AL WEST REPORT
Baseball’s Hot Stove League is already in action ahead of this week’s winter meetings. A look at what’s going on with the Astros’ rivals in the AL West:
ANGELS
2018 record: 80-82
Noteworthy departures: Manager Mike Scioscia resigned. RHP Garrett Richards, RHP Jim Johnson, OF Chris Young, RHP Blake Wood, OF Eric Young Jr. and RHP Junichi Tazawa departed in free agency. Blake Parker and Matt Shoemaker were non-tendered. Martin Maldonado was traded to the Astros and is a free agent.
Impact returners: OF Mike Trout, DH/LHP Shohei Ohtani, SS Andrelton Simmons, OF Kole Calhoun, OF Justin Upton, RHP Garrett Richards, LHP Andrew Heaney, LHP Tyler Skaggs, RHP Nick Tropeano, RHP Justin Anderson, LHP Jose Alvarez.
Their offseason so far: Hired former Astros catcher Brad Ausmus to succeed Scioscia, and Ausmus hired Houston bullpen coach Doug White as pitching coach; acquired 3B Tommy La Stella from the Cubs and LHP Dillon Peters from Miami.
What they need: Competency to surround Mike Trout.
ATHLETICS
2018 record: 97-65, American League wild card berth Noteworthy departures: IF Jed Lowrie, C Jonathan Lucroy, RHP Jeurys Familia, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Trevor Cahill, RHP Edwin Jackson, OF Matt Joyce and RHP Shawn Kelley are free agents. RHPs Kendall Graveman and Mike Fiers were nontendered.
Impact returners: 3B Matt Chapman, OF Khris Davis, OF Stephen Piscotty, 1B Matt Olson, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Lou Trivino, RHP Yusmeiro Petit, RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Daniel Mengden, RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Frankie Montas
Their offseason so far: Acquired RHP Tanner Anderson from the Pirates, extended the contracts of manager Bob Melvin, president of baseball operations Billy Beane and general manager David Forst.
What they need: Catching and starting pitching are the foremost offseason concerns.
MARINERS
2018 record: 89-73
Noteworthy departures: OF Denard Span, DH Nelson Cruz, OF Cameron Maybin, RHP Adam Warren and LHP Zach Duke are free agents. Robinson Cano leads a list of players who have been traded.
Impact returners: OF Mitch Haniger, 3B Kyle Seager, 2B/OF Dee Gordon, 1B Ryon Healey, RHP Felix Hernandez, RHP Mike Leake, LHP Marco Gonzales, LHP Wade LeBlanc, RHP Chasen Bradford
Their offseason so far: In November, they traded RHP Alex Colome to the Rays, ace LHP James Paxton to the Yankees, C Mike Zunino and OF Guillermo Heredia to the Rays. To begin December, Seattle shipped 2B Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz to the Mets before sending SS Jean Segura, LHP James Pazos and RHP Juan Nicasio to the Phillies.
What they need: To keep “stepping back,” which is what general manager Jerry Dipoto termed this fire sale.
RANGERS
2018 record: 67-95
Noteworthy departures: Manager Jeff Banister was fired. 3B Adrian Beltre retired. C Robinson Chirinos signed with the Astros. RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Doug Fister, RHP Yovani Gallardo, LHP Matt Moore and LHP Martin Perez are free agents. RHP Matt Bush, RHP Ricardo Rodriguez, RHP Adrian Sampson and LHP Zac Curtis were non-tendered. Impact returners: 1B/OF Joey Gallo, OF Shin-Soo Choo, IF Jurickson Profar, OF Nomar Mazara, 2B Rougned Odor, IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS Elvis Andrus, OF Delino DeShields, LHP Mike Minor, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Jose Leclerc Their offseason so far: Hired Chris Woodward as manager, re-signed RHP Jesse Chavez, signed C Jeff Mathis, acquired LHP Drew Smyly from the Cubs
What they need: Pitching, as they have a rotation full of journeymen recovering from surgery.