Much like last season in the American League's West division, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Seattle Mariners will be battling for the pennant while the Texas Rangers and Oakland A's fight to avoid the cellar.
The defending champion Angels finished last season six games ahead of the Mariners and lured free agent centerfielder Torii Hunter to town during the offseason in hopes of giving Vladimir Guerrero some much needed protection in the middle of the order.
The Mariners traded for Orioles' pitcher Erik Bedard on the heels of a 2007 campaign in which they won 88 games despite having the 22nd staff ERA in the majors. Seattle's rotation now has what many believe is the most formidable 1–2 punch in baseball with Bedard and Felix Hernandez.
The Rangers are a long shot to make much noise in the pennant race this summer, but it's worth mentioning GM Jon Daniels successfully coaxed the Reds into trading Josh Hamilton to Arlington. The A's are in full rebuilding mode after trading away top-starter Dan Haren and outfielder Nick Swisher.
Projections
1. L.A. Angels of Anaheim
The Angels have too much quality at the top and too much depth across the board to bet against the defending AL west champions in 2008.
Hunter's impact on the Angels run production should be tremendous considering they won 94 games in 2007 while hitting only 123 home runs, tying them for the third fewest in the majors.
They also added veteran Jon Garland to an arsenal that includes high-ceiling young hurlers with Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders, so the group should be able to withstand the injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar as the season opens.
All things considered, the Angels are primed for a huge 2008 in which superstar Vladimir Guerrero could post MVP-like numbers en route to a 100-win season.
2. Seattle Mariners
Offensively the Mariners are past their prime, but have held up relatively well over the past couple of years. If they can hold up for yet another year on the shoulders of Ichiro, then Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez could help the M's sneak up on the Angels down the stretch.
The back end of the rotation should be productive enough to give the Mariners a shot, but at the end of the day the health and production of aging offensive stars like Ichiro, Raul Ibanez and Richi Sexson will be the key to success in the Emerald City.
3. Texas Rangers
Surprise, surprise the Rangers traded their top pitching prospect, Edinson Volquez, for another power hitting outfielder in Hamilton.
This time the Rangers' knack for big bats and disinterest in starting pitching could work out in their favor with Hamilton looking to fill the void left by Mark Teixiera after he was traded to Atlanta.
Second basemen Ian Kinsler is a budding superstar and shortstop Michael Young is one of the game's most underrated players, but the Rangers are only as good as their pitching. And as it's been for years, it isn't very pretty.
4. Oakland Athletics
It's a rebuilding year for the small-market A's, who were forced to part ways with Haren in an off-season in exchange for a host of minor league prospects from the Diamondbacks.
A healthy Rich Harden could ease the pain of losing Haren, but the odds of that are slim to none as Harden hasn't pitched a full season since 2004.
The A's bring back an impressive wealth of young talent that includes power hitting outfielder Jack Cust and 22 year-old first baseman Daric Barton, who hit .347 in 18 games after a late season call-up in 2007.
The future is once again bright for Billy Beane's A's. However, this year the regular season might be a bit of struggle.
AL West MVP:
Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
AL West Cy Young:
Erik Bedard, Seattle Mariners
AL West Manager of the Year:
Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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