A look at the AL West Power Rankings after the Texas Rangers signed Jacob deGrom.
How much has power shifted in the AL West? The reigning World Series Champions already look well-equipped to repeat but they appear to have lost Justin Verlander in free agency while another team has added Jacob deGrom.
The AL West power rankings may look a little different right now with a whole lot of offseason left for changes. We shouldn’t expect some of these teams to slow down.
We’ve already seen a lot of movement within the division outside of deGrom. Jose Abreu has come into the AL West. So have Teoscar Hernandez, Tyler Anderson, and a few other notable players.
The division includes four teams ready to continue to add and one waving the biggest of white flags. What do the AL West power rankings look like following the deGrom deal?
5) AL West Power Rankings: Oakland Athletics
Nobody expects the Oakland Athletics to make major additions. They’re a club ready to subtract more from the roster. Sean Murphy, specifically, is likely to get traded in favor of minor league players the Athletics will only hope can contribute in the big leagues someday.
The Athletics will probably get lost in the dust this year in the AL West and the rest of Major League Baseball. Among the 30 teams, they should be a favorite to finish dead last. They’re resetting the budget and the roster.
The deGrom signing had little effect on the Athletics being behind everyone else in the AL West power rankings. We can pin the Athletics to the number five spot in the AL West Power Rankings permanently this year. There isn’t much, other than completely changing the direction of the franchise, to change this.
4) AL West Power Rankings: Texas Rangers
The deGrom signing was huge for the Texas Rangers, but it doesn’t budge them from a number four spot in the AL West Power Rankings. The team has a lot they still need to do. The rotation looks much better with deGrom, but let’s not forget this is a ball club that won just 68 games last season.
deGrom does have questions regarding his health. A fully healthy and Cy Young-worthy season from him should be good to give the Rangers a major boost. The rest of the roster will still need to step up. Corey Seager and Marcus Semien need to play like the stars they were signed to be. More help from Nathaniel Lowe in 2023 could help give deGrom something he rarely got with the New York Mets, run support.
This shouldn’t be the end of the Rangers’ offseason. Their starting lineup has some holes to improve. A big bat could be next on the agenda and maybe lift them up a spot soon after.
3) AL West Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels aren’t selling off Shohei Ohtani this offseason. Instead, they’re buying. They’ve signed Tyler Anderson. They’ve also traded for Gio Urshela and Hunter Renfroe. Is this the year where they finally make the postseason? They’re at least attempting to accomplish that goal.
There is a ton of potential with the Angels. The starting rotation was surprisingly effective last year even outside of Ohtani taking the mound every five or six days. The expanded playoffs will certainly help the Angels return to the postseason. One thing they might need to go further is a more proven starting pitcher.
The Angels finished third in the AL West last year. It’s where they sit in the AL West Power Rankings following the deGrom signing. Texas got better. The Angels still have a better roster.
2) AL West Power Rankings: Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are inching closer to the top of the AL West Power Rankings. Nothing of major significance has been lost in free agency. They’ve already added some improvements to the roster and we’re not even through the MLB Winter Meetings.
Teoscar Hernandez and Kolten Wong are the two major boosts the Mariners made to the lineup. They’ll be counting on several players to have better years in 2023 in order to go back to the postseason and maybe challenge for a division title.
A rotation anchored by Luis Castillo at the top and followed by Logan Gilbert and Robbie Ray is quietly fantastic. Consider Seattle a team willing to go above and beyond to add further to the roster. The window is wide open for them right now. First, they’ll need to try and slay the one team ahead of them in the AL West Power Rankings right now.
1) AL West Power Rankings: Houston Astros
The defending champions are at the top of the division, still, even after the deGrom signing. How scared should the Houston Astros actually be of the Rangers? They have a much fuller rotation and a lineup that can compete alongside everyone.
Adding Jose Abreu was a major move for the Astros. He’s a true run-producer yet he’ll find himself hitting lower in the lineup than he was used to during his time with the Chicago White Sox.
The Astros have spaces to fill in their roster before the hot stove cools off and spring training begins. They can target a catcher and possibly another outfielder. Seattle is the one team that may be able to dethrone the Astros. They’ll need to outplay them to prove they are worthy to sit on the throne.