MLB Preview: AL West

This division has had less competition than any other in Major League Baseball over the past half decade. The Los Angeles Angels have pretty much dominated the AL West, especially last year. Manager Mike Scioscia's club had a huge lead over its rivals at the All-Star break, and the Angels became the first team in 2009 to clinch their division.

However, this season Los Angeles should have stiffer competition. Their strongest rival, Seattle, fortified itself with key acquisitions over the summer. Los Angeles, on the other hand, saw the departure of a good portion of its lineup as well as its top starting pitcher.

The AL West should provide a good race that likely will not be resolved until October. Here is how I think the teams will finish in 2010, based upon each club's depth chart provided by the Spring 2010 USA Today Sports Weekly.

Los Angeles Angels

No team suffered as much during the winter baseball activities as the Angels. Their number one starter, John Lackey, signed with Boston. Third baseman Chone Figgins, their talented leadoff hitter, went to Seattle. Outfielder and DH Vladimir Guerrerro became a Texas Ranger.

Fortunately for the team, though, it still boasts one of the best rotations in the AL West as well as a diverse starting lineup.

The outfield will be anchored by All-Star Gold Glove recipient Torii Hunter, who also provides speed and power to the offense. Veteran Bobby Abreu will play right field and hit in the middle of the order, and Juan Rivera will play left. Former Yankee star Hideki Matsui was signed to be the DH and share some time in the corner outfield spots.

The infield will look mostly the same as it did in 2009. Young 1B Kendry Morales should improve his already significant power numbers, which included over 30 home runs and 108 RBI. 2B Howie Kendrick should prove to be a valuable leadoff hitter, since he has over a .300 BA over the past three seasons. SS Erik Aybar hit over .300 last year and will be asked to increase his stolen base totals even more now that Chone Figgins is no longer in the lineup. Inexperienced Brandon Wood will take over for Figgins at third, and his power will help make up for the loss of Vladimir Guerrerro. C Mike Napoli can be counted on to contribute 20 homers and valuable guidance to the pitching staff.

In spite of the loss of John Lackey, the Angels still have an impressive rotation. Jared Weaver and Scott Kazmir will be joined by newly-acquired veteran Joel Pineiro. Closer Brian Fuentes saved nearly 50 games last year, and he will again be an asset in the bullpen.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have to feel good about their chances in 2010. After all, they added a Cy Young winner to their rotation, and the game's second best leadoff hitter to their lineup.

The club did, however, lose a great deal of its power, after the departures of 1B Russell Branyan and 3B Adrian Beltre. They did little over the winter to replace that power.

Casey Kotchman was brought in to take over at first, but his 7 homers in 2009 pales in comparison to the 31 Branyan hit last year. Beltre averaged 25 homers each year, and new 3B Figgins will not even come close to that figure. SS Jack Wilson's numbers have dwindled the past few seasons, as he managed just 5 homers and hit only .255 last year. Jose Lopez has above average power for a second baseman, and he should add to the 25 homers and 96 RBI he accumulated in 2009. Rob Johnson and Adam Moore will share the catching responsiblities.

The Mariners hope that Milton Bradley's return to the AL will result in the kind of numbers he put up with Texas in 2008 before his struggles with the Cubs last year. He is joined in the outfield by All-Star RF Ichiro Suzuki and CF Franklin Gutierrez. Future Hall-of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. will play in the outfield occasionally when not in the lineup as the DH.

Seattle' biggest strength is its pitching rotation. Former Cy Young winner Clioff Lee provides a great lefty counterpart to staff ace Felix Rodriguez. Closer David Aardsma saved 38 games last year, and with this beefed-up rotation he should get even more in 2010.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers made some key acquisitions over the winter, and they seem ready to make a run at both Seattle and Los Angeles. Unfortunately, they also lost their number one starter and a respectable chunk of their offense.

The pitching rotation will be without Kevin Millwood, who signed with Baltimore. The club did bring in veteran Rich Harden, who will be joined by Scott Feldman and Tommy Hunter. Closer Frank Francisco, who saved 25 games last year, is hoping for even more opportunities to finish out games in 2010.

The outfield has talent, but it also has health concerns. LF Josh Hamilton has many tools, but he has had several stints on the disabled list. RF Nelson Cruz, who reached a career high in homers last year, also missed significant time due to injury. Young speedster Julio Borbon will patrol center field. All-Star Vladimir Guerrerro was signed as a free agent to provide power and production as the team's DH.

The team must also get power from 3B Michael Young, who hit 22 home runs and batted over .300 last year. In order to overtake the Angels, the club must get increased production from 1B Chris Davis, whose 21 homers and 59 RBI in 2009 were below average for his position. 2B Ian Kinsler is a star whose numbers, 31 homers and 31 stolen bases, made him an MVP candidate in 2009. SS Elvis Andus is a defensive specialist who also contributes a decent bat at the bottom of the order. Catcher Jarod Saltamacchia will be challenged by Taylor Teagarden for playing time this year.

Oakland Athletics

The A's will be the youngest team in the division, but they did strengthen themselves over the winter. They added an experienced leadoff hitter, a proven power bat for the middle of the lineup, and a number one starter for the rotation.

Coco Crisp will play center field and likely bat in the leadoff spot. LF Rajah Davis will also provide speed at the top of the lineup, and RF Ryan Sweeney will be counted on to produce in the middle of the order. Slugger Jack Cust will be the DH, but he could see time as a corner outfielder as well.

The infield has improved with the acquisition of 3b Kevin Kouzmanoff, who hit nearly 60 homers as a Padre over the last three seasons. The club hopes to also get power across the diamond from 1B Daric Barton, though he has just 4 homers in three years with Oakland. Veteran Mark Ellis will handle second base, and young Cliff Pennington will start his second season as the club's shortstop. Kurt Suzuki will again be behind the plate to guide the pitching staff.

The rotation will be competitive if the new number one starter stays healthy. The A's signed free agent Ben Sheets in the hope that his talented arm can remain inury-free, which didn't happened very often throughout his career with Milwaukee. Sheets will be followed by Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden, and the club will use Andrew Bailey as its closer.