Deadspin | AL West capsules: Can Mariners attain subsequent stage in 2026?

Athletics

2025 report 76-86 (4th place, AL West)

He gone: OF JJ Bleday, RHP Oswaldo Bido, C Willie MacIver, LHP Sean Newcomb, INF Max Schuemann, RHP Mitch Spence

New faces: RHP Scott Barlow, RHP Aaron Civale, UTL Andy Ibanez, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., 2B/LF Jeff McNeil

Biggest query coming into Opening Day: The Athletics are all about being aggressive after they start play in Las Vegas in 2028, however the membership has sufficient expertise to high .500 this season if the beginning pitching takes a step ahead. RHP Luis Severino overtly criticized the house digs in West Sacramento final season — he was 2-9 with a 6.01 ERA in 15 begins on the ballpark — and he must have a a lot better perspective about it this yr because the membership’s high pitcher. LHPs Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez are streaky however extremely efficient when performing nicely. The Athletics have younger stars in 1B Nick Kurtz (2025 Rookie of the Year), SS Jacob Wilson (Rookie of the Year runner-up), LF Tyler Soderstrom and RF Lawrence Butler to go along with veterans comparable to two-time All-Star DH Brent Rooker, C Shea Langeliers and offseason acquisition McNeil, the 2022 National League batting champion.

2026 Outlook: The Athletics have been crushed by a 3-24 stretch throughout a 29-day span early final season, and the remainder of the marketing campaign was centered on improvement. While the longer term stays extra essential than the current, the A’s have the kind of offense that may outscore opponents. However, the workforce wants higher pitching earlier than it will probably critically take into consideration the playoffs.

Houston Astros

2025 report 87-75 (2nd place, AL West)

He gone: C Victor Caratini, INF Mauricio Dubon, RHP Luis Garcia, OF Chas McCormick, OF Jacob Melton, OF Jesus Sanchez, LHP Framber Valdez

New faces: SS Nick Allen, RHP Mike Burrows, RHP Tatsuya Imai, OF Joey Loperfido, RHP Nate Pearson, RHP Ryan Weiss

Biggest query coming into Opening Day: Houston has RHPs Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier on the high of the rotation however will badly miss workhorse Valdez, who exited as a free agent. Houston traded for Burrows from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he shall be closely counted on, as will Imai, an import from Japan who will flip 28 in May and had a 1.92 ERA and 5 full video games for the Seibu Lions final season. Injury-prone RHP Lance McCullers is slated to be within the rotation however has made simply 63 appearances (60 begins) during the last seven seasons. Offensively, SS Carlos Correa must regain the type of his first Houston stint (2015-21). He was a giant disappointment for many of his 3 1/2 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and had simply six homers in 200 at-bats after the Astros reacquired him final season.

2026 Outlook: The Astros missed the postseason final yr after eight straight appearances (together with two World Series titles) and must struggle for a berth this season. Keeping slugger Yordan Alvarez wholesome (48 video games in 2025) shall be a giant key as Houston missed his energy bat after he topped 30 homers in every of the earlier 4 seasons.

Los Angeles Angels

2025 report 72-90 (fifth place, AL West)

He gone: LHP Tyler Anderson, RHP Brock Burke, LHP Andrew Chafin, RHP Kyle Hendricks, RHP Kenley Jansen, 3B Anthony Rendon, INF Luis Rengifo, OF Taylor Ward

New faces: 2B Vaughn Grissom, OF Josh Lowe, RHP Alek Manoah, LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP Grayson Rodriguez, RHP Jordan Romano, LHP Brent Suter, RHP Kirby Yates

Biggest query coming into Opening Day: Let’s say all of it collectively: Can Mike Trout stay wholesome? Oh, no, not that one. This one: Will Trout ever play like final decade’s model of himself? He performed in 130 video games final season after enjoying in 82 or fewer video games in three of the earlier 4 full campaigns. Trout batted simply .232 in 2025, with 178 strikeouts, a meager 64 RBIs and a .439 slugging proportion, nicely off his .628 or larger mark in every year from 2017-19. He hit 26 homers final season. The Angels have moved him again to middle area, too. For Trout, 34, expectations could be for one more yr like final season. A workforce that was inconsistent on offense traded OF Taylor Ward (career-best 36 homers) for Rodriguez in hopes of shoring up the pitching behind dependable RHP Jose Soriano and LHP Yusei Kikuchi.

2026 Outlook: The Angels have not certified for the postseason since 2014 — after they have been swept by the Kansas City Royals — and the one people feeling they’re going to get there this yr possible are individuals employed by the membership. Los Angeles has some good younger gamers in SS Zach Neto, C Logan O’Hoppe and RF Jo Adell, however there is not sufficient expertise or pitching to compete with the highest groups within the division.

Seattle Mariners

2025 report 90-72 (1st place, AL West)

He gone: LHP Caleb Ferguson, C Harry Ford, RHP Jackson Kowar, LUP Gregory Santos, 3B Eugenio Suarez, LHP Trent Thornton, 3B Ben Williamson

New faces: INF Brendan Donovan, LHP Jose Ferrer, C Andrew Knizner, OF Rob Refsnyder

Biggest query coming into Opening Day: The Mariners fell one loss wanting reaching the World Series for the primary time in franchise historical past, and expectations are excessive this yr. The one who most must ship is C Cal Raleigh, as on this: Can he come near his historic 60-homer, 125-RBI effort from final season? Somehow, 35 homers and 90 RBIs would appear like a letdown. Re-signing Josh Naylor, who excelled within the postseason, additionally was a giant plus, as was the commerce to acquire Brendan Donovan. Julio Rodriguez has two 30-homer, 30-steal campaigns in his 4 MLB seasons, however the Mariners want him to trim his strikeouts (152 final season). The rotation — led by RHPs Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo — stays among the many finest within the majors, and shutdown nearer Andres Munoz (38 saves) is ultra-reliable.

2026 Outlook: Seattle reached the American League Championship Series thrice between 1995-2001 after which did not make the playoffs for 21 years. So final season’s success has created Seahawks-like enthusiasm that one other deep run is on the agenda. The Mariners seem to have the perfect workforce within the AL West and may simply be a part of the playoffs. Returning to the ALCS is a chance.

Texas Rangers

2025 report 81-81 (third place, AL West)

He gone: RHP Shawn Armstrong, LHP Patrick Corbin, LHP Danny Coulombe, OF Adolis Garcia, RHP Jon Gray, C Jonah Heim, RHP Merrill Kelly, RHP Tyler Mahle, RHP Phil Maton, LHP Hoby Milner, 2B Marcus Semien, 1B Rowdy Tellez, RHP Jacob Webb

New faces: RHP Tyler Alexander, LHP Jalen Beeks, LHP MacKenzie Gore, C Danny Jansen, RHP Jakob Junis, RHP Chris Martin, LHP Jordan Montgomery, OF Brandon Nimmo

Biggest query coming into Opening Day: Texas moved on from key 2023 World Series title cogs Garcia and Semien, and even supervisor Bruce Bochy agreed it was time for a change and parted methods with the membership. Skip Schumaker is his alternative. Keeping SS Corey Seager wholesome has been a chore, and Texas is not going to compete for a playoff spot if he performs in simply 102 video games once more. The five-time All-Star has missed 142 video games over the previous three seasons. Seager wants new operating mates after the offseason housecleaning, and OFs Wyatt Langford (team-best 22 homers in 2025) and Nimmo (common of 24 HRs over the perfect three seasons) are the perfect bets. Trading for Gore offers Texas a pleasant massive three within the rotation together with RHPs Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. Two-time Cy Young Award winner deGrom made 30 begins final season, his highest work price since 2019.

2026 Outlook: The Rangers could possibly be a contender if Seager rakes and deGrom dominates, however in addition they could possibly be a middling workforce like final season. Texas has largely revamped the pitching employees, particularly the bullpen, however will stay a workforce that depends on offense. That leaves the Rangers possible competing for the ultimate AL wild-card spot.

–Field Level Media