AL CENTRAL

AL CENTRAL

Preview

CLEVELAND INDIANS

k2009: 65-97, tied for fourth place.

kManager: Manny Acta (first season).

kHe’s Here: C Mike Redmond, 1B Russell Branyan, RH Jamey Wright, RH Mitch Talbot, 2B Anderson Hernandez, INF/OF Shelley Duncan, INF Mark Grudzielanek, OF Austin Kearns, INF Luis Rodriguez.

kHe’s Outta Here: INF Jamey Carroll, C Kelly Shoppach, RH Tomo Ohka, RH Jose Veras.

kProjected Lineup: SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.308, 68 RBIs, 42 doubles), CF Grady Sizemore (.248, 18 HRs, 64 RBIs in career-low 106 games), RF Shin Soo-Choo (.300, 20, 86, 21 SB), DH Travis Hafner (.272, 16, 49, 94 games), 3B Jhonny Peralta (.254, 11, 83), 1B Matt LaPorta (.254, 7, 21, 52 games) or 1B Russell Branyan (.251, 31, 76 in 116 games with Seattle), LF Michael Brantley (.313, 11 RBIs, 28 games) or LaPorta, C Lou Marson (.250 in 14 games with Cleveland), 2B Luis Valbuena (.250, 10, 31).

kRotation: RH Jake Westbrook (hasn’t pitched in majors since 2008, elbow surgery), RH Fausto Carmona (5-12, 6.32 ERA), RH Justin Masterson (1-7, 4.55 in 10 starts after trade from Boston), LH David Huff (11-8, 5.61), RH Mitch Talbot (4-4, 4.47 ERA at Triple-A Durham) or Aaron Laffey (7-9, 4.44).

kKey Relievers: RH Kerry Wood (3-3, 4.25 ERA, 20 saves), RH Chris Perez (0-1, 4.32 in 32 games after trade from St. Louis), LH Rafael Perez (4-3, 7.31), RH Jensen Lewis (2-4, 4.61), Tony Sipp (2-0, 2.96).

kHot Spots: Rotation, rotation, rotation. There don’t appear to be any Cy Young winners left on this roster. The Indians traded CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee, leaving little quality behind. Westbrook, a 15-game winner in 2006, hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 28, 2008, undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery two weeks later. Still, he’s the Indians’ No. 1 starter and probably would be no better than a No. 2 or 3 on most staffs. Carmona has shown signs of getting back to the form that made him a 19-game winner in 2007. The Indians sent him down to their lower minors last season to work on his mechanics and conditioning. He arrived at training camp in better shape but Cleveland needs to see more. Masterson, acquired last season from Boston in the Victor Martinez deal, could emerge as the staff’s ace. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder is engaging and polite off the field, but the Indians have been impressed with his competitive fire on the mound.

kBottom Line: Three years after coming within one win of the World Series, the Indians are rebuilding — again.

MINNESOTA TWINS

k2009: 87-76, first place (beat Detroit in one-game playoff).

kManager: Ron Gardenhire (ninth season).

kBottom Line: After losing to the Yankees in the division series, the Twins pushed their payroll past $95 million in an attempt to close the talent gap for their first season at open-air Target Field.

DETROIT TIGERS

k2009: 86-77, second place.

kManager: Jim Leyland (fifth season).

kBottom Line: Detroit proved it wasn’t strictly in a cost-cutting mode after it looked as if that was the case early in the offseason. The Tigers signed Johnny Damon, showing their team and fans they want to compete for an elusive division title.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

k2009: 79-83, third place.

kManager: Ozzie Guillen (seventh season).

kBottom Line: There’s been tension between Guillen and general manager Ken Williams over social networking this spring. Guillen’s son resigned from the team’s video department after the front office was unhappy with some of his tweets that were critical of the team. That friction aside, the White Sox appear to have one of the best rotations in the AL if Jake Peavy stays healthy.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

k2009: 65-97, tied for fourth.

kManager: Trey Hillman (third season).

kBottom Line: The Royals have had only one winning season since 1994 and had the worst record over the past decade in the majors. In the mediocre AL Central, 85 victories could keep a club in contention. If the Royals are to finish above .500, they will need Zack Greinke to retain the dominance that led to the 2009 Cy Young Award. Also, Gil Meche, the No. 2 starter, must remain healthy after a bad back and sore shoulder limited him to 23 starts and 129 IP last year.

Associated Press