AL CENTRAL Spring training preview

Detroit Tigers

Manager: Jim Leyland (seventh season).

2011: 95-67, first place, lost in ALCS.

Training Town: Lakeland, Fla.

Park: Joker Marchant Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 20/24.

He’s Here: 1B Prince Fielder, RHP Collin Balester, RHP Octavio Dotel, C Gerald Laird.

He’s Outta Here: 3B Wilson Betemit, 2B Carlos Guillen, OF Magglio Ordonez, RHP Brad Penny, RHP Ryan Perry, 2B Will Rhymes, LHP Brad Thomas, RHP Joel Zumaya.

Going campin’: Perhaps no team will be more fascinating to watch this season than the Tigers, who responded to Victor Martinez’s knee injury with a stunning $214 million bid for Fielder.

Cleveland Indians

Manager: Manny Acta (third season).

2011: 80-82, second place.

Training Town: Goodyear, Ariz.

Park: Goodyear Ballpark.

First Workout: Feb. 22/25.

He’s Here: RHP Jon Garland, RHP Derek Lowe, RHP Kevin Slowey, 1B Casey Kotchman, INF Russ Canzler, OF Aaron Cunningham, RHP Dan Wheeler, OF Ryan Spilborghs, C Matt Pagnozzi, RHP Jeremy Accardo, 3B Andy LaRoche, OF Fred Lewis, 3B Jose Lopez, OF Felix Pie, RHP Robinson Tejeda.

He’s Outta Here: DH Jim Thome, OF Travis Buck, RHP Justin Germano, OF Jerad Head, OF Austin Kearns, RHP Zach Putnam, RHP Mitch Talbot.

Going campin’: Without the funds to land any big-name free agents, the Indians’ priority this winter was to add depth in case of injuries and hopefully close on the Tigers. Lowe was a smart, low-risk addition to a solid rotation since the Braves will pay $10 million of his $15 million salary.

Chicago White Sox

Manager: Robin Ventura (first season).

2011: 79-83, third place.

Training town: Glendale, Ariz.

Park: Camelback Ranch.

First workout: Feb. 23/28.

He’s Here: Manager Robin Ventura, INF Osvaldo Martinez, RHP Jhan Marinez, RHP Nestor Molina, RHP Simon Castro, LHP Pedro Hernandez.

He’s Outta Here: LHP Mark Buehrle, OF Carlos Quentin, OF Juan Pierre, RHP Sergio Santos, RHP Jason Frasor.

Going campin’: During an offseason that points to rebuilding, the White Sox either lost or dealt away their ace (Buehrle), their closer (Santos), a run-producing but oft-injured outfielder (Quentin) and their leadoff hitter (Pierre). In return they got a bevy of pitching prospects.

Kansas City Royals

Manager: Ned Yost (third season).

2011: 71-91, fourth place.

Training Town: Surprise, Ariz.

Park: Surprise Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 21/25.

He’s Here: LHP Jonathan Sanchez, LHP Jose Mijares, RHP Jonathan Broxton, LHP Ryan Verdugo, INF Yuniesky Betancourt.

He’s Outta Here: CF Melky Cabrera, LHP Jeff Francis, LHP Aaron Laffey.

Going campin’: The Royals upgraded their starting rotation by trading Cabrera, their center fielder, to San Francisco for Sanchez, and bolstered their bullpen by acquiring Mijares and Broxton. But that’s about all they’ve done this offseason, content to head into the season with the youngest lineup in baseball.

Minnesota Twins

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (11th season).

2011: 63-99, fifth place.

Training Town: Ft. Myers, Fla.

Park: Hammond Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 19/24.

He’s Here: SS Jamey Carroll, RHP Joel Zumaya, OF Josh Willingham, RHP Jason Marquis, C Ryan Doumit.

He’s Outta Here: RHP Joe Nathan, OF Michael Cuddyer, OF Jason Kubel, RHP Kevin Slowey, OF Jason Repko.

Going campin’: It’s a new day in Minnesota. Gone are clubhouse pillars Nathan and Cuddyer, who served as leaders and spokesmen both on and off the field. Kubel was also a mainstay for years here, so the Twins will be even more dependent on 1B Justin Morneau, C Joe Mauer and CF Denard Span to come back healthy after missing huge chunks of time last year to injury.

Associated Press