not been quite as electric for GM Jack Zduriencik, but they did get the premier bat on the market by signing Nelson Cruz, the reigning MLB home run king with 40 dingers for the Orioles in 2014.
Their other offseason moves have not been as flashy, but they picked up a back end of the rotation lefty in J.A. Happ, who had a 4.22 ERA in 158 innings last year. They also picked up OF Seth Smith, a nice value with a career .265/.347/.453 line while hitting the last three years in Oakland & San Diego.
Outlook: The Seattle Mariners are already being projected as a playoff team & are the trendy pick to make their first ever Fall Classic. When you have a team led by King Felix (Felix Hernandez), the best regular season pitcher in baseball right now outside of perhaps only Clayton Kershaw, and perennial MVP candidate Robinson Cano, then October baseball beckons.
The problem for the Mariners to take the next step has been a ho-hum offense, which was bolstered this offseason with the addition of Nelson Cruz & his career .829 OPS. The one drawback for Cruz is he will turn 35 during the season, and power numbers generally decline with age. Mariners’ 3B Kyle Seager signed an extension in the offseason coming off a 25 HR & 96 RBI season, and is another bat alongside Cano & Cruz opposing pitchers must respect.
The Mariners also picked up CF Austin Jackson last trading deadline from the Tigers to spearhead the top of the lineup, and along with Seth Smith & Cruz, offer three potent bats that were not with the club last Opening Day.
The rotation is still one of the best in baseball led by King Felix, Hisashi Iwakuma, and James Paxton, while J.A. Happ can lend a veteran arm & ultra-talented Taijuan Walker can be a top-of-the-rotation pitcher if he can put it all together. The Seattle bullpen was magnificent in 2014 leading the league with a 2.59 ERA behind Fernando Rodney, Yoervis Medina, Tom Wilhelmsen, Danny Farquhar, and lefty Charlie Furbush, and it should be a strength again this season.
Seattle looks great on paper, but looking good & putting it all together on the field are two completely different things. However, as of right now, the Mariners have a balanced team that should make a playoff push.
Texas Rangers
Manager: Jeff Banister
Key acquisitions: SP Yovani Gallardo, SP/RP Ross Detwiler, RP Kyuji Fujikawa, SP Anthony Ranaudo, C Carlos Corporan
Key departures: OF Alex Rios, C/1B J.P. Arencibia, RP Robbie Ross, RP Neal Cotts
Offseason moves: The offseason for the Texas Rangers began just like their in-state rival the Houston Astros with the selection of a new skipper. Jeff Banister takes over a Rangers club that finished last in the AL West, but is readying for a return to prominence.
GM Jon Daniels improved the starting rotation with the addition of Yovani Gallardo from the Milwaukee Brewers for infielder Luis Sardinas & pitchers Corey Knebel & Marcos Diplan. Daniels acquired two more candidates for the 5th spot in the rotation with deals for SP/RP Ross Detwiler from the Washington Nationals & former top Boston Red Sox SP prospect Anthony Ranaudo. The Rangers gave up two minor leaguers, 2B Chris Bostick & RP Abel De Los Santos, for Detwiler & reliever Robbie Ross for Ranaudo in a change of scenery trade for both.
And the Astros figured prominently in a couple of other offseason acquisitions with their I-45 neighbor to the north, with the Rangers getting backstop Carlos Corporan for another Bostick (minor league pitcher Akeem Bostick). The Rangers also acquired OF Delino DeShields Jr. in the Rule 5 draft in December, but must keep him on the 25 man roster for the whole season or he will have to be offered back to the Astros.
Outlook: The Rangers pretty much were the Murphy’s Law team in 2014, with everything that could go wrong going wrong. It ultimately led to longtime manager Ron Washington departing the club & the team finishing with the worst record in the AL with 95 losses.
Their 2015 season hinges on a big component to their last offseason, 1B Prince Fielder, acquired in the Ian Kinsler trade to the Tigers, returning healthy to the club & regaining his All-Star form. Whether that will happen after a neck surgery that cost him most of last season is a big question mark, but the Rangers need Fielder & his career .522 SLG % & .910 OPS to anchor their lineup.
One player the Rangers can count on is Adrian Beltre, who is a model of consistency at the hot corner with his Gold Glove caliber play & who 
still hit .324 with 19 HRs as a 35-year-old in 2014. The Rangers are really going to need their big free agent signee from the previous season, OF Shin-Soo Choo, to play more like he has over his career with a .282 avg. & .383 OBP rather than the .242 avg. & .342 OBP that he disappointed with in his first year as a Ranger.
Jurickson Profar, their talented young middle infielder who missed all of last season with a muscle tear in his shoulder, has begun throwing again & would be a big boon if he can play & live up to the future star billing.
As for the pitching staff, Yovani Gallardo may have lost a little off his fastball, but he still had a 3.52 ERA in 192 innings for the Brew Crew last season. The Rangers are hoping that Yu Darvish, Derek Holland & Yovani Gollardo form a powerful 1-2-3 in their starting rotation, and Colby Lewis, Anthony Ranaudo, Nick Martinez & Ross Detwiler can hold up the 4 & 5 slots until starters Martin Perez & Matt Harrison can return from injury at some point in the season.
The bullpen in 2014 saw Neftali Feliz regain his old form with a 1.99 ERA & 13 saves in 31.2 innings, but the bullpen still will undergo reshaping after dealing Robbie Ross.
The Rangers are probably not suddenly going to leap up to a division title in 2015, but they will be vastly improved if their pitchers stay healthy & Prince Fielder & Shin-Soo Choo play like they have over the course of their careers.
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