What are the biggest AL West takeaways from Spring Training?

We are about one week away from Opening Day, and the final rosters are starting to take shape. So we asked the MLB.com beat writers who cover the American League West clubs about what they’ve seen in camp to this point.

What is your team's biggest takeaway from camp so far?

Brian McTaggart (Astros): The offseason goal of adding pitching depth has worked out well so far, leaving the Astros with some tough decisions to make when it comes to the back end of their rotation and bullpen.

Newcomers Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows had terrific springs and will bolster a rotation headlined by Hunter Brown, with fellow newcomers Ryan Weiss and Kai-Wei Teng providing options for starting or pitching in relief. Even non-roster arms like Peter Lambert and Christian Roa have put themselves in position to perhaps make the club.

Daniel Kramer (Mariners): That a team with legitimate World Series aspirations has been headlined by its farm system. But the high-upside trio featuring infielder Colt Emerson (MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 overall prospect) and starting pitchers Kade Anderson (No. 21) and Ryan Sloan (No. 33) have shined enough to where they’ve boosted their chances of being part of Seattle’s plans in 2026.

Emerson will be their shortstop of the future, Anderson will be among their next wave of homegrown starters and the 20-year-old Sloan has all the makings of an arm that might record consequential outs in October. It’s rare that you see an organization with as much big league talent potentially leaning on prospects in an anticipated playoff run. And that’s what’s made this camp so fascinating.

Martin Gallegos (A’s): This offense is going to absolutely rake. From reigning AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz and runner-up Jacob Wilson, to middle-of-the-order threats Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler intent on bouncing back, and now Max Muncy, who has taken a big step forward as arguably the A’s top hitter this spring, there is no easy out in this lineup.

That offensive group could somehow improve later in the season, as shortstop Leo De Vries (MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 overall prospect), outfielder Henry Bolte (A’s No. 5 prospect) and third baseman Tommy White (No. 9) are on the cusp of the big leagues and left a strong impression with phenomenal springs at the plate. The position-player group available to the A’s in 2026 will be the deepest and most talented it has been in quite some time.

Rhett Bollinger (Angels): The Angels have a lot of impressive young arms on the way, as 19 of their Top 30 prospects are pitchers and several of them have turned heads this spring, including No. 1 prospect Tyler Bremner, No. 2 prospect Ryan Johnson and No. 5 prospect George Klassen.

All could impact the rotation at some point this season as well as No. 17 prospect Sam Aldegheri, who pitched well for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. And they have a trio of hard-throwing relievers on the way in Chase Shores (No. 9), Chris Cortez (No. 13) and Nate Snead (No. 20).

Kennedi Landry (Rangers): The offensive approach has clearly evolved. In 2025, the Rangers ranked 25th in wRC+ (92), 26th in slugging (.381), 26th in batting average (.234), tied for 26th in on-base percentage (.302), 22nd in runs (684) and tied for 22nd in walk rate (8.0%). Spring Training stats don’t mean much, but it’s clear that the offensive approach has changed dramatically. During Spring Training, Texas batters have produced a .274/.378/.457 line, averaging 6.13 runs per game.

Among Cactus League clubs entering Tuesday, they rank among the leaders in: on-base percentage (1st), OPS (4th) and batting average (T-5th). The numbers don’t truly count until Opening Day, but the process matters more than the stats. Collectively, the hitting group is striking out less and walking more. They’re driving the ball with a lot of intent. Everything is pointing towards a true uptick in offense in 2026.

Which new player has made the biggest impact?

McTaggart: The Astros gave up promising prospects Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito to get right-hander Mike Burrows from the Pirates in a three-team trade in December and the early returns have been terrific. Burrows has thrown 12 2/3 scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play with six hits and six walks allowed and 15 strikeouts. He pounds the strike zone and works at a quick pace and has the Astros eager to see what he can do in the regular season.

Kramer: Beyond the prospects and for Opening Day, it’d be Brendan Donovan, who’s transitioned more exclusively to third base and looked quite comfortable doing so. Acquired from the Cardinals just before camp, Donovan comes with the on-field pedigree of being a 2025 All-Star. But it’s the high-work-ethic behavior behind the scenes that’s shined even more within a clubhouse where he knew virtually no one.

Gallegos: Aside from the top prospects, newcomer Jeff McNeil has seamlessly blended in with his new A’s teammates. Excited for a fresh start following a trade to the A's after spending the first eight years of his Major League career with the Mets, the 2022 MLB batting champion is looking to rebound from a down year. He should benefit from playing his home games at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. His value will also come in the clubhouse as a veteran resource for a mostly young roster, especially Wilson, who has a similar profile to McNeil with elite bat-to-ball skills.

Bollinger: The Angels signed veteran Adam Frazier to a Minor League deal at the start of Spring Training. He’s proven to be a great fit on the roster and could even be the club’s regular second baseman to open the season. The Angels have a right-handed heavy lineup and led the Majors in strikeouts last year so Frazier fits as a left-handed bat who makes plenty of contact. He’s also played a lot of left field to increase his versatility and the 10-year veteran could be used as a utility player.

Landry: Brandon Nimmo. The real answer for which single person has made the biggest impact is probably new manager Skip Schumaker, who brings a much-needed different voice to the clubhouse. But the practical on-field answer is Brandon Nimmo, whom the Rangers acquired in a trade that sent Marcus Semien to the Mets in November. Nimmo has slid seamlessly into the leadoff spot and into right field, bringing the exact offense the Rangers need at the top of the lineup as well as the leadership they need for Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford in the outfield.

What's the most concerning development of camp?

McTaggart: Closer Josh Hader finished last season on the injured list and will begin this season on the IL, thanks to biceps tendinitis suffered just before the start of camp. Hader resumed throwing in the bullpen last week and is beginning his build-up for the regular season, so there’s hope for the Astros he can return in April. Still, having their All-Star closer dealing with arm injuries to begin the year isn’t ideal.

Kramer: The no-handshake heard ‘round the sport isn’t necessarily a concern, but the Mariners -- at least publicly -- haven’t quite been able to move past it. Because whether they like it or not, people are still talking about the awkward exchange between Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh at the World Baseball Classic. And that commentary will probably continue until both are under the same roof again. Raleigh, who is still with Team USA, moved quickly to quash it, while Arozarena preferred to issue a statement and not take questions. Long term, it probably won’t be a big deal. But in the immediate, a ​team with an ambitious outlook dealing with off-the-field drama at the season's outset is suboptimal.

Gallegos: The A’s plan to go closer by committee with their bullpen, and while that approach worked out quite successfully over the final two months of the season as the relief corps performed as one of the better groups in MLB over that stretch, it remains to be seen if the strategy will be as effective over a full season. Ideally, the A’s could have one of their high-leverage options such as Elvis Alvarado or Scott Barlow seize the closer role at some point and run with it, allowing manager Mark Kotsay to form some type of late-inning structure. But to begin the year, the A’s will have to mix and match relievers as best they can.

Bollinger: New additions Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah have both struggled with their control this spring, as they are coming off injuries that saw neither pitch in the Majors last year. Rodriguez, who is coming off bone chips being removed from his right elbow in August, has displayed solid stuff, but he has a 4.97 ERA with 10 walks in 12 2/3 innings. And Manoah, who underwent Tommy John surgery in '24 and made 10 rehab appearances in the Minors last year, has a 7.15 ERA with eight walks in 11 1/3 innings. They both have Minor League options so they could be sent down to refine their stuff, but Rodriguez has a better chance of sticking in the rotation over Manoah.

Landry: Joc Pederson’s continued struggles. Again, Spring Training stats always come with a grain of salt. But they’re also hard to ignore when you’re coming off the worst statistical season of your career. In the first of a two-year deal with the Rangers, Pederson slashed .181/.285/.328 with nine home runs and a franchise-record 0-for-41 slump in April. This spring, he’s gone just 5-for-29 with no extra-base hits. Schumaker remains confident in Pederson’s process during camp, though it’s clear the numbers haven’t quite caught up to that yet. If the Rangers are going to be successful in 2026, it’ll take offensive improvement from a number of players, but maybe Pederson most of all.