2009 Predictions - AL West

Now it's time to finish up the AL with the picks for the West

LOS ANGELES ANGELS (2008 record 100-62)

Key Additions: RP Brian Fuentes
Key Losses: RP Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira
Unsigned Free Agents: LF Garret Anderson, SP Jon Garland

There is good news and bad news for the Angels. The bad news is that the best relief pitcher in baseball and the best free agent bat just happen to be the two players that this team lost in the off season. More bad news is that their is really no one available that will be a comparable to what was lost. And to top that off, the Angels had to trade their first basemen of the future, Casey Kotchman, to the Braves just to get the now departed Teixeira. Now the good news, LA is still in the AL West. May not win 100 games again, but this team should once again run away with the division.

TEXAS RANGERS (2008 record 79-83)

Key Additions: None
Key Losses: OF Milton Bradley, 3B Ramon Vazquez, RP Wes Littleton, C Gerald Laird
Unsigned Free Agents: SP Jason Jennings, RP Jamey Wright

Well, it looks like another long year for the guys from Arlington. They have a good core of young players like Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, and Michael Young. It is good for a team like this to see the success that Tampa Bay had by building through youth and homegrown talent, but there is just not enough of the latter to take the Rangers seriously. Yet.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (2008 record 75-86)

Key Additions: 1B Jason Giambi, OF Matt Holliday
Key Losses: RP Alan Embree, SP Greg Smith, RP Huston Street, OF Carlos Gonzalez
Unsigned Free Agents: LF Emil Brown , RP Keith Foulke, DH Frank Thomas

It is really easy to look at the A's adding bats with Giambi and Holliday, then coming to the conclusion that Oakland will give the Angels a run for their money for the division title. But as Lee Corso says every Saturday in the fall, "Not so fast my friend!" The two bats do not really address the needs of this team. They are returning only one starting pitcher with an ERA under 4.00, and Justin Duchscherer lead the team in wins with only ten. They also traded away the only true closer on the team in Street. So unless this team and its new hired guns can manufacture around 15-20 runs a game, Oakland looks to take a step in the wrong direction this season.

SEATTLE MARINERS (2008 record 61-101)

Key Additions: 3B Russell Branyan, OF Franklin Gutierrez, 1B Mike Carp, OF Endy Chavez, RP Aaron Heilman, SP Jason Vargas
Key Losses: 3B Willie Bloomquist, LF Raul Ibanez, 2B Luis Valbuena, RP JJ Putz, RP Sean Green, OF Jeremy Reed
Unsigned Free Agents: 1B Miguel Cairo

What can be said about the Mariners that has not already been made fun of. This is a team with three established stars in Felix Hernandez, Adrain Beltre, and Ichiro Suzuki. Outside of them, the roster is loaded with unproven prospects and journeymen than never reached their potential. Seattle made a ton of player moves this off season, but it does not look like the new hires will be much help. Of the additions, only Gutierrez will play everyday, and Heilman looks to be the pencilled in closer. This team either needs a better farm system or a better talent scout to be in charge of personnel. Good Luck M's, hopefully you will not repeat last year's 100+ losses, but don't bet on it.

My prediction for 2009

1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. Athletics
4. Mariners