Justus Sheffield, Seattle Mariners.
Scott Servais, Seattle Mariners.
Going into 2020 the Houston Astros had endured a brutal offseason dominated by their cheating scandal. The Los Angeles Angels added “Tony Two-Bags” Anthony Rendon to the generational talents they already had in Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Shohei Ohtani, yet continue to lose no matter how much money they spend. The Oakland A’s, on the other hand, continue to win no matter how little they spend. The Texas Rangers seemed pretty normal. However, they got caught up in a midseason debate about unwritten rules and came across as whiney. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners are on their way to a 19th straight season without the postseason.
The AL West is a bizarre place at times. To help you understand the state of the Mariners within the context of their most common opponents, here is a breakdown of where each AL West team stands headed into the final third of an unusual (to say the least) 2020 MLB season.
This was supposed to be a development year for the Seattle Mariners. They had a chance to get some valuable major league at-bats or innings pitched for their young prospects. The loss of games this year has made the task significantly harder.
Before going on a recent six-game winning streak, the M’s struggled this year, with flashes of baseball worth getting excited about. Trader Jerry DiPoto seemed poised for a quiet trade deadline much like his team had last winter. However, the universe conspired against his restraint.
The Mariners weren’t trying to move staring catcher Austin Nola, but the Padres offered more than they could refuse. San Diego saw an opportunity and looked to add to their young and talented roster. Nobody around baseball seemed to be spending so DiPoto made the deal (actually two).
With Nola gone along with three solid bullpen pieces, the M’s seem further away from the playoffs even in 2021. Their deadline moves and lack of developmental games probably leave the Mariners out of position for playoffs in 2021. Seattle won’t tank. Earlier than anticipated however their young talent, such as Kyle Lewis and J.P. Crawford, is getting a baptism by fire.
Look for the Mariners to compete and bring in a couple of mid-level free agents this upcoming offseason. But the talent isn’t quite developed enough yet to compete for a playoff spot in a normal year or let alone this year.
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Los Angeles Mike Trouts went into the 2019 offseason as the talk of the MLB. Once they added Gerrit Cole and got Ohtani back on the mound, they would be a World Series contender. Their pennant dreams didn’t last very long. Cole went to New York and Ohtani struggled to stay healthy on the mound. So once again they failed their franchise player.
While Andrew Heaney and Dylan Bundy have pitched well so far, the Angels have been the most disappointing team in baseball. They gave up on winning 2020, as reflected in their deadline moves. LAA traded away upcoming free agents Tommy La Stella, Jason Castro, and Brian Goodwin for younger players with more team control left.
Currently drowning in the 2020 standings, and far behind the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles (or Anaheim, or both) looks ahead to better days. They held on to players who could be a big part of next year like Bundy. They could have gotten a big windfall by trading their ace. Instead, the Angels showed a commitment to a winning future.
Their deadline trades added a boost to the young talent in the Angels system while leaving them set up for a good run next year. With a nearly maxed-out payroll, the Angels will enter 2021 in dire need to make the playoffs, without the ability to add many more pieces. They should be competitive down the stretch to let potential free agents know that they will be a force next year. Maybe they can let themselves know as well.
Much like the large stretches of road that seem to ramble on forever through east Texas, the glory days of the Rangers are distant in the past. Worse for them, there is no destination in sight. After surprise performances by Lance Lynn and Mike Minor last year, they seemed set to build upon that foundation and even seemed like a playoff competitor in this year’s expanded field. That hope quickly dissipated as the season got moving. At the deadline, Texas traded away Minor, Robinson Chirinos, and Todd Frazier.
The moves they made won’t tank the Rangers this year. They held on to Joey Gallo and Lynn despite rampant rumors. This shows that Texas sees itself as competitors in 2021 even though they don’t seem to have enough talent yet to get the job done. Since the 2020-21 free-agent class seems relatively weak, the Rangers will have to rely on developing the young players they have in order to compete. Nonetheless, they will compete every night.
Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane.
Coming into 2020, Oakland looked poised to roll into the playoffs again. The chances of doing better than each of the previous two seasons, which ended with losses in Wild Card games seemed good. With another year of experience, the Athletics looked just as good if not better this year. GM Billy Beane made a couple of inter-divisional moves at the deadline to improve the club. They acquired Tommy La Stella from the Angels, and Mike Minor from the Rangers.
Already leading the AL West by several games, the new players could take Oakland to the next level. A notoriously thrifty team, Oakland was able to reinforce this year’s team without locking themselves up in bad future debt, nor draining their farm system. Look for them to continue to play top-level baseball for the next few years.
Although disgraced by scandal, and hurt by free agent directions, Houston began defense of their American League Championship with one of the best lineups in baseball. As they found out the hard way, there is a difference between a World Series competitor and the middling team they have been this year, it’s called pitching.
So far Houston has just enough to hold their own. Despite being down, they basically have a playoff spot locked up this year. In lieu of all this, the Astros made one minor deal last month, for a reliever.
The Astros are approaching a crossroads of sorts. With both their payroll and average age escalating, their competitive window seems to be closing.
With their General Manager James Click hired last minute, in the wake of the scandal, Houston did the wisest thing they could by standing pat. They will continue to compete this year with a World Series title as their goal. Next year’s direction will be determined by the views of whoever they bring on to run the team.
How do you see the Seattle Mariners shaping up in the division over the final 20 games? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.