The AL West was the weakest division in 2024. With the 2025 season rapidly approaching, the division is looking like a tossup.
The Houston Astros sealed the 2024 AL West title by winning 88 games. That win total was the lowest of all the division winners that year. Houston has reigned supreme in the AL West for years now. Will their long reign run out?
Athletics
The 2025 season for the Athletics will be the first away from Oakland in a long time. They are in the process of relocating to Las Vegas, NV. Meanwhile, they will be playing their regular season home games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. Their new stadium in Vegas is projected to be ready for the 2028 season.
The Athletics have plenty of good pieces on the offensive side of things. OF/DH Brent Rooker solidified himself as a legit power threat last season. OFs JJ Bleday and Lawrence Butler broke out hitting 20+ bombs a piece, while C Shea Langeliers hit 29 round trippers. It was looking like 2B Zack Gelof and the Athletics No.1 overall prospect, SS Jacob Wilson, would be up the middle on Opening Day. Unfortunately, Gelof suffered a hamate bone fracture. No. 7 Athletics prospect INF Max Muncy will presumably step into the role at second.
The A’s shored things up with the starting rotation. SP Luis Severino was brought in via free agency and SP Jeffrey Springs was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. SPs JP Sears, Osvaldo Bido, Mitch Spence, and Joey Estes are options that will accompany the previously mentioned in the rotation. Look for the A’s to continue to grow into what will be a competitive ball club very soon. Although I don’t see them having enough to run down the division in 2025, it’s an important year for them to make positive strides. They have done well in extending both Butler and Rooker long term. Flamethrowing closer Mason Miller will be a mainstay and a leader in the bullpen for years to come. Miller and RP Jose Leclerc will be a tough combo to face at the end of games.
Notable Moves
-Signed free agent SP Luis Severino to 3 years & $67 million. Option for ‘27.
-Acquired SP Jeffrey Springs & RP Jacob Lopez from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for SP Joe Boyle, 1B Will Simpson, SP Jacob Watters, & a Competitive Balance Round A draft.
-Signed free agent INF Gio Urshela to 1 year, $2.15 million.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros have long been the class of the AL West and the American League. They were a mainstay in the league’s championship series from 2017 through 2023. The ‘Stros won two championships and four pennants in that stretch.
In stunning fashion, the Astro front office pulled off a couple trades that saw two beloved players depart for a new city. All-Star OF Kyle Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs. Tucker will be a free agent after the 2025 season, and Houston has lost plenty of talent that way. They opted to receive some talent back instead of watching another key contributor walk for nothing in return. Houston wound up trading longtime closer RP Ryan Pressly to the Cubs as well.
Losing 3B Alex Bregman to an AL foe, the Boston Red Sox, stings. However, I personally expect new 3B Isaac Paredes to hit plenty of homers this season due to the Crawford boxes and his well-known pull-side power. He’s no Bregman, but he will be solid. Once 1B Christian Walker returns from injury, he will surely provide Gold Glove defense, great pop, and plenty of run production. The additions made were solid. Houston remains a good ball club, but they have lost some punch. They will look much different than in previous years, but the AL West runs through Houston until proven otherwise.
Notable Moves
-Signed free agent 1B Christian Walker for 3 years & $60 million.
Acquired 3B Isaac Paredes, RP Hayden Wesneski, & 3B Cam Smith in exchange for OF Kyle Tucker from the Chicago Cubs.
Traded RP Ryan Pressly & cash to the Chicago Cubs for SP Juan Bello
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels got off to a hot start addressing some needs this offseason, went dormant, and woke up to make some moves with an eye on the deadline. DH Shohei Ohtani’s departure and OF Mike Trout’s injury left the Angels starving for a potent bat all 2024. GM Perry Minasian traded for OF/DH Jorge Soler. SP Yusei Kikuchi was signed to lead a youthful rotation that will surely include SPs Jose Soriano, Jack Kochanowicz, and Reid Detmers. Starters Tyler Anderson and Kyle Hendricks are veterans that are also possibilities. SP Ian Anderson was added via trade March 23rd.
Long time closer Kenley Jansen was brought in to spearhead closing duties and show a young bullpen the ropes, especially RP Ben Joyce. The addition of Jansen and INF Yoan Moncada make sense as they were made with an intent of being active at the trade deadline. If Moncada can stay on the field and play well, he will hold value. OF Taylor Ward, INF Luis Rengifo, and SP Tyler Anderson are candidates for summer trades that will improve the team in the future.
The continued development of young Angels will be the focal point once again in 2025. SS Zach Neto and C Logan O’Hoppe will set the tone for the next generation. Barring any serious injuries, SP Caden Dana, 2B Christian Moore, and SP George Klassen will all land in Anaheim at some point this season. The Angels realistically didn’t improve much, and their suspect offseason speaks for it. The rotation lacks the quality and durability that contending teams have. The Halos will more than likely remain as the worst team in the AL West. Slight hope is brewing, but the trade deadline and their number two overall pick in this year’s draft are what I am looking forward to this summer.
Notable Moves
-Signed free agent SP Yusei Kikuchi to 3 years, $61 million.
-Acquired OF/DH Jorge Soler in exchange for SP Griffin Canning from Atlanta Braves
-Signed free agent C Travis d’Arnaud to 2 years, $12 million.
-Signed free agent RP Kenley Jansen to 1 year, $10 million.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners had an underwhelming offseason, to say the least. Their pitching staff can move mountains, but the offense they have is bad. The Mariners have an admirable track record of drafting and developing pitching. Therefore, as a fan you fully expect the team to address offensive needs. You can add offense via the free agent market or trading from an area of strength to add impact bats. Trade rumors revolved around the M’s being in on 1B Triston Casas, 3B Alec Bohm, 2B Nico Hoerner, and 1B/OF Cody Bellinger. The only player traded from that group was Bellinger, who is now a New York Yankee. 1B Pete Alonso was also of interest. At the end of it all, they only added veteran infielders Jorge Polanco and Donovan Solano on one year deals.
Ownership is very unpopular within the fan base. I believe that fans are somewhere in the middle ground when it comes to President of Baseball Ops Jerry Dipoto and GM Justin Hollander due to the constraints placed by ownership. Former Mariner 1B/DH Justin Turner voiced his confusion and displeasure after signing with the Chicago Cubs. Furthermore, this elite staff needs more than just a subpar offense. Keep in mind they missed the postseason by one game in 2024, they will go as far as their arms will take them in 2025.
Notable Moves
-Re-signed INF Jorge Polanco to a 1-year deal, $7 million.
-Signed free agent INF Donovan Solano to 1 year, $3.5 million.
Texas Rangers
The 2023 world champs had a solid, under-the-radar offseason in my opinion. The moves made weren’t earth shattering, but they supplemented their roster well. 1B/3B/DH Jake Burger will be taking over the duties after 1B Nathaniel Lowe was flipped to the Washington Nationals. Rotation staple SP Nate Eovaldi was brought back, and veteran C Kyle Higashioka is a new Ranger. OF Adolis Garcia, OF Evan Carter, OF Leody Taveras and 3B Josh Jung battled regression or injury in 2024. Also, C Jonah Heim and INF Ezequiel Duran’s offensive numbers fell off. OF/DH Joc Pederson was brought in for insurance as he continues to be a productive major leaguer.
3B/OF Josh Smith and OF Wyatt Langford played well in 2024. Pitching prospects SPs Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter are progressing well, and their emergence at the major league level will be important for Texas in 2025. They will also be looking for a full season of SP Jacob deGrom. 2024 was a concoction of regression, injuries, and bad baseball. Big money guys in 2B Marcus Semien and SS Corey Seager have to lead the way if Texas wants to return to October. The rest of the offensive cast must simply stay on the field and tap into their potential. With some new faces and better play, I expect the Rangers to return to form and possibly challenge the Astros for the division crown.
Notable Moves
-Acquired 1B/3B/DH Jake Burger from Miami Marlins for SS Echedry Vargas, SS Max Acosta, & SP Brayan Mendoza
-Re-signed SP Nate Eovaldi to 3 years, $75 million.
-Signed C Kyle Higashioka to 2 years, $12.5 million. $7 million mutual option ‘27.
-Signed OF/DH Joc Pederson to 2 years, $37 million. Opt out after ‘25.
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