Angels, Mariners Favored To Win A.L. West Says Baseball Betting Site

After taking some major personnel hits, the Los Angeles Angels reign as the dominant team in the AL West could be coming to an end in 2010. The Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers are expected to battle it out with the Angels in a tight divisional race.

Los Angeles Angels (+180 Odds to win American League West)

Los Angeles has won the division five of the last six years but another title in 2010 will be a more difficult task. Top starting hurler John Lackey has moved across the country to join the Red Sox. Vladamir Guerrero and Chone Figgins signed up with different teams in the AL West. While these are some big personnel losses, the Angels franchise didn’t stand pat. Hideki Matsui was brought in to replace Guerrero as the club’s new DH. On the mound, veterans Joel Pineiro and Fernando Rodney have joined the staff. With a sound returning nucleus of players that are used to winning, Los Angeles will still have a major say in the division race this season.

Seattle Mariners (+180 Odds to win American League West)

After being one of the most improved teams in all of baseball last year, Seattle could be ready to take the next step in 2010 after adding ace lefty Cliff Lee to the mix this winter. Lee and Felix Hernandez are a dominant duo at the top of the club’s rotation. The offense has some question marks heading into 2010. The team lost a couple of good power bats after Russell Branyan and Adrian Beltre were not brought back. Figgins and Milton Bradley have been added to the lineup. With hit machine Ichiro Suzuki and Figgins at the top of the batting order, the Mariners offense could disrupt some opposing staffs this season.

Texas Rangers (+210 Odds to win American League West)

The Rangers are trying to return to the postseason for the first time since 1999. With some questions surrounding the Angels, Texas appears to be a threat in 2010 after posting a winning campaign a year ago. Eight players hit at least 17 homers in 2009. One of them was not Josh Hamilton. He missed 73 games last season. With his return, the Rangers offense should be at full strength this year. Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz both slugged over 30 home runs to lead the power surge. The rotation has made some nice strides but the club’s arms may still not be good enough to get Texas to the playoffs. Rich Harden has replaced Kevin Millwood as the ace of the staff.

Oakland Athletics (+850 Odds to win American League West)

At the beginning of last year, Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi, Adam Kennedy and Orlando Cabrerea were in Oakland’s everyday lineup. Only Kennedy was on the roster by the end of 2009. This year, the offense doesn’t have any big name players in the lineup. Kevin Kouzmanoff will be a key as the club’s new third baseman. Oakland GM Billy Beane has rolled the dice by signing Ben Sheets to a big one-year deal. Sheets missed all of last season due to an injury. Solid right-hander Justin Duchscherer is also trying to bounce back from an injury that kept him out of action last year.