Roundup
Athletics
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Angels
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers
Astros take mediocre AL West crown, AL West roundup
In a remarkably soft AL West race, the Astros claimed the division at 81-81, finishing one game and a head-to-head tiebreaker ahead of the 80-82 Rangers.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
The 2026 AL West wrapped up in unusual fashion. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Houston Astros won what is described as perhaps the most underwhelming division race in history, taking the crown with an 81-81 record. The Texas Rangers finished just one game back at 80-82 and lost the division on a head-to-head tiebreaker.
Rangers: close in standings, far from complete
While the Rangers were “technically not far” from a playoff spot, MLB Trade Rumors characterizes their roster as still having a lot of holes. Missing out on October despite a wide-open division underlines how much work remains. For a club that finished only a game behind Houston, failing to capitalize on such a soft race turns this offseason into a critical chance to shore up weaknesses.
The narrow gap with the Astros highlights how every win mattered in a race where no team separated itself from .500. Texas sits in that awkward middle ground: close enough to dream on a quick turnaround, but, as MLB Trade Rumors points out, still clearly in need of significant upgrades.
Mariners: 2027 rebound plan
The Seattle Mariners, who ended up 76-86, “fell well short of expectations” in 2026, per MLB Trade Rumors. The stated goal is to get back on track in 2027. They will be counting on bounceback years from their core group, with Julio Rodríguez the only guaranteed-contract player named. MLB Trade Rumors adds that Seattle should have money to spend and enough pitching depth to use as trade capital, setting up a potentially active winter.
Angels’ three-team trade revisited, A’s round out weak field
For the Los Angeles Angels (62-100), MLB Trade Rumors looks back at last winter’s three-team deal with the Rays and Reds. The Angels acquired Josh Lowe as an everyday outfielder to replace Taylor Ward, who was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. Tampa Bay landed Gavin Lux as a replacement for Brandon Lowe, according to the same outlet.
The Sacramento Athletics (64-98) round out a division where no club cleared 81 wins. In a year without a true powerhouse, the Astros’ .500-level performance was still enough to secure the AL West title.