Rating the AL West

2. Oakland A’s

Last year: 97-65 – Second Place – Lost in AL wild-card game to Yankees

Key losses: INF Jed Lowrie, C Jonathan Lucroy, RHP Jeurys Familia

Key newcomers: RHP Marco Estrada, INF Jurickson Profar, C Chris Herrman, C Nick Hundley

Best-case scenario: Matt Chapman follows up his breakout 2018 with another All-Star worthy season, young guys like Franklin Barreto and Ramon Laureano find their footing and one of bsaeball’s most underrated bullpens balances out an iffy starting rotation as the A’s prove last year’s playoff berth was definitely not a fluke.

Worst-case scenario: The lack of defined starting pitching sinks the A’s into the Bay and they fail to make the playoffs.

3. Seattle Mariners

Last year: 89-73 – Third Place

Key losses: INF Robinson Cano, RHP Edwin Diaz, C Mike Zunino, LHP James Paxton, SS Jean Segura

Key newcomers: RHP Hunter Strickland, OF Jay Bruce, OF Mallex Smith, INF J.P. Crawford, DH Edwin Encarnacion

Best-case scenario: Despite losing Cano, Paxton, Segura and Diaz, new additions like Crawford and Encarnacion help the Mariners keep pace in the division.

Worst-case scenario: After an epic falter in the late months of 2018, Seattle stumbles to the bottom end of the division and finds themselves at the beginning of another long rebuilding mode.

4.LosAngelesAngels

Last year: 80-82– Fourth Place

Key losses: Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher (Tommy John surgery)

Key newcomers: RHP Matt Harvey, C Jonathan Lucroy, 1B Justin Bour, RHP Trevor Cahill

Best-case scenario: Mike Trout does what Mike Trout does, Andrelton Simmons picks up where he left off last year and the Angels make a playoff run under new manager Brad Ausmus.

Worst-case scenario: Despite making several respectable off-season acquisitions, the Angels end up lacking the depth necessary to keep up with Houston and baseball misses another chance at Trout in the playoffs.

5.TexasRangers

Last year: 67-95 – Fifth Place

Key losses: 3B Adrian Beltre, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Matt Moore

Key newcomers: OF Hunter Pence, RHP Lance Lynn, RHP Shelby Miller, C Jeff Mathis, INF Asdrubal Cabrera

Best-case scenario: With rookie manager Chris Woodward at the helm, veterans like Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor help guide young talent as the struggling Rangers aim to rebuild.

Worst-case scenario: Texas sputters both at the plate and on the field -- much like they did in 2018 – and stumble to another last place finish.

1. Cleveland Indians

Last year: 91-71 – First Place – Swept by Houston in ALDS

Key losses: C Yan Gomes, DH Edwin Encarnacion, 1B Yonder Alonso, OF Michael Brantley, 3B Josh Donaldson, LHP Andrew Miller

Key newcomers: 1B Jake Bauers

Best-case scenario: Francisco Lindor. below, has another tremendous season and the Indians cruise to another AL Central berth.

Worst-case scenario: With several key pieces of their postseason success no longer with the organization, Cleveland struggles in a dismal division and blows a relatively easy pass to their fourth straight postseason.