AL West

Good news today for the Angels, who signed Bartolo Colon away from the White Sox. And good news for the Mariners, who signed Eddie Guardado away from the Twins.

This news, of course, is bad news for the A's who have to face these two divisional rivals 19 times apiece each year.

And it's doubly-bad news for this reason:

The loss of Guardado means the Twins have lost their top two relievers, LaTroy Hawkins to the Chicago Cubs and now Guardado, to free agency in the span of a week. They have some money now, though, to sign a free agent closer or acquire one in a trade. They expect to actively pursue that at the winter meetings this weekend.

As a reminder, the A's are trying to re-sign their own closer (Keith Foulke), and Boston is trying to steal him away. What are the odds that the A's win a bidding war against Boston? Not good. What are the odds that the A's win a bidding war against Boston and Minnesota? Even Worse.