Welcome to the early 2025 prediction series! This is not for the division winners, but just a bold prediction for every team in each division for the 2025 season. There is still more time in the winter, but for now let’s take a swan dive into these predictions. Now we take a look into the AL West!

Texas Rangers

Prediction: Winning the Division

The 2024 Rangers was an outlier of a season. They dealt with injuries and the lineup took a step back offensively. Adolis Garcia and Marcus Semien both took steps back and those are two players that are key cogs in the Rangers offensive machine. Given the talent that is on this roster, there’s no way that they repeat that performance.

Corey Seager is still playing at an MVP level. Garcia and Semien should bounce back and Wyatt Langford is a year older. Getting a healthy Josh Jung back is huge and that’s not including the pitching staff.

Nathan Eovaldi is returning and if they can get healthy Jacob deGrom on the mound, that’s enormous. They just signed Chris Martin to be the set up man, Joc Pederson and Jake Burger being necessary power to the lineup and the Rangers quietly are putting together a nice winter. However, these aren’t the only reasons.

The Astros traded away Kyle Tucker. Alex Bregman is all but gone at this given rate and the front office is still willing to listen on some of their pitchers. The tides are turning in Texas, so them taking back the crown is certainly a possibility. Before we get to the next team, our very own Kane McCutchen (@Kane_McCutchen6 on Twitter) gives his thoughts on the Rangers.

“Saying that the Rangers will win the AL West in 2025 certainly isn’t a reach by any means.

The biggest Rangers factor in 2025 will be getting bounce-back seasons at the plate from its core who had a down offensive year last season.

If the likes of Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia, Jonah Heim, and others have bounce-back seasons, this lineup will return to closer to its 2023 World Championship form.

Newly added bats Joc Pederson and Jake Burger will round out the lineup with some much-needed slugging.

As for the pitching, the Rangers brought back Nathan Eovaldi to pair with Jacob deGrom to create one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball.

If deGrom who made just four starts last season can pitch the way he has in the past, this rotation could be one of the best in the league.

Although not complete yet, the Rangers bullpen makeover has been in full swing adding LHP Hoby Milner, RHP Luis Curvelo, LHP Robert Garcia, RHP Jacob Webb, and RHP Shawn Armstrong. Add a closer to that group and the bullpen should be strong once again.

With the state of the other teams in the division, the Rangers very well could see their first AL West title since 2016.”

Make sure to follow Kane for all your Texas Rangers coverage as well! Now, onto the Astros.

Houston Astros

Prediction: Offense Takes a Step Back

This one may seem bold, especially for a team that employs Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. But this team is due to take a step back offensively. Sure, Christian Walker is a good offensive player and will be a massive boost to the Astros first base position, but the losses are significant.

Losing Kyle Tucker is massive. Not only is he great defensively, but his bat was reliable. In 339 plate appearances, Tucker flashed .289/.408/585 and had an OPS of .989. Not only does he make contact, but he hits home runs and finds ways to get on base. They are also losing Bregman. Bregman slashed .260/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS. Bregman and Tucker were two of four Astros batters to hit more than 20 home runs this season.

The Astros finished tenth in home runs (190) and 11th in runs (740) and those are numbers that are bound to drop. The outfield is not the sexiest group of names. Jeremy Pena will be someone who will be relied on to step up with the lost pieces.

Seattle Mariners

Prediction: Mariners Eventually Move a Pitcher for Offense

Fate is a real thing and the fate of the Mariners is to trade pitching to get a reliable bat. That pitching staff deserves better. They go out and compete every single game and give the team a chance to win. It does not matter if it is George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo the Mariners will always have a chance. If any of those players left the Mariners, they are a front line starter on most teams around the league.

It is a position of strength and they have more coming in the pipeline. The Mariners should deal from a position of strength to address the weakness. They’ve had opportunities, but have yet to bite. There will come a time during the season where they bite the bullet and finally make the move.

The most obvious one is Luis Castillo, who is the oldest of the bunch and is under team control. If they want to get a higher caliber bat, one of the others could go. The Mariners had the second worst batting average and struck out the second most of any team in the league. If they want to make the playoffs, they need an influx of offense and badly. Trading a pitcher solves that problem.

Athletics

Prediction: At Least Three Players Make the All-Star Game

Let’s have some fun with this one shall we. Yes, the Athletics will have three players represent the team at the All-Star festivities in Atlanta, Georgia. Let’s take a bolder stab at who those players could be.

Let’s start with Brent Rooker, who was without a doubt one of the best hitters in the AL last season. He slashed .293/.365/.562 and a .927 OPS. His 164 wRC+ was the best on the A’s, but he was not alone.

Lawrence Butler will join him. Butler emerged onto the scene and was one of the most fun players to watch in baseball last season. He had 22 home runs and 57 RBI’s in 125 games played. His blend of raw power and speed was such a treat and he’s poised to have an All-Star campaign in 2025.

Let’s go to life on the mound. Mason Miller was an All-Star in 2024 and could return again in 2025. Between Emmanuel Clase and Miller, they stole the spotlight for relievers. If it isn’t Miller, Luis Severino could get the nod and why not.

Severino is coming off a reviving season with the New York Mets and earned the largest contract in A’s history. I think the A’s are better than what people want to give them credit for and in fact were one of the best teams after the All-Star break.

Los Angeles Angels

Prediction: Mike Trout Plays 100 Games

This one is bold, but it’s what we all want. You always want to see the best players on the diamond at all times and watching them play this beautiful sport. One player that has failed to see the field much is Mike Trout.

He was the best player of his generation. But injuries have taken a toll on him and it’s hindered him being on the field. Last year, Trout played in just 29 games before being done for the season. The season before that; 82. He has yet to play 100 games in a season since 2022 and before that it was 2019.

Trout was enjoying a hot start to the season, hitting ten home runs and 14 RBI’s in his 29 games. He’s a true competitor and someone you want to see on the field and he wants to be on the field. Bold prediction; he’s healthy and comes out with a chip on his shoulder and plays 100 games for the Halo’s this season.

Up Next: AL Central