I have decided to do a series of "players to watch" projections just ahead of opening day, which is April 1. I will give you one player to look out for, (positively or negatively) from each team over the coming week and a half. I will start with the AL West and gradually move my way east. So without further ado, here are your 2013 players to watch in the AL West!
Houston Astros
2012 record: 55-107
Player to watch: 1B/LF Chris Carter
The Astros finished the 2012 season as the worst team in the league, with their second straight 100 loss season. Things get no easier this year with a move to the tough AL West. New acquisition Chris Carter, who came over from Oakland in the Jed Lowrie trade, will likely win the starting left field job for the Astros and look to be a middle of the order power presence in his first full big league season. After smacking 16 homers in just 260 plate appearances, it is not a stretch to say Carter could hit 30+ in a full season, especially moving to a more hitter friendly park in Houston. His walk rate will likely go down due to less protection in the order.
DC Projection: .237/.335/.470, 30 HR, 77 RBI, 10.5 BB%, 29.5 K%
Seattle Mariners
2012 record: 75-87
Player to watch: CF Franklin Gutierrez
Gutierrez has not been healthy since 2010, playing in just 132 games since 2011, and just 40 last season. He has been healthy this spring however and I predict him having a bounce back/breakout year similar to his 2010 season. He has always been a very solid defender, and has a passable 162 game average of hitting .256/.308/.384 with 13 HR and 57 RBI. Even if he doesn't hit however, which I believe he will thanks to an improved Mariners lineup and the Safeco Field fences being moved in, he will always be a serviceable major leaguer due to his great defense at a premium position. Entering his age 30 season I have high hopes for Gutierrez and the Mariners.
DC Projection: .258/.315/.396, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 6.5 BB%, 19.0 K%
Los Angeles Angels
2012 record: 89-73
Player to watch: OF Josh Hamilton
The position-player prize of the 2012 offseason, Josh Hamilton signed a huge contract with the Angels on December 15 for $123 million over 5 years. Josh tore it up with the Rangers in the first half of last season and finished the year with a career high 43 home runs, but also a career high 162 strikeouts and K% of 25.5. He battled nagging injuries and seemed to lose focus at times. His batting average has dropped over the last three years, and his 2010 mark of .359 is starting to look like an aberration. I expect Josh to struggle to adapt to his new team and his numbers to drop off, especially considering his move from a hitters' park in Arlington to a more pitcher friendly park in Anaheim, and his giant new contract. Look for Hamilton to take a step back this season.
DC Projection: .270/.333/.490, 25 HR, 95 RBI, 8.3 BB%, 24.3 K%
Texas Rangers
2012 record: 93-69
Player to watch: 1B/3B/RF Mike Olt
Mike Olt is the no. 2 prospect in the Rangers system behind shortstop Jurickson Profar, who by many accounts is the top prospect in all of baseball. However, current Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is blocking Profar at the Major League level, and the team is hesitant to move second baseman Ian Kinsler over to first. If first baseman Mitch Moreland struggles or goes down with injury, Olt's versatility will help him get into the lineup. He killed AA last season with 28 HR in 420 plate appearances, although he had his fair share of strikeouts, evidenced by his 32% strikeout rate in a short 16 game stint with the big club last season. I like Olt as a prospect and I think he will be able to make a difference with the Rangers as a rookie this season.
DC Projection: 350 PA, .262/.349/.481, 15 HR, 11.0 BB%, 26.7 K%
Oakland Athletics
2012 record: 94-68
Player to watch: OF Yoenis Céspedes
Cuban import Yoenis Céspedes had a fantastic rookie year with the A's in 2012 and was an integral part of their run to the playoffs, posting a 3.4 WAR. He finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting and would have undoubtedly won had it not been for a certain phenom out in Anaheim. I expect Céspedes to build on his 2012 season and emerge as an elite Major League player in 2013, cementing himself as a force in the middle of the A's revamped order. With a year of Major League experience under his belt, the 27 year old is in his prime and ready to perform right now. Expect a huge year from Céspedes.
DC Projection: .298/.369/.517, 32 HR, 103 RBI, 9.0 BB%, 17.5 K%
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