Yet Bob Melvin’s A’s hardly consider themselves the favorite to win a third consecutive West crown, not in one of baseball’s best divisions that appears to have gotten even better this offseason.

“Obviously they won the last two years, so they’re the team to chase,” Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre said. “There are probably teams that probably don’t take them seriously, but we do. They showed that they can get it done, and as of right now, they’re the champions of the West. So it’s obvious that we’re chasing them now.”

While New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter tries to finish his Hall of Fame career in pinstripes the way he started it, with a World Series title, and the Detroit Tigers aim to unseat the defending-champion Boston Red Sox, the West looks to be one of baseball’s top divisions again in 2014.

“I think you can make a legitimate case that all five teams are better,” Rangers’ general manager Jon Daniels said. “You’ve got the Yankees and Dodgers and a number of clubs that made a lot of moves out there, Washington and others, but from a division-to-division standpoint, I don’t know that any group was more active than the AL West.”

Robinson Cano is the new star in Seattle – for the next decade, no less.

Prince Fielder takes over in the middle of the Texas lineup after his trade from the Tigers.

Sluggers Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols have something to prove for the playoff-starved Los Angeles Angels, who are feeling the pressure after missing the postseason the last four years.

Sure, the A’s have made their share of moves this winter – many via trade as general manager Billy Beane often does. But Oakland’s changes are minor comparable to the acquisitions of Cano and Fielder.

“I think we’re still trying to prove people wrong,” A’s center fielder Coco Crisp said.

Here’s a look at the American League by division, in predicted order of finish:

AL West

Texas Rangers.

“The past two or three days, he is starting to be more consistent with his swing, starting to feel better at the plate,” Rangers’ manager Ron Washington said Friday of Fielder, his new prize free agent first baseman.

“You could even see the difference in (batting practice). He’s just spraying the ball around and using his hands well. I hope he continues.”

Oakland Athletics.

L.A. Angels.

“We’re much better when our focus is in house,” Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia said. “We have a terrific club, and we have the makings of a championship team No matter who you’re playing, you’re going to face a tough opponent. There are a lot of talented teams – not only in our division but in our league.”

Seattle Mariners.

“When I was with Detroit, we battled them every year in the playoffs,” Mariners’ first-year manager Lloyd McClendon said of the Athletics. “I don’t take them lightly. This is a great division. There’s a lot of talented teams in this division, including the Seattle Mariners.”

Houston Astros.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers.

Kansas City Royals.

Cleveland Indians.

Chicago White Sox.

Minnesota Twins.

AL East

Boston Red Sox.

New York Yankees.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Baltimore Orioles.

Toronto Blue Jays.

AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins, AP Freelance Writers Jim Richards and Jose M. Romero and AP Baseball Writer Noah Trister contributed to this report.