MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PREVIEW American League East

Baltimore Orioles
2003: 71-91, 4th place.
Manager: Lee Mazzilli (first season).
He's Here: SS Miguel Tejada, 1B Rafael Palmeiro, C Javy Lopez, INF Mark McLemore, INF Jose Bautista, RHP Mike DeJean, RHP Sidney Ponson.
He's Outta Here: Manager Mike Hargrove, 3B Tony Batista, SS Deivi Cruz, INF Jose Leon, C Brook Fordyce, RHP Sean Douglass, RHP Scott Erickson, RHP Pat Hentgen, RHP Jason Johnson, RHP Kerry Ligtenberg, LHP Damian Moss, LHP Willis Roberts.
Projected Lineup: 2B Jerry Hairston (.271, 2, 21, 14 SBs) or 2B Brian Roberts (.270, 5, 41, 23 SBs), LF Larry Bigbie (.303, 9, 31), SS Miguel Tejada (.278, 27, 106 for Oakland), 1B Rafael Palmeiro (.260, 38, 112 for Texas), C Javy Lopez (.328, 43, 109 for Atlanta), RF Jay Gibbons (.277, 23, 100), DH B.J. Surhoff (.295, 5, 41), 3B Melvin Mora (.317, 15, 48, .418 OBP), CF Luis Matos (.303, 13, 45).
Rotation: RH Sidney Ponson (17-12, 3.75 for Baltimore and San Francisco), RH Rodrigo Lopez (7-10, 5.82), LH Eric DuBose (3-6, 3.79), RH Kurt Ainsworth (5-5 4.08), LH Omar Daal (4-11, 6.34).
Key Relievers: RH Jorge Julio (0-7, 4.38, 36/44 saves), LH B.J. Ryan (4-1, 3.40), LH Buddy Groom (1-3, 5.36, .309 BA against), RH Mike DeJean (5-8, 4.68, 19 saves, career-high 76G).
Hot Spot: Ponson is only starter in rotation with winning record in 2003. Orioles have no idea what to expect from rest of starters, especially Ainsworth and DuBose, both of whom saw limited time with Baltimore last year.
Stat Sheet: The new middle of the lineup -- 3-4-5 hitters Tejada, Palmeiro and Lopez -- combined for 108 home runs last year. That's only 44 fewer than the entire team hit last season.
Bottom Line: Addition of Mazzilli, Tejada, Palmeiro and Lopez should make Orioles a better team. Baltimore has decent chance of ending its run of six straight losing seasons, but that may not get them out of their rut of finishing fourth behind improved Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays.
Boston Red Sox
2003: 95-67, 2nd place (wild card).
Manager: Terry Francona (first season).
He's Here: RHP Curt Schilling, RHP Keith Foulke, 2B Pokey Reese, DH Ellis Burks, 1B-OF Brian Daubach, INF Mark Bellhorn. He's Outta Here: Manager Grady Little, 2B Todd Walker, RHP John Burkett, LHP Casey Fossum, IF Damian Jackson, RHP Todd Jones, RHP Brandon Lyon, IF Lou Merloni, LH Scott Sauerbeck, RHP Jeff Suppan.
Projected Lineup: CF Johnny Damon (.271, 12, 67, 103 runs, 30 SBs), 3B Bill Mueller (AL-leading .326, 19, 85, 45 2Bs), LF Manny Ramirez (.325, 37, 104, 117 runs, AL-leading .427 on-base), SS Nomar Garciaparra (.301, 28, 105, 120 runs), DH David Ortiz (.288, 38, 101), 1B Kevin Millar (.276, 25, 96), RF Trot Nixon (.306, 28, 87), C Jason Varitek (.273, 25, 85), 2B Pokey Reese (.215, 1, 12).
Rotation: RH Pedro Martinez (14-4, 2.22, 206 Ks), RH Curt Schilling (8-9, 2.95 for Arizona), RH Derek Lowe (17-7, 4.47), RH Tim Wakefield (11-7, 4.09), RH Byung-Hyun Kim (9-10, 3.31 for Arizona and Boston).
Key Relievers: RH Keith Foulke (9-1, 2.08, 43/48 saves), RH Scott Williamson (5-4, 4.16 for Cincinnati and Boston), RH Mike Timlin (6-4, 3.55, 0.97 BBs/9 IP), LH Alan Embree (4-1, 4.25), RH Bronson Arroyo (0-0, 2.08).
Hot Spot: Francona faces high expectations for a team that appears improved over the one that set a major league record for slugging percentage last season and reached seventh game of ALCS. He'll have to show he's not too cozy with players, particularly Schilling, his former Phillies ace. With Martinez, Garciaparra, Lowe, Varitek, Ortiz, Williamson and Reese eligible for free agency after the season, distractions could surface. Red Sox dealt with enough of them in the winter after failed trade for A-Rod.
Stat Sheet: Red Sox will be hard pressed to match their 961 runs and .289 batting average that led majors last season. Their 649 extra-base hits and 2,832 total bases were major league records. Francona will bat Ramirez third and Garciaparra fourth, the opposite of their spots last year -- Ramirez drew 28 intentional walks last season. Foulke provides a big boost in a bullpen with just 36 saves last year among 10 pitchers.
Bottom Line: After building the offense last year, general manager Theo Epstein tended to pitching (Schilling, Foulke), defense (Reese) and the bench (Burks). That gives Red Sox possibly the deepest team in baseball and strong chance to overtake Yankees, the AL East champion the past six years. Boston hasn't won World Series since 1918.
New York Yankees
2003: 101-61, 1st place (AL champions).
Manager: Joe Torre (ninth season).
He's Here: 3B Alex Rodriguez, RF Gary Sheffield, RHP Kevin Brown, RHP Javier Vazquez, RHP Paul Quantrill, RHP Tom Gordon, OF Kenny Lofton, LHP Donovan Osborne, 1B-OF Travis Lee, 1B Tony Clark, INF-OF Miguel Cairo, INF Mike Lamb, OF Darren Bragg.
He's Outta Here: 2B Alfonso Soriano, RHP Roger Clemens, LHP Andy Pettitte, 3B Aaron Boone, LHP David Wells, 1B-DH Nick Johnson, RHP Jeff Weaver, RHP Jeff Nelson, LHP Chris Hammond, OF Juan Rivera, OF Karim Garcia, OF David Dellucci, bench coach Don Zimmer.
Projected Lineup: CF Kenny Lofton (.296, 12 HRs, 46 RBIs, 30 SBs with Pirates and Cubs), SS Derek Jeter (.324, 10, 52), 3B Alex Rodriguez (.298, AL-leading 47, 118, 17 SBs for Texas), 1B Jason Giambi (.250, 41, 107, led league with 129 walks and 140 strikeouts), RF Gary Sheffield (.330, 39, 132, 18 SBs for Atlanta), DH Bernie Williams (.263, 15, 64), LF Hideki Matsui (.287, 16, 106), C Jorge Posada (.281, 30, 101), 2B Enrique Wilson (.230, 3, 15).
Rotation: RH Mike Mussina (17-8, 3.40 ERA), RH Kevin Brown (14-9, 2.39 for Los Angeles), RH Javier Vazquez (13-12, 3.24, 241 Ks for Montreal), RH Jose Contreras (7-2, 3.30), LH Donovan Osborne (did not pitch).
Key Relievers: RH Mariano Rivera (5-2, 1.66, 40/46 saves), RH Paul Quantrill (2-5, 1.75, led majors with 89 appearances for Los Angeles), RH Tom Gordon (7-6, 3.16, 12 for White Sox), LH Felix Heredia (5-3, 2.69 for Reds and Yankees), LH Gabe White (5-1, 4.05 for Reds and Yankees).
Hot Spot: Left side of the infield. Rodriguez, reigning AL MVP and two-time Gold Glove shortstop, moved to third base because of Jeter. Best friends in the past, their relationship chilled in recent years. Plenty of ego between them -- could get dicey if Jeter, who's never won a Gold Glove, struggles in field. Another shift: Zimmer left after a rift with owner George Steinbrenner, so Willie Randolph took over as bench coach. Longtime fan favorite Don Mattingly is new hitting coach.
Stat Sheet: After losing World Series in six games to Florida, Steinbrenner spent like crazy, brought in even more star power. The Yankees' payroll of more than $180 million is by far the most in majors. Yankees-Red Sox rivalry begins April 16 at Fenway Park, first of 19 matchups. They played a record 26 times last year, with Yankees winning 14, including Game 7 of ALCS on Boone's 11th-inning home run.
Bottom Line: As long as the trainer's room isn't too busy, the Yankees should be fine. Williams will miss opening day in Tokyo after having his appendix removed, Giambi is coming back from knee surgery and Sheffield had a thumb problem in spring training. RHP Jon Lieber is expected to eventually become the No. 5 starter -- he missed last season after Tommy John surgery, and was slowed by a groin problem in March. Osborne inherits the role for now, despite being out of majors three of the last four seasons.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2003: 63-99, 5th place.
Manager: Lou Piniella (second season).
He's Here: 1B Tino Martinez, 2B Rey Sanchez, 3B Geoff Blum, RF Jose Cruz Jr., LHP Mark Hendrickson, RHP Paul Abbott, RHP Danys Baez, LHP Damian Moss, LHP John Halama, RHP Mike Williams, LHP Trever Miller, RHP Todd Jones, OF Eduardo Perez, OF-INF-C Robert Fick.
He's Outta Here: 1B Travis Lee, DH-OF Ben Grieve, 2B Marlon Anderson, LHP Joe Kennedy, RHP Brandon Backe, DH Al Martin, OF Adam Piatt, INF-OF Terry Shumpert, OF Jason Tyner.
Projected Lineup: LF Carl Crawford (.281, 5, 54, 55 SBs), SS Julio Lugo (.271, 15, 55), CF Rocco Baldelli (.289, 11, 78), DH Aubrey Huff (.311, 34, 107, 47 2Bs), RF Jose Cruz Jr. (.250, 20, 68), 1B Tino Martinez (.273, 15, 69), 3B Geoff Blum (.262, 10, 52), C Toby Hall (.253, 12, 47), 2B Rey Sanchez (.250, 0, 23).
Rotation: RH Victor Zambrano (12-10, 4.21), RH Jeremi Gonzalez (6-11, 3.91), LH Mark Hendrickson (9-9, 5.51), RH Doug Waechter (3-2, 3.31), RH Paul Abbott (1-2, 5.29).
Key Relievers: RH Danys Baez (2-19, 3.81, 25/35 saves), RH Lance Carter (7-5, 4.33, 26/33 saves), LH Trever Miller (2-2, 4.61), LH John Halama (3-5, 4.22), RH Travis Harper (4-8, 3.77), RH Jesus Colome 3-7, 4.50).
Hot Spot: After leading AL in walks, wild pitches and hit batsmen with young pitching staff in 2003, Devil Rays put high priority on adding experienced veterans to rotation and bullpen.
Stat Sheet: Huff is coming off best offensive season in franchise history, setting club records for batting average and RBIs and tying the mark for home runs. He also had 198 hits, 47 doubles, 84 extra-base hits, 17 intentional walks, 353 total bases and a .555 slugging percentage -- all team records.
Bottom Line: Despite nearly doubling team's payroll in the offseason, Devil Rays still have least expensive roster in majors at about $29 million. Piniella is confident the club has brought in the right mix of veterans to help young core led by Huff, Baldelli and Crawford. It remains to be seen, though, if they've made enough improvement to escape last place for the first time.
Toronto Blue Jays
2003: 86-76, 3rd place.
Manager: Carlos Tosca (third season).
He's Here: RHP Miguel Batista, LHP Ted Lilly, RHP Pat Hentgen, RHP Kerry Ligtenberg, RHP Terry Adams, RHP Justin Speier, INF Chris Gomez, LHP Valerio De Los Santos.
He's Outta Here: RHP Kelvim Escobar, RHP Cory Lidle, OF Bobby Kielty, LHP Mark Hendrickson, LHP Trever Miller, RHP Cliff Politte, C Tom Wilson, SS Mike Bordick.
Projected Lineup: RF Reed Johnson (.294, 10, 52), LF Frank Catalanotto (.299, 13, 59), CF Vernon Wells (.317, 33, 117, 49 2Bs), 1B Carlos Delgado (.302, 42, major league-leading 145, 109 BBs), DH Josh Phelps (.268, 20, 66), 3B Eric Hinske (.243, 12, 63, 45 2Bs), C Kevin Cash (.142, 1, 8), SS Chris Woodward (.261, 7, 45), 2B Orlando Hudson (.268, 9, 57).
Rotation: RH Roy Halladay (22-7, 3.25), RH Miguel Batista (10-9, 3.54 for Arizona), LH Ted Lilly (12-10, 4.34 for Oakland), RH Pat Hentgen (7-8, 4.09), RH Josh Towers (6-1, 3.42).
Key Relievers: RH Aquilino Lopez (1-3, 3.42, 14/16 saves), RH Terry Adams (1-4, 2.65), RH Kerry Ligtenberg (4-2, 3.34), RH Justin Speier (3-1, 4.05).
Hot Spot: Revamped starting rotation and bullpen needs to be better than last season if Toronto hopes to compete with Yankees and Red Sox. Batista, Lilly and Hentgen must complement ace Halladay, who signed a $42 million, four-year contract in January.
Stat Sheet: Delgado finished second in AL MVP voting to Alex Rodriguez. He earns $18.5 million this season in final year of a four-year, $64 million deal. Blue Jays won't discuss a new contract until after the season. Wells continues to blossom, leading majors with 215 hits last season. Bottom Line: Blue Jays have finished in third place for six straight seasons; with payroll of $50 million they'll likely finish behind Boston and New York again. If pitching is improved and offense matches the output of last season they could win 90 games, but still not make playoffs.
XWednesday: A.L. West preview
-- Associated Press