Since their (not-entirely-unexpected) arrival in 2017, the Houston Astros have remained a juggernaut for the AL West, led by veterans José Altuve and Alex Bregman alongside emerging stars like Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Under owner Jim Crane, the team has embraced their villain status since the “banging scheme” details riled baseball, though few players from that era remain. If there is any question truly about the Astros, it might be how many years before the booing finally quells.

The Astros’ biggest changes perhaps will come in the form of how the team adapts into a new era without manager Dusty Baker finally called it quits after 26 managed years in the league. In his place will be Joe Espada, who has managed Houston’s bench since 2018. Espada has claimed that he’ll wait to see his time develop before adapting into any one personality.

That said, the team’s hyper-financialized model will finally turn a corner in the next few years. Their farm system now ranks 27th according to Keith Law, and many of their top players are beginning to hit their arbitration years. Altuve received his likely final payday with a $125 million five-year extension to end his Hall of Fame career as an Astro, though questions about his time at second base will perhaps quickly emerge. If the Astros want to keep any of their core together, it will have to come through money.

Most of Houston’s rotation returns, though veterans Justin Verlander and Lance McCullers Jr. continue to battle injury and will arrive late. That means headliner Framber Valdez will need to bounce back while younger stars like Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, J.P. France, and José Urquidy continue to develop into regular rotation players.

Baker’s exit also means finally a change beloved all-defense catcher Martín Maldonado and the entrance of Yainer Diaz to clean up. Given how little experience Diaz got behind the plate during Maldonado’s tenure, it might take time for the rookie catcher (as well as new veteran back up Victor Caratini) to learn how to command the staff.

Houston’s bullpen will also see some turnover. With Kendall Graveman out for the season as well as Hector Neris and Phil Maton departing in free agency, Houston might not have the strength of its old days. Old friend Ryan Pressly has moved off the closer role to the 8th inning, now supported by All Star Josh Hader—coming to Houston on a five-year, $100 million deal. While the combination of Bryan Abreu, Pressly, and Hader might be the best in the league, Houston will also need to hope other players step up.

Seattle Mariners
Baseball Prospectus PECOTA Projections: 84-77
FanGraphs Projections: 85-77

“What did Jerry Dipoto do?” goes a jingle created by Michael Baumann. And as it is with every off season, the Seattle GM spent his days re-arranging a number of deck chairs of his roster in the hope of a handful of wins. Jerry got in trouble an early remark about winning only 54% of games over the next ten years. Trouble with the Mariners’ now entirely owned cable RSN ROOT Sports limited any new spending, though more in terms of stagnation than cuts.

As many question whether the Mariners’ first post season appearance in 2022 was just a fluke, Jerry spent the offseason unloading payroll while bringing in new materials. The headline is, of course, Twins veteran Jorge Polanco, who joins a line up made up of superstar Julio Rodriguez, Ty France, and Carl “Big Dumper” Raleigh. Replacing their offense production (Teoscar Hernandez went to Los Angeles; Eugenio Suarez traded to Arizona) is old friend Mitch Garver as DH and the return of Mitch Haniger in an odd bit of trading that sent Robbie Ray to San Francisco. If Rodriguez—who despite a disappointing first half went on an explosion to end up ranking 4th in AL MVP voting—returns in top form, this might be the best line up Seattle has had in years.

Seattle’s arms remains their strength, of course. Last year saw two young stars in Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller make unexpected leaps into the rotation, which includes a gauntlet of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert. Many of the top names of the bullpen have departed (including Justin Topa over to the Twins), but Seattle has made a knack of bringing up folks from AAA to create an impenetrable wall of defense for late innings before closer Andrés Muñoz can come in to shut the whole thing down.

Texas Rangers
Baseball Prospectus PECOTA Projections: 86-76
FanGraphs Projections: 82-80

Like the Minnesota Twins, the Rangers spent much of their offseason—one that should have been all good bolstered by their first World Series title after 56 seasons—by worries about a bankruptcy issue with Bally Sports. The eventual settlement brought them about 85% of their money due for the year, but resulted in less spending one might do when the plan is to run back a title.

Lacking World Series hero Jordan Montgomery, Nathan Eovaldi will take his spot as the front line man as the team desperately awaits the return of both Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom (plus Tyler Mahle). That will leave the other efforts to the likes of Jon Gray, Dane Dunning, and Michael Lorenzen to give enough innings to reach a bullpen. That pen is where Texas put most of its money this winter after signing David Robertson and Kirby Yates, hoping to give Jose Leclerc and Josh Sborz a bit less of a heavy load.

The goal will of course remain to bop and bop hard. Texas handed out $500 million between Marcus Semien and Corey Seager in 2021, an early bet that paid off. Adolis Garcia, who became a legend throughout the playoff run, received a small but statured extension. More so, Texas should see ample time from two top prospects: dentist-turned-playoff-hero Evan Carter and the debut of Wyatt Langford, ranked #2 on most systems. That should leave a pitchers constantly exhausted as they navigate the line up.

Los Angeles Angels
Baseball Prospectus PECOTA Projections: 73-89
FanGraphs Projections: 78-84

The Twins visit Anaheim in April this year and hopefully can mostly enjoy a sunny vacation while the Los Angeles Angels remain trash fire. Owner Arte Moreno—embezzler? failure—had no interest in matching Shohei Ohtani’s reasonable asking price to remain an Angel for life. And this was after the team pushed their chips in last year while keeping Ohtani at the trade deadline, and now sit with the worst farm system in the major leagues and a fan base who might finally revolt.

The Angels will spend the year betting on youth. Nolan Schanuel was drafted in June before making his major league debut in August. Zach Neto will play shortstop, with the team hoping his brief flash in the pan last year was no fluke. This year will also see a full season of catcher Logan O’Hoppe , whose brief power surge before an injury sidelined him all last year might have a chance to prove into a Mauer-esque talent.

Pitching has continue to woe the Angels for what seems like a decade, but there is some talent in this bunch. Patrick Sandoval, Griffin Canning, and Reid Detmers could all be solid weekly options, and perhaps Tyler Anderson will make due on his post-Dodgers rebound contract. For what it’s worth, Angels GM Perry Minasian has made a number of interesting bullpen moves and essentially replaced the entire roster, adding Seattle’s Matt Moore, San Diego’s Luis Garcia, and Toronto’s Adam Cimber. The big question remains the addition of Rays breakout Robert Stephenson on a three-year, $33 million deal, but is currently dealing with shoulder pain.

Supporting this roster is a new manager on deck in forever stalwart Ron Washington, coming off his role with the World Series winning Braves. While plans for an all star coaching staff (including old friend Torii Hunter) fell apart, Washington and crew will still have a chance to maybe find some treasures.

The question most fans will be curious to follow is the fate of Mike Trout, who ruled out any future trade potential. As the once greatest player in baseball sees his star finally dimming, does Trout still have it in him to rise all tides? Or is he now cursed to remain the most unknown GOAT in the history of major league sports.

Oakland Athletics
Baseball Prospectus PECOTA Projections: 64-98
FanGraphs Projections: 73-89

If the Angels are a tire fire, the Athletics remain a black hole of despair.

The biggest questions remain entirely those outside of the players’ control over exactly where they will play after this final year in the Coliseum and before the supposed debut of their “spherical armadillo” shaped stadium in Las Vegas not due until 2028. Will it be Sacramento? Salt Lake? Mars might be the best bet for finding new fans at this point.

Given the revolt of fans, the A’s will likely play to empty crowds in Oakland throughout the season, as activist groups like the Last Dive Bar and the Oakland 68’s have turned their attention toward the new indie ball team the Oakland Ballers.

Of course, the hate for the Athletics was never about the players, and while there are fewer bright spots than in previous iterations, the morbidly curious might see a team ready to begin the always shorter-than-expected rebuilds that have defined GM David Forst’s tenure since 2015.

And there are certainly some bright spots among the gold and green, including the supernova explosion of former Twin outfielder Brent Rooker, who slashed .246/.329/.488 on his way to his first ever All Star appearance. Others like Zack Gelof and Seth Brown also show the potential of a new core as long as management does not trade them away as soon as they reach arbitration. Others may hope to see jumps from Shea Langeliers and speed demon Esteury Ruiz.

A few free agents will make their home, including former podcaster Ross Stripling and Alex Wood. The other rotation piece include few potential breakouts in JP Sears and Joey Estes. And Oakland has their own Jhoan Duran in reliever Mason Miller.

And perhaps in the best news this team could get, former Rockies broadcaster Jenny Cavnar will become the first ever female tv play-by-play commentator in baseball history. The question will unfortunately remain: is there anything Oakland can do to bring its fanbase back? Unless it involves a sale by John Fisher, highly unlikely.

How do you think the 2024 season will play out in the AL West? Who will win the division? How many teams will make the playoffs?

Who do you think poses the biggest threat to the Twins? Sound off in the comments.