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A.L. West Division preview

Oakland will be counting on Sonny Gray early on as the Athletics’ starting rotation heals. (Associated Press)
Oakland will be counting on Sonny Gray early on as the Athletics’ starting rotation heals. (Associated Press)

Oakland Athletics

2013 record: 96-66, 1st place, lost in division series.

Hot spots: Starting rotation. What looked to be a strength heading into spring training was dealt serious blows in Arizona. Projected opening-day starter Jarrod Parker was lost to a season-ending elbow injury and A.J. Griffin will also miss the start of the season with a strained right arm. Scott Kazmir has also dealt with a sore left arm, leaving the rotation with many question marks heading into the season. The A’s will count on Sonny Gray to deliver more performances like his dazzling nine-strikeout, shutout in Game 2 of the ALDS to make up for the absences.

Outlook: The low-budget A’s can no longer be considered a surprise after beating out their big-spending A.L. West rivals for the division title the past two seasons. Oakland came into spring training looking like the favorite again in the division but the injuries to the rotation cast a cloud over that. Luckily for the A’s, GM Billy Beane has acquired plenty of depth, especially in the bullpen led by new closer Jim Johnson and setup man Luke Gregerson. 3B Josh Donaldson and 1B/DH Brandon Moss thrived last season and the A’s are looking for a better performance from OF Yoenis Cespedes.

Texas Rangers

2013 record: 91-72, second place.

Hot spots: Along with getting 1B Prince Fielder from Detroit, the trade of Ian Kinsler cleared the way for highly touted prospect Jurickson Profar to be the everyday second baseman. But Profar is out as long as three months with a muscle tear in his right shoulder.

Outlook: After missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, scoring their fewest runs (730) in a full season since 1992 and being shut out 11 times, the Rangers’ two most significant offseason moves were to improve the offense. They sent Kinsler to Detroit for slugger Fielder in a rare trade of All-Star players, then signed free agent Shin-Soo Choo to lead off. Only Mike Trout (564) and two-time A.L. MVP Miguel Cabrera (562) reached base more than Choo (556) and Fielder (542) the past two seasons.

Los Angeles Angels

2013 record: 78-84, third place.

Hot spots: The Angels are relying heavily on their high-priced bats returning to form for their return to the playoffs. Albert Pujols appears healthy and ready to play most games at first base after injuries ended last season in July, while Josh Hamilton is hoping to regain his MVP swing by adding muscle after an ugly debut season. If Pujols and Hamilton have still got it, the Angels should be in good shape.

Outlook: After four straight years out of the postseason for the big-budget Angels, 2014 feels like a make-or-break year for manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Jerry Dipoto. While they wait to see whether owner Arte Moreno’s expensive hitters finally come through, Dipoto filled the club’s glaring holes in the offseason with 3B David Freese, LHP Hector Santiago and LHP Tyler Skaggs. Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson are back to headline a rotation that was the Angels’ true downfall last season. Los Angeles still has arguably the best player in OF Mike Trout.

Seattle Mariners

2013 record: 71-91, fourth place.

Hot spots: Injuries have left the rotation as Seattle’s biggest concern heading into the regular season. Neither of the setbacks to Taijuan Walker (shoulder) and Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) should be long-term issues with the likelihood that both are back within the first month of the season. But the rotation was already unsettled before that, leaving the likes of Blake Beavan, Erasmo Ramirez and newly signed Chris Young as needed contributors the first few weeks while Seattle tries to hang on through a brutal first 16 games all against Texas, Oakland and the Angels.

Outlook: The arrival of 2B Robinson Cano gives Seattle an offensive equivalent to what they have in the pitching staff with Hernandez: a superstar that’s among the best in baseball. Whether Cano can get Seattle into contention with the top three in the loaded A.L. West is another story. Seattle could use another right-handed bat, but will likely go into the season lefty heavy. If Cano is going to have the same impact he did in New York, he needs Kyle Seager and Corey Hart to be good enough to provide protection. Felix Hernandez is the only certainty in the rotation as the season begins.

Houston Astros

2013 record: 51-111, fifth place.

Hot spots: The Astros brought in Jesus Guzman for an upgrade at first base, but a big spring by Marc Krauss has made him the front-runner to start the season there. Houston had a league-high 29 blown saves last season, but offseason upgrades to the bullpen should help turn things around.

Outlook: The Astros fielded a team with an MLB-low payroll under $30 million last season and finished with a franchise-record 111 losses for their third straight 100-loss season. Now that they’ve restocked their once-barren farm system, they’ve started spending money to add pieces to pair with their up-and-coming players and should be better.