MLB American League: The Texas Rangers will struggle to repeat in a tough AL
The Texas Rangers are defending the American League pennant for the first time in their history, but the competition will be stiff if they want to repeat.
As the MLB’s second 2024 Opening Day comes into view, the American League pennant is theoretically within reach of everybody. Of course, some teams are more equal than others. The bookies’ favorites to represent the American League in the World Series may be the Baltimore Orioles, but not if the Texas Rangers have anything to say about it.
American League East
Last year, the Baltimore Orioles took the division by storm, being the only Junior Circuit club to top 100 wins. They will have to fight to stay at the top of what is traditionally the most competitive division in baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays hot on their heels. Youth is the Orioles’ best weapon and Gunnar Henderson along with Jordan Westburg and Adley Rutschman will build on early success to try and dominate the AL East.
Tampa improved their bullpen with the addition of reliever Phil Maton while José Caballero will be the new shortstop in place of a troubled Wander Franco and Amed Rosario will take care of right field. The Jays were weakened somewhat by the departure of Matt Chapman and Jordan Hicks to San Francisco. However, former Yankee and Rangers standout Isiah Kiner-Falefa is hoping to earn a recurring spot in the Toronto lineup.
The New York Yankees have pinned high hopes on offseason additions, such as Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo in trades and pitcher Marcus Stroman via free agency. The pinstripes expect, as they do every season, to win the AL East. Time will tell whether or not they can finish higher than fourth place this year.
The Boston Red Sox’s season is not what management planned in December when they signed Lucas Giolito to the starting rotation. Unfortunately, the pitcher will miss the entire year due to injury. The Carmines are betting on youth, with two players born in the 21st century in the lineup; first baseman Triston Casas and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.
American League Central
The Minnesota Twins won the Central division with just 87 wins in 2023, but things will not be so simple this season after the departures of pitchers Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle, leaving their rotation sorely diminished. Despite this, Rocco Baldelli’s team aims for consecutive AL Central titles on the back of superstar Carlos Correa.
The main challengers for the AL Central crown are the Cleveland Guardians who hope that the arrival of Stephen Vogt will alter the landscape following the departure of the legendary Terry Francona. The standard bearer for the Guardians is Andrés Giménez, while the most experienced pitcher among Cleveland’s starters is former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber.
The Detroit Tigers’ rotation will be different from last year as they let Eduardo Rodríguez go, but brought in veteran Kenta Maeda. Gio Urshela is looking to restart his career in Detroit after an unproductive season with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Chicago White Sox team is very well defined by Andrew Vaughn, Nicky López, Yoán Moncada, and Paul DeJong following the loss of Tim Anderson. The team relies on the arms of Garrett Crochet, Michael Soroka, Erick Fedde and Chris Flexen to have a short rotation of just four pitchers.
Finally, the Kansas City Royals do not look like contenders to win the division, but they do look like contenders to stop being one of the worst teams in the MLB. The Royals invested in free agency to bring in veterans Hunter Renfroe, Adam Frazier, Seth Lugo, and MIcahel Wacha to compete in the AL Central.
American League West
The American League will have a Wild West in 2024 with the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners all competing fiercely for the division crown while the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics aspire to little.
The Rangers will look to defend the AL pennant for the first time in franchise history. If they thought winning the World Series was difficult, just wait until they try to do it a second time. The rotation is terribly weakened with the departures of Jordan Montgomery and Martín Pérez, but the Texas Rangers’ bid to repeat as champions can still rely on the arms of Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, and Max Scherzer, three of the best to have ever done it. Added to that, they have the thundering bats of Adolis García, Marcus Semien, and Corey Seager, plus the incredible Wyatt Langford, who has officially had one of the best spring trainings in recorded history.
Houston was strengthened in a good way in free agency with the addition of Josh Hader, who will receive $95 million for the next five years to be one of the Astros’ luxury relievers. The initial absences of Justin Verlander and José Urquidy will have to be absorbed if they want to stay within sight of the Rangers’ lead in the race for the division title.
The Mariners, who have their flagship player in Julio Rodríguez, are confident that veteran catcher Mitch Garver will be able to help during the regular season when Cal Raleigh is indisposed. The Seattle team hopes that outfielder Dominic Cazone, who was acquired last year in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, can keep the starting job in the left field after the departure of Teoscar Hernández to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Los Angeles Angels are a totally different team without Shohei Ohtani despite the fact that Mike Trout remains within the organization. Two years in a row, the Halos started Shotime on the mound for Opening Day, but now must trust in the arm of Patrick Sandoval to fulfill that role. However, playoff hopes in a competitive AL West are slim for the Angels, as are the Oakland Athletics, who are more focused on finding out about their future in Las Vegas.