The season is about to get underway, and with that comes out 2021 MLB predictions. Next on the docket is a division where every team has flaws – the AL West.
And yet, this division is home to the Astros, who have reached the American League Championship Series in each of the past four years, doing so last year with a sub .500 record in the regular season. The Angels have plenty of star power in Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Anthony Rendon, and are expected to finally contend for a playoff berth.
2021 MLB predictions: The AL West
While those two teams are expected to battle for the division, the Mariners and Rangers are on opposite ends of the rebuilding spectrum. Texas has finally begun theirs, while Seattle is hoping to compete in the near future. Meanwhile, the A’s have been forgotten this offseason despite having won the division last year.
Who will win the AL West? Let’s look into our crystal ball and find out.
5. Texas Rangers
Let’s face it – the Texas Rangers are not sniffing the postseason any time soon.
On the plus side, they have finally committed to a rebuilding process. A change in the front office, bringing in former major league pitcher Chris Young as their general manager, has led to a shift in the organization as they look to move on from a core that has underperformed over the past few years.
The Rangers 2021 season may well be a tale of which players are moved by the deadline and who is identified as a part of the future core. As much as Texas would love to move on from Rougned Odor‘s contract, it seems far more likely that Joey Gallo, Jordan Lyles, and Kyle Gibson will be flipped for prospects if they have a solid year. Likewise, they added several pieces on one year deals, presumably with the hope of flipping them at the trade deadline as well.
The Texas Rangers are going to have a long 2021 season. But this is a rebuild that they needed to start a long time ago.