SPORTS

A look at the AL West

Staff Writer
Athens Banner-Herald
Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin walks in the dugout as the Athletics play the Texas Rangers of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 1, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

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

Manager: Bob Melvin (fourth season).

He's Here: LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Luke Gregerson, LHP Eric O'Flaherty, INF Nick Punto, OF Craig Gentry, LHP Drew Pomeranz, OF Sam Fuld.

He's Outta Here: RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Grant Balfour, LHP Brett Anderson, LHP Jerry Blevins, OF Chris Young, OF Seth Smith, C Kurt Suzuki, RHP Pat Neshek, OF Michael Choice.

Projected Lineup: CF Coco Crisp (.261, 22, 66, 21 SBs), 3B Josh Donaldson (.301, 24, 93, 37 2Bs), SS Jed Lowrie (.290, 15, 75, 45 2Bs), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.240, 26, 80), 1B or DH Brandon Moss (.256, 30, 87), RF Josh Reddick (.226, 12, 56), DH or C John Jaso (.271, 3, 21), C Derek Norris (.246, 9, 30) or 1B Alberto Callaspo (.258, 10, 58 with Oakland and Los Angeles Angels) or 1B Daric Barton (.269, 3, 16), 2B Eric Sogard (.266, 2, 35) or 2B Nick Punto (.255, 2, 21 with Los Angeles Dodgers).

Rotation: RH Sonny Gray (5-3, 2.67), LH Scott Kazmir (10-9, 4.04), RH Jesse Chavez (2-4, 3.92), RH Dan Straily (10-8. 3.96), LH Tommy Milone (12-9, 4.14) or RH A.J. Griffin (14-10, 3.83 ERA, MLB-worst 36 HRs allowed).

Key Relievers: RH Jim Johnson (3-8, 2.94, 50/59 saves), RH Luke Gregerson (6-8, 2.71, 4 saves), LH Sean Doolittle (5-5, 3.13, 2 saves, .188 BA vs LH), RH Ryan Cook (6-4, 2.54, 2 saves), RH Dan Otero (2-0, 1.38).

TEXAS RANGERS

2013: 91-72, second place.

Manager: Ron Washington (eighth season).

He's Here: 1B Prince Fielder, LF Shin-Soo Choo, C. J.P. Arencibia, OF Michael Choice, INF Josh Wilson, C Chris Snyder.

He's Outta Here: Closer Joe Nathan, 2B Ian Kinsler, RF Nelson Cruz, C A.J. Pierzynski, RHP Matt Garza, 1B/DH Lance Berkman, CF Craig Gentry, OF David Murphy, INF Jeff Baker.

Projected Lineup: LF Shin-Soo Choo (.285, 21 HRs, 54 RBIs, 20 SBs, 112 walks for Cincinnati), SS Elvis Andrus (.271, 4, 67, 42 SBs), 1B Prince Fielder (.279, 25, 106, 36 doubles for Detroit), 3B Adrian Beltre (.315, 30, 92, AL-high 199 hits), RF Alex Rios (.278, 18, 81, 42 SBs combined with Chicago White Sox/Texas), DH Mitch Moreland (.232 23, 60), C J.P. Arencibia (.194, 21, 55 with Toronto) 2B Josh Wilson (.200, 1, 4 for Arizona), CF Leonys Martin (.260, 8, 49, 36 SBs).

Rotation: RH Yu Darvish (13-9, 2.83 ERA, ML-leading 277 Ks), LH Martin Perez (10-6, 3.62), RH Tanner Scheppers (6-2, 1.88, 76 appearances in setup role most ever for a Texas right-hander), LH Joe Saunders (11-16, 5.26 for Seattle), LH Robbie Ross (4-2, 3.03 in 65 appearances). Note: LH Matt Harrison, last year's opening day starter who made only two starts before back surgery, is expected back in mid-to-late April.

Key Relievers: RH Joakim Soria (1-0, 3.80 in 26 games), LH Neal Cotts (8-3, 1.11, ML high-tying eight wins in relief, 65 Ks in 57 IP), RH Jason Frasor (4-3, 2.57), Michael Kirkman (0-2, 8.18 in 25 games).

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

2013: 78-84, third place.

Manager: Mike Scioscia (15th season).

He's Here: 3B David Freese, LHP Tyler Skaggs, LHP Hector Santiago, DH Raul Ibanez, RHP Joe Smith, INF John McDonald.

He's Outta Here: OF Peter Bourjos, DH Mark Trumbo, LHP Jason Vargas, RHP Jerome Williams, RHP Tommy Hanson.

Projected Lineup: RF Kole Calhoun (.282, 8 HRs, 32 RBIs, 2 SBs), CF Mike Trout (.323, 27, 97, .988 OPS, 110 BBs), 1B Albert Pujols (.258, 17, 64, 99 GP), LF Josh Hamilton (.250, 21, 79), 3B David Freese (.262, 9, 60 with Cardinals), DH Raul Ibanez (.242, 29, 65 with Mariners), 2B Howie Kendrick (.297, 13, 54), C Chris Iannetta (.225, 11, 39), SS Erick Aybar (.271, 6, 54, 12 SBs).

Rotation: RH Jered Weaver (11-8, 3.27 ERA, 117 Ks), LH C.J. Wilson (17-7, 3.39, 188 Ks), RH Garrett Richards (7-8, 4.16), LH Hector Santiago (4-9, 3.67 with White Sox), LH Tyler Skaggs (2-3, 5.12 ERA for Diamondbacks).

Key Relievers: RH Ernesto Frieri (2-4, 3.80, 37 saves), RH Dane De La Rosa (6-1, 2.86), RH Joe Smith (6-2, 2.29 with Indians), RH Kevin Jepsen (1-3, 4.50).

SEATTLE MARINERS

Manager: Lloyd McClendon (first season).

2013: 71-91, fourth place.

He's Here: 2B Robinson Cano, OF Corey Hart, 1B-DH Logan Morrison, C John Buck, INF-OF Willie Bloomquist, RHP Fernando Rodney.

He's Outta Here: Manager Eric Wedge, OF Raul Ibanez, DH Kendrys Morales, SS Brendan Ryan.

Projected Lineup: CF Abraham Almonte (.264, 2 HR, 9 RBI in 25 games; .314 at Triple-A Tacoma) or Michael Saunders (.236, 12, 46), 3B Kyle Seager (.260, 22, 69, 32 doubles), 2B Robinson Cano (.314, 27, 107, 41 doubles with Yankees), RF Corey Hart (.270, 30, 83 in 2012 with Brewers), 1B Justin Smoak (.238, 20, 50), DH Logan Morrison (.242, 6, 36 in 85 games with Marlins), C Mike Zunino (.214, 5, 14 in 52 games), LF Dustin Ackley (.235, 4, 31), SS Brad Miller (.265, 8, 36, 6 triples in 76 games)

Rotation: RH Felix Hernandez (12-10, 3.04 ERA, 216 Ks), RH Hisashi Iwakuma (14-6, 2.66, 185 Ks), LH James Paxton (3-0, 1.50 in 4 starts; 8-11, 4.45 at Tacoma), RH Taijuan Walker (1-0, 3.60 in 3 starts; 5-3, 3.61 at Tacoma), RH Erasmo Ramirez (5-3, 4.90 in 13 starts).

Key Relievers: RH Fernando Rodney (5-4, 3.38, 37/45 saves), RH Tom Wilhelmsen (0-3, 4.12, 24/29 saves), RH Danny Farquhar (0-3, 4.20, 16/20 saves), LH Charlie Furbush (2-6, 3.74, 71 appearances).

HOUSTON ASTROS

2013: 51-111, fifth place.

Manager: Bo Porter (second season).

He's Here: RH Scott Feldman, CF Dexter Fowler, RH Jesse Crain, RH Jerome Williams, RH Chad Qualls, RH Matt Albers, 1B Jesus Guzman and LH Raul Valdes.

He's Outta Here: LH Erik Bedard, CF Brandon Barnes, RH Jordan Lyles, RH Philip Humber, OF Trevor Crowe.

Projected Lineup: CF Dexter Fowler (.263, 12 HRs, 42 RBIs, 19 SBs with Rockies), 2B Jose Altuve (.283, 5, 52, 35 SBs, 31 doubles), 3B Matt Dominguez (.241, 21, 77), C Jason Castro (.276, 18, 56), RF L.J. Hoes (.282, 1, 10, 7 SB with Orioles and Astros), 1B Marc Krauss (.209, 4, 13) or Jesus Guzman (.226, 9, 35 with Padres) LF Robbie Grossman (.268, 4, 21), SS Jonathan Villar (.243, 1, 8, 18 SBs), DH Chris Carter (.223, 29, 82, led majors with 212 Ks).

Rotation: RH Scott Feldman (12-12, 3.86 ERA, 132 Ks with Orioles and Cubs), RH Jarred Cosart (1-1, 1.95 in 10 starts), LH Brett Oberholtzer (4-5, 2.76), RH Brad Peacock (5-6, 5.18) or RH Lucas Harrell (6-17, 5.86), RH Jerome Williams (9-10, 4.57 with Angels) or LH Dallas Keuchel (6-10, 5.15).

Key Relievers: RH Jesse Crain (2-3 0.74, 46 Ks with White Sox), RH Matt Albers (3-1, 3.14 with Indians), RH Chad Qualls (5-2, 2.61 with Marlins).