QUESTION: Do you think with the addition of Albert Pujols that the Angels have positioned themselves as the best team in the AL West, or does that distinction still belong to the two-time defending American League champion Texas Rangers?
RICK HUMMEL
With Pujols, the Angels have the big bopper in their attack they haven’t had the last seven or eight or years. And with the addition of C.J. Wilson, they have a front four as good as anybody’s with Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Wilson. They’re not only the best team in the American League West. They’re the best team in the American League.
JEFF GORDON
Albert will help them for sure, especially with Kendrys Morales still mending from another ankle operation. But I’m more intrigued by the addition of C.J. Wilson to the pitching staff – and the subtraction of Wilson from Texas. The AL West should be an arms race again this season and Anaheim is better positioned to last.
TOM TIMMERMANN
I think the moving of C.J. Wilson from the Rangers to Angels is a big factor in the shift, since it moves a key element in the race from one team to the next. Add Pujols to the Angels mix and they now have a big edge on the Rangers, especially when you consider the Rangers don’t really have a first baseman. If the Rangers can go out and get one in free agency to give them a big bat in that spot, it will even things, but meanwhile, adding Pujols and Wilson makes the Angels the team to beat.
LARRY BOROWSKY (Founder of Viva El Birdos and editor of “Maple Street Press Cardinals Annual”)
On paper, the Angels do look like the best team in the AL West – not only because they added Pujols. He will provide badly needed help for an offense that ranked 10th in the AL in runs scored last year. They’re not likely to be an elite offense even with Albert, but they will likely rank as above average. And that should be more than enough support for the Angel pitching staff, which is an elite unit. They allowed the second-fewest runs in the AL last year, and with the addition of C.J. Wilson they may improve on that ranking in 2012. Wilson’s departure from Texas makes the Rangers’ already shaky rotation that much shakier. Texas still has time to make some acquisitions to even up the scales, but at the moment I’d pick the Angels to wrest the division crown back for the first time since 2009.
KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
I’m not writing off the Rangers but I do think the Angels have the best team in the AL West, by a little. Not only did they add a legit middle of the order threat in Albert – the best hitter in the game – but they also bolstered their rotation with C.J. Wilson. They didn’t have that kind of proven bat in the middle last season and it was one of the many things that hurt them. They’re a strong defensive team that runs well, plus they’re versatile and deep. The Angels also have a couple of emerging young stars in Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout. Toss in a rotation that includes Wilson, Dan Haren, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana and they’re as good as anyone in their division.
The Rangers have a deeper lineup but their rotation isn’t quite as solid. Bullpen favors Texas right now but Angels are reportedly looking for more help back there. Looks like it’ll be a hell of a race.
