An interesting article on MLB.com talks about how the delay can actually help some teams in the AL West.

Of course, with the Rangers, there’s Willie Calhoun. He would have missed the first weeks of the season, maybe even a month or two. But now he probably won’t. And any last-minute tweaks to the new Ballpark won’t be last-minute anymore. The Ballpark is just sitting there waiting for its debut.

Houston’s Justin Verlander had groin surgery that would have kept him out for six weeks. Not anymore. And a pitcher like Lance McCullers, who is going to be on a strict innings limit because he’s coming back from Tommy John surgery, won’t have to worry as much about that because the season itself is on an innings limit.

Oakland’s super prospect AJ Puk had to be shut down because his shoulder was acting up. Instead of having to build up his innings coming out of the pen, now he has the time to get his shoulder right and go into the Athletics’ rotation.

Same with Shohei Otahni in Los Angeles. He is coming off Tommy John surgery and now has more time to get his arm strength back, and less worry about over-work in the season. But, he is only going to pitch one game a week anyway.

And for the Mariners, fewer games to play this year means fewer games for them to stink. And for their fans, that’s a bonus.