1. Seattle Mariners (2014 Finish: 87-75, 3rd Place):
With the American League West, there is potential to see maybe two or
three playoff teams come out of this division. It isn't totally out of
the realm of possibility. The last few years, the Seattle Mariners have made some strides to being a serious contender in the American League. The Mariners' success all starts with King Felix in Felix Hernandez. Hernandez has recorded ten or more wins in all but one season since he got called up to the big leagues. In addition to that, he isn't the only pitcher who recorded 10 or more wins last year as they also bring back Hisachi Iwakuma, who also won 15 games last year just like King Felix. The Mariners also brought in J.A. Happ, who also record more than ten wins last year. Tajuan Walker and James Paxton are both good young arms in their rotation that bring a bit more to their rotation. With the Mariners bullpen, their big arms there are closer Fernando Rodney, Charlie Furbush, Tom Wilhelmsen, and Joe Saunders. Saunders could be another guy you might see this year in the Mariners rotation. With the rest of their bullpen, they have some young pitchers with Danny Farquhar, Yoervis Medina, and Dominic Leone. Now onto their offense, the Mariners have some good bats up and down their lineup with Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Logan Morrison, Dustin Ackley, Seth Smith and the newcomers to the Mariners lineup in Nelson Cruz and Austin Jackson. Along with that they also have some young hitters in Mike Zumino and Brad Miller. With their bench, there is some veteran leadership there along with some pop with Justin Ruggiano, Jesus Montero, Willie Bloomquist, Endy Chavez, and former Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks. This could be the year that the Mariners get back in the playoffs.
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2014 Finish: 98-64, First Place):
Now moving on with the team that won the American League West last year in the Angels, they have some of biggest icons in the game with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Along with that they have some other power bats with David Freese and Josh Hamilton. It will be interesting to see how the whole relapse with Josh Hamilton affects how he plays this year. Behind that they have some reliable veteran bats with Matt Joyce, Chris Iannetta, and Erick Aybar. Along with that in their lineup they have a few young bats in Johnny Giavotella, C.J. Cron, and Kole Calhoun. With their bench, there are a few bats there as well with Colin Cowgill, Josh Ruthledge and Grant Green. One of the other strengths on the Angels is their pitching. With their rotation, they have a good first three in their rotation with Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, and Garrett Richards. With their bullpen, Huston Street and Fernando Salas both have experience as closers. Behind that they also have Joe Smith, Vinny Pestano, Cesar Ramos and Wade Leblanc. This division could come down to the wire with who wins it with the Angels or Mariners.
3. Oakland Athletics (2014 Finish: 88-74, 2nd Place):
After making the playoffs the last few years, the Oakland Athletics might have an outside shot at doing it again this year. They still have some good young pitching with Sonnie Gray, A.J. Griffin, Drew Pomeranz, and Jarrod Parker. They have a reliable veteran along with that in the rotation with Scott Kazmir. Along with their starting pitching, there are some reliable arms in their bullpen as well with Sean Doolittle, Ryan Cook, Eric O'Flaherty, Fernando Rodriguez, Fernando Abad and closer Tyler Clippard. It will be interesting to see how Clippard is as their closer. He has a lot of experience more in the 7th and 8th inning, but he does have some experience closing in the big leagues. Now onto their lineup, there are some big bats with Josh Reddick and newcomers Billy Butler, Ike Davis, and Brett Lawrie. Billy Butler will help bring a lot to their lineup after some good years in Kansas City. Besides Eric Sogard, their lineup has a lot of new players in it with Craig Gentry, Ben Zobrist, Stephen Vogt, and Marcus Semien. With their bench, Coco Crisp is still there along with Kyle Blanks, Sam Fuld, and a few young bats along with that with Billy Burns, Andy Parino, and Alex Hassan. If the Athletics can stay healthy, which there are some issues with right now, they could be in the mix for a playoff spot this year.
4. Texas Rangers (2014 Finish: 67-95, Last Place):
Injuries hurt the Rangers a lot last year, and have seemed to have already effected them again early this year. Yu Darvish is out for the year and along with that reliever Tanner Scheppers, Matt Harrison, Kyuji Fujkawa, and Martin Perez are also starting the season on the disabled list. So their pitching is hurting a lot right now. With their rotation that puts more pressure on Yovani Gallardo, Ross Detwiler, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison and Derek Holland to pick up the slack and have good years. With the Scheppers injury, it also has an effect on their bullpen as well. Neftali Feliz is their closer after losing Joakim Soria in the off-season, but he has some prior history in doing so after closing 13 games last year. In addition to that, they also have Kyuji Fujkawa, Keone Kela, Miles Mikolas Spencer Patton, Martin Perez, Anthony Bass, Anthony Ranaudo, and Shawn Tolleson. There is a lot of youth there especially with losing Neal Cotts, Jason Frasor, and Joakim Soria in the off-season. So right now the biggest issue with their pitching is the health and if they can overcome it. With their lineup, there are still a few good bats, but it is just a matter of if they can stay healthy. It has also hit them a bit there as Jurickson Profar is on the the 60 day disabled list to start the season. Prince Fielder missed almost the entire season last year after being traded to the Rangers from the Tigers in a trade for Ian Kinsler. In addition to him having the big bat he does, there is also Shin-Soo Choo, Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Mitch Moreland. Beltre has been productive this entire career, Choo brings some pop as well, and Andrus and Moreland have been good hitters their careers as well. With their lineup and their bench, they get younger after that with Leonys Martin, Ryan Rua, Rougned Odor, Robinson Chirinos, Carlos Peguero, Jake Smolinski, Delino Deshields, Adam Rosales, and Carlos Corporan. So if they can overcome the injuries this year and stay healthy, the Rangers could be a good team, but it won't be enough to get them to the playoff talk.
5. Houston Astros (2014 Finish: 70-92, 4th Place):
There are a lot of positives about the Houston Astros. They have some really good young talent and they are trying to build off that to put a good team on the field. The Astros' lineup shows some promise with Jose Altuve, Evan Gattis, Colby Rasmus, Jed Lowrie, and youngsters George Springer and Chris Carter. In my opinion, Colby Rasmus and Evan Gattis will bring some more power to this lineup. Along with that, they also have some young bats behind that with Luis Valbuena, Jake Marisnick, and Jason Castro. They also have some young bats on the bench with Marwin Gonzalez, Jonathon Villar, Robbie Grossman, Matt Dominguez, Jonathon Singleton, and Hank Conger. Conger also brings some pop to their lineup after being with the Angels. With their rotation, the Astros bring back two starters from last year that recorded over ten wins last year with Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh. In addition to that they also have veteran pitcher Scott Feldman and youngsters Brett Oberholzer, and Roberto Hernandez. In the their bullpen, they have some good pitchers at the back end with Luke Gregorson, Pat Neshek and Chad Qualls. In my opinion, it wouldn't surprsie me if Neshek is the closer at some point during the season due to him having some nasty stuff out of the pen. With the rest of the bullpen, they have Tony Sipp, Josh Fields, Joe Thatcher, Wil Harris, Samuel Dedino and Dan Straily. Tony Sipp and Josh Fields were also good options out of their bullpen last year both posting between a 3.30 and 4.45 ERA.With the Astros, they have some potential, but I think they are still a few years away.
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