Show Me the American League West Standings: Why the Mariners Are Finally the Team to Beat

If you were looking for the usual Houston Astros dominance at the top of the pile, you might want to sit down. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the hierarchy of the AL West has actually shifted. Honestly, the 2025 season was a fever dream for Seattle fans, and as we sit here in January 2026, the power balance in the West is looking remarkably different than it did two years ago.

The Seattle Mariners didn't just win; they clinched the division with 90 wins, leaving the Astros three games back. It's weird to say "Mariners" and "division champs" in the same breath without a hint of irony, but the math doesn't lie.

The Current State of Play: AL West Final 2025 Standings

Before we look at the 2026 outlook, you have to see how the dust settled after the last out in September. This wasn't a runaway race. It was a grind.

Seattle Mariners: 90-72
The M's rode a wave of elite pitching and a late-season surge. They were 51-31 at home, turning T-Mobile Park into a genuine fortress.

Houston Astros: 87-75
Houston stayed on their heels the whole way but finished 3.0 games back. Missing out on the division title felt like a glitch in the matrix for a team that has basically owned this zip code since 2017.

Texas Rangers: 81-81
The definition of mediocre. After their 2023 World Series high, the Rangers have settled into a .500 rhythm that keeps them relevant but not exactly terrifying.

📖 Related: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry

Athletics: 76-86
Surprisingly scrappy. Playing in West Sacramento at Sutter Health Park, the "homeless" A’s managed to stay out of the basement, finishing 14 games back.

Los Angeles Angels: 72-90
Another year, another losing record in Anaheim. Even with young talent like Zach Neto and Logan O’Hoppe growing up, the wins just aren't materializing.

Why the Mariners Are the 2026 Favorites

Everyone is looking for the 2026 projection, and if you ask ESPN or the ZiPS projection systems, the Mariners are currently ranked as the third-best team in all of baseball. That is wild. They are sitting right behind the Dodgers and Blue Jays in the early power rankings.

Why? Because they actually spent money and made moves.

Landing Josh Naylor on a five-year deal was the hammer blow this lineup needed. For years, Seattle was "just a bat away." Well, they got the bat. They also brought in Rob Refsnyder and Andrew Knizner to fill out the edges. When you combine that with a rotation featuring George Kirby and Logan Gilbert—both of whom just signed deals to avoid arbitration—you have a roster that looks like a juggernaut.

👉 See also: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season

Honestly, watching Julio Rodríguez enter his prime with a legitimate supporting cast is going to be the main storyline of the summer.

The Astros’ Identity Crisis

Houston isn't dead, obviously. They still have Yordan Alvarez, who remains one of the most terrifying humans to ever hold a piece of ash wood. But losing Alex Bregman to the Cubs this offseason (a massive five-year deal) leaves a gaping hole at third base and in the clubhouse.

They did try to counter the loss. They signed Japanese star Tatsuya Imai to a three-year deal on New Year's Day. It’s a classic Astros move: find a high-upside arm to replace the innings lost by Framber Valdez entering free agency. But is a new rotation enough to offset the loss of Bregman’s leadership? Probably not. They feel like a team in transition, even if that transition still involves 85+ wins.

Texas and the "Win Now" Hangover

The Rangers are in a weird spot. They traded Marcus Semien to the Mets for Brandon Nimmo, which feels like a "lateral move with a different flavor." Nimmo brings that high-OBP spark, but Semien was the soul of that middle infield.

They also snagged Danny Jansen on a two-year deal to solidify the catching spot. It's a "fine" team. But in a division where Seattle is ascending and Houston is reloading, "fine" usually gets you a third-place finish and a very stressful Wild Card race.

✨ Don't miss: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy

The Sacramento Experiment

You can't talk about the AL West standings without mentioning the Athletics. They aren't the Oakland A’s anymore, and they aren't the Las Vegas A’s yet. They are just... the A’s.

Playing in a minor league park in Sacramento has actually given them a weird home-field advantage. It’s a small, hitter-friendly environment where the fans are just happy to have MLB players in town. They won 76 games last year, which was way above expectations. They’re still building through the draft, but they aren't the walkover they used to be.

Key Offseason Moves to Watch

• Seattle: Signed Josh Naylor (1B) and Rob Refsnyder (LF).
• Houston: Signed Tatsuya Imai (SP) from NPB; lost Alex Bregman to CHC.
• Texas: Acquired Brandon Nimmo (CF); signed Danny Jansen (C).
• Angels: Anthony Rendon retired (finally); signed Kirby Yates and Jordan Romano to fix the bullpen.

Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season

If you're tracking the AL West standings this year, keep your eyes on the February 20th start of Spring Training. That’s when we see if the Angels’ rebuilt bullpen—now featuring veteran closers like Yates and Romano—can actually hold a lead for once.

Also, watch the early-season series between Seattle and Houston. The Mariners proved they could win the marathon last year, but the Astros usually play better with a chip on their shoulder.

What you should do next:
Check the official MLB schedule for the "Freeway Series" between the Angels and Dodgers in late March. It’ll be the first real test for the Halos’ new-look roster. Also, keep an eye on the final free-agent big fish like Kyle Tucker; if he lands outside the division, the Mariners' path to a repeat becomes significantly easier.

The AL West isn't a one-team show anymore. It's a dogfight. And for once, the dogs in Seattle are the ones with the loudest bark.