The AL West is as competitive a division as any in the game. In each of the last two seasons, two teams have won 99 games or more while filling half of the American League's playoff spots.

Now, the division boasts the World Series champions and three new managers for next season as the rest of the West scrambles to catch up to the Angels.

Some questions facing the teams as the Hot Stove heats up:

Oakland Athletics
1. How do the A's get over the disappointment of a third straight first-round playoff loss?
Frustration is bound to set in after a club makes three straight postseason appearances -- two following 100-win seasons -- only to get bounced in the Division Series. Perhaps the managerial change from Art Howe to Ken Macha will help.

	Miguel Tejada Shortstop Oakland Athletics Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R OPS AVG 162 34 131 108 .861 .308

2. Can they get a head start on extending Miguel Tejada's contract?
When Jason Giambi was in his final year with the A's, his contract status was a frequent distraction. The same thing could happen with Tejada, who will be eligible for free agency after next season. If owner Steve Schott is committed to the A's, the club should see what they can do about addressing the contract this winter, so as to get it settled before the start of the season.

3. Will David Justice return?
At times, Justice sounded like a man set to retire last season. His productivity declined, but the A's would miss his presence. On a mostly young team, Justice brings vital veteran leadership, and, of course, as much postseason experience as any active player.

4. Do the A's need to vary their offensive approach?
Under GM Billy Beane, the A's have stressed on-base ability and power, but that has failed them in the postseason when the pitching improves and games are typically low-scoring. Perhaps the A's need to add some players who can manufacture runs and be somewhat less dependent on the long ball.

5. What can the A's do to get off to better starts?
In each of the last two seasons, Oakland began poorly, falling out of contention in the first two months, only to awken in June and play well the rest of the way. Again, perhaps the presence of Macha, a more intense sort than Howe, will help in this regard. It could be that the A's expend so much energy getting back into the race that they don't have much left in the tank when October arrives.

Anaheim Angels
1. What do they do for an encore?
To everyone's surprise, the Angels won the World Series. They will follow the inevitable letdown. But it's unlikely their mix of players or manager Mike Scioscia will let this team become complacent.

2. Can Aaron Sele contribute next season?
Sele was 8-9 before going down with shoulder problems and later undergoing surgery. The second-half emergence of John Lackey (9-4, 3.66) helped pick up the slack some, but the Angels aren't so deep that they couldn't use a healthy season from the veteran Sele.

3. Was Francisco Rodriguez for real in the postseason?
The bullpen phenom didn't make his major league debut until Sept. 17, but was a huge factor in the club's championship run. He showed himself to be mortal afterall in the World Series, but if he can pitch to anywhere near the level he showed in the postseason, the Angels will have one of the game's most dominant set-up men -- to say nothing of the heir apparent to closer Troy Percival.

4) Is there room for Casey Kotchman?
Scott Spiezio made first base his own this season and further cemented his role with a fine postseason. But Kotchman, a sweet-swinging first baseman, is the Angels' top prospect and could push Spiezio some in spring training.

5. Is is reasonable to expect the bullpen castoffs to keep pitching so well?
The Angels struck gold, finding the likes of Brendan Donnelly and Ben Weber to take care of critical middle-relief and set-up innings. Will the bubble burst, or will Donelly, Weber et al continue to surprise as vital, late-blooming relievers?

Seattle Mariners
1. Who replaces Lou Piniella?
Piniella had an enormous effect on the franchise in his decade in Seattle, overseeing their transformation from laughing stock to perennial contender. His shoes will not be easy to fill. The Mariners reportedly won't pay Dusty Baker what he could command on the open market, which is unfortunate since Baker would otherwise seem like the perfect choice.

	Jamie Moyer Starting Pitcher Seattle Mariners Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM W-L IP H K ERA 34 13-8 230.2 198 147 3.32

2. Can they re-sign Jamie Moyer?
Moyer has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the American League in the last five years, but at 40, he may have trouble getting the kind of deal he would like to remain with the Mariners, especially with talk of the Yankees having a strong interest. Moyer's innings would be difficult to replace. He's been the perfect No. 2 behind Freddy Garcia and there would be a huge hole in the rotation if he were to sign elsewhere.

3. What about Edgar Martinez?
Martinez -- not Junior Griffey, not Alex Rodriguez, not Randy Johnson -- has been Mr. Mariner, but the club faces a tough decision in deciding whether to pick up his option. Martinez will turn 40 in January and is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he played in just 97 games, hitting only .277. But Martinez's contributions can't be fully calculated on the stat sheet and his loss would be a great one.

4. What do the Mariners do about Jeff Cirillo?
Cirillo was a bust this season (.249 with just six homers in almost 500 at-bats) and clashed with Piniella. He may benefit from a new manager, but there remains the matter of his contract, which has three years remaining and is enough to scare off potential trading partners.

5. What can be expected from Gil Meche and Ryan Anderson?
The M's have two highly talented pitching prospects who've suffered potentially career-threatening injuries in the last two years. Meche and Anderson could upgrade the rotation dramatically if they're healthy if enough to contribute. If not, the Mariners could be strapped for starting pitching, especially if Moyer doesn't return.

Texas Rangers
1. Can Buck Showalter get along with Carl Everett and Juan Gonzalez?
Everett and Gonzalez are two of the game's most mercurial personalities and Showalter was a stern taskmaster in his first two managerial go-rounds. If Showalter has relaxed some, these two will provide him with a good test.

2. Will Chan Ho Park bounce back?
Park was a huge bust as the most expensive prize in last winter's shopping spree, compiling a 5.75 ERA while failing to win in double figures. The Rangers aren't going anywhere in this tough division unless someone emerges as an ace. Park, for all the disappointment of last seasons, remains the best hope.

3. Will Pudge Rodriguez return?
Owner Tom Hicks swears he will cut payroll and avoid the luxury tax levy, but it won't be easy, especially if he wants to retain Rodriguez, perhaps the franchise's most identfiable player. If Rodriguez prices himself out, the Rangers don't have a lot of options behind the plate.

4. Can Francisco Cordero continue to emerge as a bonafide closer?
One of the key figures in the blockbuster that sent Gonzalez to the Tigers in 1999, Cordero has battled injuries and ineffectiveness with the Rangers. But he showed promise in the second half of last season (2-0, 10 saves and a 1.79 ERA) and could fill a role that has been a huge disappointment in the last few seasons.

5. Is Alex Rodrguez destined to play out his career as part of a non-contender?
Not necessarily. But Rodriguez may have to wait another couple of seasons before the Rangers' pitching staff is rebuilt enough to enable them to compete with the likes of the A's and Angels. In the meantime, he remains the sport's best player, but a reminder that baseball is ultimately a team game.

Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com.