2020 ABL Division Previews - AL West
Jan 11, 2018 7:27:22 GMT -8
johnw- ATL, RangersGM, and 2 more like this
Post by aaron_commissioner on Jan 11, 2018 7:27:22 GMT -8
Texas Rangers (2019: 108-54, 1st AL West, Eliminated in ALDS)
2019 in review: Texas took a step forward in 2019 to join some of the other elite teams. Boasting over 100 wins by the end of the season, the Rangers were boosted by huge winning streaks, including one to begin the season, and an MVP-caliber performance from Alex Bregman. Ultimately, their starting pitchers tired in the playoffs, and they were eliminated by Boston.
Offseason summary: For a 100-win team, the Rangers were quite active this offseason. They had one of the bigger trades of the offseason by trading Martin Perez for Luis Castillo within the division. They also were willing to take on some salaries in Carlos Santana and Jacoby Ellsbury.
What’s the best that could happen? As mentioned earlier, Texas joined the ranks of the elite in 2019. They are really good. Best case scenario is best record in the AL and a deep playoff run.
What’s the worst that could happen? Given their tendency to hold on to their stars, the Rangers don’t have a ton of room for error in their budget. For example, if Mike Trout suffers a catastrophic injury, it could set this team back for a while.
Player spotlight:
SP Michael Kopech: Kopech was incredible after the deadline trade back to Texas from Anaheim. However, injuries cut his season short. As a player who is notoriously impacted by injuries in OOTP, 2020 will determine whether Kopech is going to be a long-term solution or a short term reliever.
RF Nomar Mazara: Mazara broke out last year with 6.2 WAR. That is incredible production for a 23-year-old, and he was rewarded with a massive contract extension. That being said, he never has produced more than 4 WAR before 2019. Was last year a peak performance, or just the beginning of something big?
Questions:
1) You made a big cross-divisional trade with Seattle to acquire Luis Castillo. Talk us through your reasoning to jettison Martin Perez, and what are your plans for Castillo?
2) You had a really good team last year, but fell short pretty quickly in the postseason. What do you think led to this failure, and what are you doing to prevent it from happening in 2020?
Seattle Mariners (2019: 79-83, 2nd AL West)
2019 in review: After a strong run into the 2018 playoffs, Seattle was doomed by lack of starting pitching depth in 2019. Furthermore, their hitting was absolutely atrocious after the All-Star break. While being the league leader in trades completed, the team seemed to regress as the season progressed.
Offseason summary: ablootp.proboards.com/thread/597/seattle-mariners-2019-offseason-tracker
What’s the best that could happen? 2019 was a rough year for Seattle, but with the changes made, the Mariners have have patched enough holes to make a run at the division title.
What’s the worst that could happen? The worst? The youth continues to underwhelm offensively, and the offense and a really, really cheap bullpen is not able to hold this team together. They finish with another losing record.
Player spotlight:
CL Michael Mariot: A quick look at Mariot’s ratings are very underwhelming. However, he was Seattle’s representative to the All-Star Game in 2019, and was borderline dominant as a reliever. Unfortunately, his statistics don’t really do him justice, as he was thrust into a starting role and struggled in 8 games there. He will stay in the bullpen this year and serve as the team’s closer.
RF Luis Alexander Basabe: After posting great OPS+’s at seemingly every level for multiple years, Basabe finally fell back down to earth in 2019. He did hit 21 home runs and steal 15 bases, but a full batting effort will be needed for his team to succeed this year.
Vancouver Mounties (66-96, 4th AL West)
2019 in review: The Mounties got off to a very slow start in 2019, and never really recovered. Their inexperience seemed to hurt them, especially in hitting, but were still helped by strong seasons from team captian Evan Longoria and ace Blake Snell (in the second half). Although much of the team’s end-of-year numbers were near the bottom of the league, the Mounties delivered one of the AL’s better rotations.
Offseason summary: Despite some leadership turnover, the Mounties were able to pick up some useful pieces this offseason. They signed Russell Martin to serve a veteran presence at catcher, and beefed up the bullpen. Ultimately, this team got better.
What’s the best that could happen? The Mounties have some really good pieces: an ace starter, some veteran leadership, and young talent. I could see them pushing really close to .500 if their players continue their development path.
What’s the worst that could happen? 2019 was a tough year in Vancouver. Looking at their history, the team probably should have been better than it was a year ago. Worst case scenario is likely returning to 90 losses and showing that the 2019 record was an ominous sign of a bigger problem.
Player spotlight:
SP Blake Snell: Seattle native Snell doesn’t have to travel far to get to work. After struggling with some injuries to begin 2019, he returned better than ever. Although walks may always be a problem with Snell, he seems to be entrenched as the ace of the Mounties and one of the best left handed starters in the AL.
RF Jake Bauers: Bauers took a step back in 2019, but he is still incredibly talented and is likely the future for the middle of the lineup in Vancouver. Is a bounceback in store in 2020?
Questions: Welcome to the ABL! I know you are still getting situated as GM of your team, but help us get to know you a little better:
1) What is your favorite MLB team? Favorite MLB memory?
2) What are your goals for your team and in general for your ABL career?
Oakland Athletics (2019: 70-92, 3rd AL West)
2019 in review: The A’s got of to a fast start in 2019, but faltered soon after and went into rebuild mode. Like the Mounties, they have a talented, young core of hitters, but are still looking to find the right group of pitchers. In all, the youth simply couldn’t produce, and the rotation was simply below average.
Offseason summary: Oakland was largely quiet this offseason. Brad Hand (CL) was their only acquisition, but they also do not have many losses.
What’s the best that could happen? The Athletics have started off hot each of the last two years. If they can maintain that momentum, they could find themselves vying for a wild card spot.
What’s the worst that could happen? Of course, it’s also very possible that Oakland will not start off quickly this year. With a lack of veterans and youngsters who just aren’t there yet, this could be a development-focused year.
Player spotlight:
SP Robert Gsellman: The A’s acquired Gsellman a few years back. Since then, he has faced injuries and performance regression. He still has the talent to be on their major league rotation, but needs to prove it in 2020.
3B Matt Chapman: Chapman is an enormously talented 3B, both defensively and with his power. However, he hasn’t been able to prove this so far in his major league career. The power has been there, but the bat simply hasn’t produced overall. Almost 27, he needs to develop and produce before it’s too late.
Questions:
1) You’ve taken it slow this offseason. Does this mean you feel content with the youth that you have on the team?
2) You have an interesting mix of potential and “meh” players vying for spots in your rotation. How do you see this unit shaping up to start 2020?
Anaheim Angels (2019: 60-102, 5th AL West)
2019 in review: The Angels have a long way to go, but took some step forward in 2019. They were able to capitalize on a big first half from Andrelton Simmons, shedding some salary and acquiring more young talent. They finished the season 14th in runs scored and 9th in runs allowed.
Offseason summary: Anaheim was active this offseason, using their waiver priority to claim Ben Gamel and Rule 5 picks to make several quality selections. They also moved salary around, acquiring a 1st round pick with Wei-Yin Chen and shipping Yoshiya Taniguchi to Boston. Oh, and the Angels “won” the 1st and 3rd overal picks in the draft lottery.
What’s the best that could happen? Given that Anaheim has an abundance of youth and some real talent coming, their future looks really bright. However, for 2020, I think a best case scenario would be finishing out of last place in the division. They have adjusted some players at key position on their major league roster, so this could certainly happen.
What’s the worst that could happen? Another last place finish? The Angels are geared towards the future, so really, there isn’t one single thing that could really damage their future plans.
Player spotlight:
SP Ofelky Peralta: A favorite of Anaheim’s GM, Ofelky has been surprisingly effective in AAA last year. His ratings aren’t overly impressive, but he may be able to continue his success in the majors in 2020.
OF Cole Brannen: 2017’s first round pick is up in the majors and looks like he’s here to stay. Brannen has developed quickly, and if this continues, he should be a part of the future OF in Anaheim.
Questions:
1) While most of your future is still away from the majors, you acquired some veteran pieces that could help you this year. How do you feel about 2020, and which newcomers will help you the most?
2) What are your plans for your abundance of draft picks this year? Continue to stock up on prospects, or trading for a huge major league talent?
2019 in review: Texas took a step forward in 2019 to join some of the other elite teams. Boasting over 100 wins by the end of the season, the Rangers were boosted by huge winning streaks, including one to begin the season, and an MVP-caliber performance from Alex Bregman. Ultimately, their starting pitchers tired in the playoffs, and they were eliminated by Boston.
Offseason summary: For a 100-win team, the Rangers were quite active this offseason. They had one of the bigger trades of the offseason by trading Martin Perez for Luis Castillo within the division. They also were willing to take on some salaries in Carlos Santana and Jacoby Ellsbury.
What’s the best that could happen? As mentioned earlier, Texas joined the ranks of the elite in 2019. They are really good. Best case scenario is best record in the AL and a deep playoff run.
What’s the worst that could happen? Given their tendency to hold on to their stars, the Rangers don’t have a ton of room for error in their budget. For example, if Mike Trout suffers a catastrophic injury, it could set this team back for a while.
Player spotlight:
SP Michael Kopech: Kopech was incredible after the deadline trade back to Texas from Anaheim. However, injuries cut his season short. As a player who is notoriously impacted by injuries in OOTP, 2020 will determine whether Kopech is going to be a long-term solution or a short term reliever.
RF Nomar Mazara: Mazara broke out last year with 6.2 WAR. That is incredible production for a 23-year-old, and he was rewarded with a massive contract extension. That being said, he never has produced more than 4 WAR before 2019. Was last year a peak performance, or just the beginning of something big?
Questions:
1) You made a big cross-divisional trade with Seattle to acquire Luis Castillo. Talk us through your reasoning to jettison Martin Perez, and what are your plans for Castillo?
2) You had a really good team last year, but fell short pretty quickly in the postseason. What do you think led to this failure, and what are you doing to prevent it from happening in 2020?
Seattle Mariners (2019: 79-83, 2nd AL West)
2019 in review: After a strong run into the 2018 playoffs, Seattle was doomed by lack of starting pitching depth in 2019. Furthermore, their hitting was absolutely atrocious after the All-Star break. While being the league leader in trades completed, the team seemed to regress as the season progressed.
Offseason summary: ablootp.proboards.com/thread/597/seattle-mariners-2019-offseason-tracker
What’s the best that could happen? 2019 was a rough year for Seattle, but with the changes made, the Mariners have have patched enough holes to make a run at the division title.
What’s the worst that could happen? The worst? The youth continues to underwhelm offensively, and the offense and a really, really cheap bullpen is not able to hold this team together. They finish with another losing record.
Player spotlight:
CL Michael Mariot: A quick look at Mariot’s ratings are very underwhelming. However, he was Seattle’s representative to the All-Star Game in 2019, and was borderline dominant as a reliever. Unfortunately, his statistics don’t really do him justice, as he was thrust into a starting role and struggled in 8 games there. He will stay in the bullpen this year and serve as the team’s closer.
RF Luis Alexander Basabe: After posting great OPS+’s at seemingly every level for multiple years, Basabe finally fell back down to earth in 2019. He did hit 21 home runs and steal 15 bases, but a full batting effort will be needed for his team to succeed this year.
Vancouver Mounties (66-96, 4th AL West)
2019 in review: The Mounties got off to a very slow start in 2019, and never really recovered. Their inexperience seemed to hurt them, especially in hitting, but were still helped by strong seasons from team captian Evan Longoria and ace Blake Snell (in the second half). Although much of the team’s end-of-year numbers were near the bottom of the league, the Mounties delivered one of the AL’s better rotations.
Offseason summary: Despite some leadership turnover, the Mounties were able to pick up some useful pieces this offseason. They signed Russell Martin to serve a veteran presence at catcher, and beefed up the bullpen. Ultimately, this team got better.
What’s the best that could happen? The Mounties have some really good pieces: an ace starter, some veteran leadership, and young talent. I could see them pushing really close to .500 if their players continue their development path.
What’s the worst that could happen? 2019 was a tough year in Vancouver. Looking at their history, the team probably should have been better than it was a year ago. Worst case scenario is likely returning to 90 losses and showing that the 2019 record was an ominous sign of a bigger problem.
Player spotlight:
SP Blake Snell: Seattle native Snell doesn’t have to travel far to get to work. After struggling with some injuries to begin 2019, he returned better than ever. Although walks may always be a problem with Snell, he seems to be entrenched as the ace of the Mounties and one of the best left handed starters in the AL.
RF Jake Bauers: Bauers took a step back in 2019, but he is still incredibly talented and is likely the future for the middle of the lineup in Vancouver. Is a bounceback in store in 2020?
Questions: Welcome to the ABL! I know you are still getting situated as GM of your team, but help us get to know you a little better:
1) What is your favorite MLB team? Favorite MLB memory?
2) What are your goals for your team and in general for your ABL career?
Oakland Athletics (2019: 70-92, 3rd AL West)
2019 in review: The A’s got of to a fast start in 2019, but faltered soon after and went into rebuild mode. Like the Mounties, they have a talented, young core of hitters, but are still looking to find the right group of pitchers. In all, the youth simply couldn’t produce, and the rotation was simply below average.
Offseason summary: Oakland was largely quiet this offseason. Brad Hand (CL) was their only acquisition, but they also do not have many losses.
What’s the best that could happen? The Athletics have started off hot each of the last two years. If they can maintain that momentum, they could find themselves vying for a wild card spot.
What’s the worst that could happen? Of course, it’s also very possible that Oakland will not start off quickly this year. With a lack of veterans and youngsters who just aren’t there yet, this could be a development-focused year.
Player spotlight:
SP Robert Gsellman: The A’s acquired Gsellman a few years back. Since then, he has faced injuries and performance regression. He still has the talent to be on their major league rotation, but needs to prove it in 2020.
3B Matt Chapman: Chapman is an enormously talented 3B, both defensively and with his power. However, he hasn’t been able to prove this so far in his major league career. The power has been there, but the bat simply hasn’t produced overall. Almost 27, he needs to develop and produce before it’s too late.
Questions:
1) You’ve taken it slow this offseason. Does this mean you feel content with the youth that you have on the team?
2) You have an interesting mix of potential and “meh” players vying for spots in your rotation. How do you see this unit shaping up to start 2020?
Anaheim Angels (2019: 60-102, 5th AL West)
2019 in review: The Angels have a long way to go, but took some step forward in 2019. They were able to capitalize on a big first half from Andrelton Simmons, shedding some salary and acquiring more young talent. They finished the season 14th in runs scored and 9th in runs allowed.
Offseason summary: Anaheim was active this offseason, using their waiver priority to claim Ben Gamel and Rule 5 picks to make several quality selections. They also moved salary around, acquiring a 1st round pick with Wei-Yin Chen and shipping Yoshiya Taniguchi to Boston. Oh, and the Angels “won” the 1st and 3rd overal picks in the draft lottery.
What’s the best that could happen? Given that Anaheim has an abundance of youth and some real talent coming, their future looks really bright. However, for 2020, I think a best case scenario would be finishing out of last place in the division. They have adjusted some players at key position on their major league roster, so this could certainly happen.
What’s the worst that could happen? Another last place finish? The Angels are geared towards the future, so really, there isn’t one single thing that could really damage their future plans.
Player spotlight:
SP Ofelky Peralta: A favorite of Anaheim’s GM, Ofelky has been surprisingly effective in AAA last year. His ratings aren’t overly impressive, but he may be able to continue his success in the majors in 2020.
OF Cole Brannen: 2017’s first round pick is up in the majors and looks like he’s here to stay. Brannen has developed quickly, and if this continues, he should be a part of the future OF in Anaheim.
Questions:
1) While most of your future is still away from the majors, you acquired some veteran pieces that could help you this year. How do you feel about 2020, and which newcomers will help you the most?
2) What are your plans for your abundance of draft picks this year? Continue to stock up on prospects, or trading for a huge major league talent?