The AL West is the home to some of the highest payed stars in professional baseball. Let's look at the players that will draw attention in 2014:
Catcher: Mike Zunino, Seattle Mariners
Zunino showed some potential before getting injured last season. He played through the injury, but his hitting suffered greatly. If he can stay healthy, Zunino will prove that he is one of the best young catchers in the game.
First Base: Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers
Fielder played in all 162 games last season. This will be his first full season in Texas, and his presence will be felt this season, as the Rangers try to take the AL West back from the Athletics.
Second Base: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
Cano was the biggest free agent signings in baseball this offseason. He adds significant power to a Seattle lineup that really lacks a consistent power hitter.
Third Base: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
Beltre finished seventh in AL MVP last season, where he tore the cover off the ball. He hit .315 along with 30 home runs. Beltre will be looking to match this performance at the minimum in 2014.
Shortstop: Jed Lowrie, Oakland Athletics
Lowrie is the most complete hitting shortstop in the AL West. Some people will argue Elvis Andrus is better, but the numbers don't lie in the case for Lowrie.
Left Field: Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics
Cespedes can place himself among the elite hitters in the game if he can limit his strike outs. His raw power is rarely matched, and he sees the ball as well as any player in the MLB.
Center Field: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Trout is the best young talent in the league. He's one of the most complete players that I've ever seen play the game.
Right Field: Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angels
Hamilton had a down year last season. Like Cespedes, if he can strike out less, he will be a tough hitter to face.
Rotation: Texas Rangers
The Rangers' rotation is the most complete in the AL West. It's going to be a tough rotation from top to bottom, and the Rangers are expecting that to win them a lot of games.
Bullpen: Oakland Athletics
The Athletics will continue to have a reliable bullpen, like the one that helped them win the division last season. The A's signed closer Jim Johnson from Baltimore after the departure of Grant Balfour to Tampa Bay.
Honorable Mentions:
First Base: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
Pujols had an injury-riddled 2013 and is looking for a rebound year. A slow spring has been turning around, as Pujols recently hit his first home run of the spring.
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Hernandez will be the consistent strikeout machine he has always been. If he stays healthy, he will be in the running for the Cy Young.
Outfield: Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers
Choo will be a candidate for the most effective free agent signing of 2014. He will be able to create a lot of runs for the Rangers.
Be sure to check out each division's power players by clicking the links below:
