2012 AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST preview

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:

Texas Rangers

Manager: Ron Washington (sixth season).

2011: 96-66, first place, AL champions, lost World Series.

Training Town: Surprise, Ariz.

Park: Surprise Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 23/26.

He’s Here: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Joe Nathan.

He’s Outta Here: LHP C.J. Wilson, LHP Darren Oliver.

Going campin’: After consecutive World Series appearances, and twice in Game 6 last year coming within one strike of a title before losing to St. Louis in seven games, the Rangers have established themselves as one of baseball’s most solid teams. The top-hitting lineup in the majors will be basically unchanged and Texas countered the loss of Wilson in free agency — he took a five-year deal from the AL West rival Los Angeles Angels — by signing Darvish. The Rangers committed more than $107 million to acquire Japan’s top pitcher, including a $56 million, six-year contract. That isn’t the only change in the rotation. Hard-throwing closer Neftali Feliz is switching to a starting role, a move made easier by the signing of Nathan, the veteran free agent closer. Plus, All-Star right-hander Alexi Ogando is expected to move back into the bullpen after winning 13 games as a starter last year. Slugger Josh Hamilton’s admitted one-night relapse with alcohol during the offseason created questions about his long-term future with the Rangers. The outfielder can be a free agent after this season, but the team put on indefinite hold talks about a contract extension. Texas has hired a new special staff assistant whose job includes being in a support role for Hamilton. Johnny Narron did that before he left this winter to become Milwaukee’s hitting coach. Hamilton, who hit .298 with 25 home runs in 121 games last season, had sports hernia surgery in November after playing injured throughout the postseason.

Los Angeles Angels

Manager: Mike Scioscia (13th season).

2011: 86-76, second place.

Training Town: Tempe, Ariz.

Park: Tempe Diablo Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 20/27.

He’s Here: 1B Albert Pujols, LHP C.J. Wilson, C Chris Iannetta, RHP LaTroy Hawkins, INF Jorge Cantu, OF Ryan Langerhans, LHP Brad Mills.

He’s Outta Here: C Jeff Mathis, RHP Joel Pineiro, RHP Tyler Chatwood, INF Russell Branyan, OF Reggie Willits.

Going campin’: The Angels begin a season of sky-high expectations with the arrival of Pujols, the three-time NL MVP coming off his second World Series title with St. Louis. The Angels’ $240-million man will arrive at camp a week early to integrate himself into a lineup that often sputtered last season. He’s joined by Orange County native Wilson, who spurned the AL West rival Rangers to join a stellar rotation alongside Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana. Perhaps the player with the most spring work to do is Iannetta, acquired from Colorado to run the pitching staff while hopefully providing more offense than the trio of punchless hitters who held the job last year. While Pujols settles in, the Angels must figure out what to do with fellow first basemen Mark Trumbo, who led the club in homers and RBIs as a rookie last season, and Kendrys Morales, who’s cautiously optimistic he’ll return this spring from nearly two years away with a broken left ankle. Trumbo, who’s also coming back from surgery, and Morales might work on learning new positions in spring. Aside from the additions, much of last season’s lineup returns intact after GM Jerry Dipoto swiftly re-signed several arbitration-eligible players. Even with several big decisions to make in the spring, Scioscia believes Los Angeles has all the pieces necessary to get back to the postseason after a two-year absence.

Oakland Athletics

Manager: Bob Melvin (first full season).

2011: 74-88, third place.

Training Town: Phoenix.

Park: Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 19/25.

He’s Here: Manager Bob Melvin, LF Seth Smith, RF Josh Reddick, OF Jonny Gomes, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Jarrod Parker, RHP Ryan Cook, OF Collin Cowgill.

He’s Outta Here: RHP Trevor Cahill, LHP Gio Gonzalez, RHP Andrew Bailey, OF Ryan Sweeney, LHP Craig Breslow, RHP Guillermo Moscoso, LHP Josh Outman.

Going campin’: Center fielder Coco Crisp re-signed, and that became quite a bright spot and big deal considering the way new-look Oakland traded away much of its roster this winter in the hopes of landing a new ballpark in San Jose and rebuilding accordingly in anticipation of playing in a new venue. Yet that’s still a long way off, with commissioner Bud Selig yet to rule whether the low-budget A’s can leave the rundown Oakland Coliseum and move into the San Francisco Giants’ territory. Owner Lew Wolff, GM Billy Beane and Oakland’s brass are preparing as if they’ll get the OK — and soon. The rotation will be young with big holes to fill after the A’s dealt two top starters in Cahill and Gonzalez and also All-Star closer Bailey. LHP Dallas Braden is working his way back from surgery on his pitching shoulder, so it could be tough for the A’s early as Melvin figures out who he can count on regularly in a division that has already improved drastically with the addition of slugger Albert Pujols with the Angels and star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish with the two-time reigning AL champion Texas Rangers. The A’s have another quick spring to prepare before again opening the season in Japan, on March 28 against the Seattle Mariners. Oakland, which hasn’t reached the playoffs or had a winning season since being swept by the Tigers in the 2006 AL championship series, also played in Japan vs. Boston four years ago.

Seattle Mariners

Manager: Eric Wedge (second season).

2011: 67-95, fourth place.

Training Town: Peoria, Ariz.

Park: Peoria Sports Complex.

First Workout: Feb. 12/18.

He’s Here: C-DH Jesus Montero, RHP Hector Noesi, LHP George Sherrill, RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP Kevin Millwood, INF Munenori Kawasaki, INF Carlos Guillen, C John Jaso.

He’s Outta Here: RHP Michael Pineda, INF Adam Kennedy, RHP Josh Lueke, C Josh Bard.

Going campin’: The Mariners failed this offseason to land the much-needed, established slugger to help address their three-year offensive slump so they dealt young All-Star Pineda to the New York Yankees for Montero, a top prospect, and Noesi. While Montero’s ability behind the plate is still up for debate, there’s a lot of enthusiasm for the potential he brings to a lineup that was the worst in baseball last season. Wedge will be doing some serious lineup juggling during the spring with the initial plan being to move Ichiro Suzuki out of the leadoff spot. Dustin Ackley or perhaps Chone Figgins, whose $36 million investment has so far been a bust, are candidates to take his spot. Wedge must also sort out a traffic jam in left field where Mike Carp, Casper Wells, Michael Saunders, Carlos Peguero and Trayvon Robinson all saw time last season. Much of spring training, which starts for Seattle a week earlier than anyone else in baseball because the Mariners open the season in Japan against Oakland, will focus on the young pitching staff. Starting prospects James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen will all get a chance to make the squad, although it’ll be difficult. Still, the Mariners starting staff expects to be their strength with Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, newcomer Hisashi Iwakuma and Noesi.

Associated Press