al east 2012 preview
A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:
New York Yankees
Manager: Joe Girardi (fifth season).
2011: 97-65, first place, lost in division series.
Training Town: Tampa, Fla.
Park: George M. Steinbrenner Field.
First Workout: Feb. 20/25.
He’s Here: RHP Michael Pineda, RHP Hiroki Kuroda, INF-OF Bill Hall, 1B-DH Russell Branyan, RHP Manny Delcarmen, OF Dewayne Wise.
He’s Outta Here: DH-1B Jorge Posada, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Hector Noesi, RHP Andrew Brackman, 3B Eric Chavez, DH-C Jesus Montero.
Going campin’: Despite losing in the first round of the playoffs, the Yankees laid low for most of the offseason, passing on what they felt was a weak free-agent crop in the areas of their needs. But in a span of several hours on one January day, they beefed up their biggest problem area: starting pitching. New York signed Kuroda to a reasonable one-year, $10 million contract and acquired Pineda, a hard-throwing youngster, giving the club seven pitchers for five rotation spots. With Ivan Nova emerging as a rising star — going 16-4 in his rookie year — Phil Hughes could find himself in the bullpen, two seasons removed from winning 18 games. The big question is what will they do with A.J. Burnett, whose 5.15 ERA was third worst among all qualifying pitchers last season? The temperamental Burnett has two more years left on a five-year, $82.5 million contract and has struggled mightily the past two seasons. To get Pineda, the Yankees gave up young power hitter Montero. They still might try to sign a lefty bat to help fill the DH role. Alex Rodriguez, coming off an injury plagued year in which he hit only 16 homers, had experimental treatment on his right knee and left shoulder in Germany in December. He could see increased time at DH as could as Derek Jeter, who’ll turn 38 in June.
Tampa Bay Rays
Manager: Joe Maddon (seventh season).
2011: 91-71, wild card, lost in division series.
Training Town: Port Charlotte, Fla.
Park: Charlotte Sports Park.
First Workout: Feb. 21/26.
He’s Here: 1B Carlos Pena, OF Luke Scott, RHP Burke Badenhop, RHP Fernando Rodney, C Jose Molina, INF Jeff Keppinger.
He’s Outta Here: DH-OF Johnny Damon, C Kelly Shoppach, C John Jaso, 1B Casey Kotchman, 1B Dan Johnson, OF Justin Ruggiano, RHP Juan Cruz, RHP Andy Sonnanstine.
Going campin’: The budget-minded Rays, who have made the playoffs three of the past four seasons, surprisingly addressed their biggest offseason priorities — adding some power to the middle of the batting order and bolstering the bullpen — without parting with any of their surplus of young starting pitchers. Barring a last-minute trade, they’ll go to training camp with David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann and rookie Matt Moore, who earned the team’s only win in last year’s playoffs. Although executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making a deal, he has stressed the Rays are comfortable with having an extra starter. Free agent sluggers Pena and Scott were added without sacrificing anything on defense, where Tampa Bay ranks as among best teams in the AL. Pena is a former Gold Glove first baseman who averaged 36 homers, 102 RBIs and 93 walks in an earlier four-year stint with Tampa Bay from 2007 to 2010. Scott replaces Damon as the team’s primary designated hitter and is capable of filling in defensively at first base and in the outfield. Keppinger is a utility player who provides another right-handed bat off the bench. Badenhop and Rodney join a bullpen that was rebuilt a year ago after the Rays lost six relievers to free agency.
Boston Red Sox
Manager: Bobby Valentine (first season).
2011: 90-72, third place.
Training Town: Fort Myers, Fla.
Park: JetBlue Park.
First Workout: Feb. 21/25.
He’s Here: Manager Bobby Valentine, OF Cody Ross, OF Ryan Sweeney, INF Nick Punto, C Kelly Shoppach, RHP Andrew Bailey, RHP Mark Melancon, RHP Vicente Padilla, RHP Aaron Cook.
He’s Outta Here: RF J.D. Drew, RF Josh Reddick, SS Marco Scutaro, INF Josh Lowrie, C Jason Varitek, RHP Tim Wakefield, RHP Dan Wheeler, LHP Erik Bedard, RHP Jonathan Papelbon.
Going campin’: Valentine needs to restore order to a clubhouse that lacked discipline, which contributed to a 7-20 September that left the Red Sox out of the playoffs in Terry Francona’s last season as manager. Ben Cherington stayed away from high-priced signings when he became general manager after Theo Epstein took over as president of baseball operations of the Chicago Cubs. After signing Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to contracts worth $296 million last offseason, the Red Sox let Papelbon leave rather than sign the closer to an expensive deal. They hope Bailey, obtained from Oakland, can fill his role. Boston also picked up Melancon from Houston. He could fill the setup role that would be vacant if Daniel Bard makes the transition to starter. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz return to the rotation, which still has several candidates for the No. 5 spot. With Drew gone and Crawford expected to miss the start of the season following left wrist surgery, Boston could open with Ross in left field and Sweeney in right. The Red Sox need Crawford to bounce back from a disappointing year. But with Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis returning, the Red Sox lineup is strong.
Toronto Blue Jays
Manager: John Farrell (second season).
2011: 81-81, fourth place.
Training Town: Dunedin, Fla.
Park: Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 22/25.
He’s Here: RHP Francisco Cordero, OF Ben Francisco, LHP Aaron Laffey, C Jeff Mathis, LHP Darren Oliver, RHP Sergio Santos, INF Luis Valbuena, INF Omar Vizquel.
He’s Outta Here: RHP Shawn Camp, RHP Frank Francisco, OF Adam Loewen, C Jose Molina, RHP Jon Rauch, INF Mark Teahen, OF Dewayne Wise.
Going campin’: The Blue Jays rebuilt their bullpen after blowing 25 save opportunities last season, tied for third most in baseball. Santos, a shortstop prospect the last time he was with the Blue Jays, was reacquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and will be handed the closer’s job, with Oliver and Cordero taking the setup roles. Toronto failed to add another big bat behind Jose Bautista, who successfully defended his major league home run crown in 2011, and also came up short in its search for another arm to add to the rotation, an offseason priority for Farrell. Despite missing out on Japanese ace Yu Darvish, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos remains confident in his young staff, led by left-hander Ricky Romero. Toronto’s only real position battle appears to be left field, where Travis Snider and Eric Thames will square off for the starting job.
Baltimore Orioles
Manager: Buck Showalter (second full season).
2011: 69-93, fifth place.
Training Town: Sarasota, Fla.
Park: Ed Smith Stadium.
First Workout: Feb. 19/24.
He’s Here: LHP Wei-Yin Chen, LHP Dana Eveland, RHP Jason Hammel, RHP Matt Lindstrom, LHP Tsuyoshi Wada, C Taylor Teagarden, 2B Matt Antonelli, OF Endy Chavez, CF Jai Miller, INF Wilson Betemit, INF Ryan Flaherty.
He’s Outta Here: DH Vladimir Guerrero, LF Luke Scott, C Jake Fox, OF Felix Pie, RHP Chris Jakubauskas, RHP Jeremy Guthrie, LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, RHP Rick VandenHurk.
Going campin’: After taking over for Andy MacPhail, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette promptly launched a worldwide search for viable pitching talent. His quest landed Chen of Taiwan and Japan’s Wada, along with a host of domestic hurlers. That means Showalter will have plenty to choose from in Florida as he seeks to assemble a viable starting rotation. The list of hopefuls includes newcomers Eveland and Hammel, as well as several young holdovers from last season (Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen, Jack Arrieta). Showalter also must determine whether to maintain shaky Kevin Gregg as the closer, and if oft-injured Brian Roberts is healthy enough to return to second base and bat leadoff. The Orioles aren’t going to be contenders this season, but hope to at least avoid a 15th consecutive losing season.
Associated Press