LA Angels: Which team is the favorite to win the AL West?

Seattle Mariners

You won’t find many teams playing with a bigger chip on their shoulder than the Seattle Mariners.

I say this because of the moronic comments former team president Kevin Mather made in February during a pancake luncheon. Mather was forced to resign after admitting he manipulates service time as well as making some insulting racial remarks about Mariners players and personnel.

Angels: The Mariners are likely a year or two away from contending in the AL West.

This Seattle team is loaded with young talent and they have the brightest future in the AL West. The Mariners are ranked with the third-best farm system in baseball, including six of MLB’s top-100 prospects. Among the players in the league’s top-10 are outfielders Jarred Kelenic (No.4) and Julio Rodriguez (No.5).

Both players will begin the regular season developing in the minor league along with the other future Seattle stars.

The Mariners only have one projected starting position player over the age of 30, Kyle Seager (33). He’s set to make $18.5 million in 2021 and has a player option for next season. Unless Seattle and Seager work out an extension, it’s safe to assume the Mariners move their former All-Star third baseman for more young talent at the July deadline.

There’s a chance Seattle could make some noise this season, but I think the lack of experience in their rotation and among their position players will lead to growing pains. Their window of contention is in the near future. If they finish any higher than fourth place this season it’ll be one of the biggest surprises in baseball.