How Do the Oakland A's Stack Up Against The AL West

How Do the Oakland A’s Stack Up Against The AL West

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 24: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics tags Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels during the game at RingCentral Coliseum on July 24, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Angels 7-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /

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Relief Pitching

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

This category gets a big asterisk. It’s hard to get an idea of a bullpen without watching a team day in and day out. The Oakland A’s bullpen underwent some changes, most notably losing AL Reliever of the Year Liam Hendriks, but I still really like the group. The A’s bullpen was incredible last year, and many of the key pieces are returning. Jake Diekman, J.B. Wendelken, Lou Trivino, and (my favorite) Yusmeiro Petit are all back, along with savvy additions Trevor Rosenthal, Adam Kolarek, and Sergio Romo.

Next. Luzardo not a Cy Young contender just yet. dark

I do like new Angels closer Raisel Iglesias quite a bit, and Houston’s Ryan Pressley might have a claim to the best reliever in the division now that Hendricks is in Chicago. All of that said, I’m pulling another homer card and putting the Oakland A’s at the top. I feel like I talked the ears off of my fellow judges enough, and I think a few of them voted quickly due to fatigue.