IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

AL EAST

BOSTON RED SOX

2007: 96-66, first place, World Series champions.

Manager: Terry Francona (fifth season).

Projected Lineup: CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.353, 3 HRs, 18 RBIs, 9 SBs in 33 games), 2B Dustin Pedroia (.317, 8, 50, 39 doubles), DH David Ortiz (.332, 35, 117, 52 doubles), LF Manny Ramirez (.296, 20, 88), 3B Mike Lowell (.324, 21, 120), RF J.D. Drew (.270, 11, 64), 1B Kevin Youkilis (.288, 16, 83), C Jason Varitek (.255, 17, 68), SS Julio Lugo (.237, 8, 73).

Rotation: RH Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27 ERA), RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (15-12, 4.40), LH Jon Lester (4-0, 4.57), RH Tim Wakefield (17-12, 4.76), RH Clay Buchholz (3-1, 1.59) or RH Bartolo Colon (6-8, 6.34 with Angels). RH Curt Schilling (9-8, 3.87, starts season on 60-day disabled list).

Closer: RH Jonathan Papelbon (1-3, 1.85, 37/40 saves).

Hot Spots: Center field and fifth starter. The competition between veteran CF Coco Crisp and rookie Ellsbury fizzled when Crisp missed all but two Florida exhibition games with a groin injury. Ellsbury had a mediocre spring training, but the job is probably his to lose. Schilling's shoulder injury that will sideline him at least until the All-Star break and Beckett's back injury that caused him to miss the team's season-opening trip to Japan caused a shakeup in the rotation. Boston signed free-agent Colon, injured much of the last two seasons, in late February. He or Buchholz could be in the rotation once Beckett returns in early April.

NEW YORK YANKEES

2007: 94-68, second place, wild card.

Manager: Joe Girardi (first season).

Projected Lineup: LF-DH Johnny Damon (.270, 12 HRs, 63 RBIs, 27/30 SBs), SS Derek Jeter (.322, 12, 73, 102 runs, 18 errors), RF Bobby Abreu (.283, 16, 101, 123 runs, 40 doubles, 25 SBs, 84 BBs), 3B Alex Rodriguez (.314, major league-best 54 HRs, 156 RBIs and 143 runs, 24/28 SBs, 95 BBs, .422 OBP), C Jorge Posada (.338, 20, 90, 42 doubles, .426 OBP), DH-LF Hideki Matsui (.285, 25, 103), 1B-DH Jason Giambi (.236, 14, 39 in 83 games) or Shelley Duncan (.257, 7, 17 in 74 at-bats) or Morgan Ensberg (.230, 12, 39 in 282 ABs with Astros and Padres), 2B Robinson Cano (.306, 19, 97, 41 doubles, 7 triples), CF Melky Cabrera (.273, 8, 73, 8 triples).

Rotation: RH Chien-Ming Wang (19-7, 3.70 ERA, 9 HRs allowed in 199 1-3 IP), LH Andy Pettitte (15-9, 4.05, 215 1-3 IP), RH Phil Hughes (5-3, 4.46 in 13 starts), RH Mike Mussina (11-10, 5.15), RH Ian Kennedy (1-0, 1.89 in 3 late-season starts).

Closer: RH Mariano Rivera (3-4, 3.15, 30/34 saves, 74 Ks, 12 BBs in 71 1-3 IP).

Hot Spot: First base. In an ideal world for the Yankees, the 37-year-old Giambi would stay healthy and play enough adequate defense that Girardi could give Matsui, Damon and even Duncan regular at-bats at DH. That might be too much to ask. When he's in the lineup, Giambi can still hit homers, drive in runs and draw plenty of walks. But if he becomes such a liability in the field that he can only DH, that could cut into playing time for Damon and Matsui, who is coming off knee surgery. And if Giambi winds up being just a dangerous bat on the bench, that would make him mostly an albatross in the final season of his $120 million, seven-year contract.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

2007: 83-79, third place.

Manager: John Gibbons (fifth season).

Projected Lineup: SS David Eckstein (.309, 3 HRs, 31 RBIs, .356 OBP with St. Louis), RF Alex Rios (.297, 24, 85, 43 doubles), CF Vernon Wells (.245, 16, 80), 3B Scott Rolen (.265, 8, 58 with St. Louis; will start season on disabled list), DH Frank Thomas (.277, 26, 95), LF Matt Stairs (.289, 21, 64) and Shannon Stewart (.290, 12, 48 with Oakland), 1B Lyle Overbay (.240, 10, 44), 2B Aaron Hill (.291, 17, 78, 47 doubles), C Gregg Zaun (.242, 10, 52).

Rotation: RH Roy Halladay (16-7, 3.71 ERA), RH A.J. Burnett (10-8, 3.75), RH Dustin McGowan (12-10, 4.08), RH Shaun Marcum (12-6, 4.13), RH Jesse Litsch (7-9, 3.81).

Closer: LH B.J. Ryan (0-2, 12.46, 3/5 saves in 5 games before injury), RH Jeremy Accardo (4-4, 2.14, 30/35 saves).

Hot Spot: A lineup built to slug came up lame in 2007, with Toronto ranking in the bottom half of the AL in every major offensive category. To make up ground on Boston, Detroit, Cleveland and New York, the Blue Jays will need Wells, Rolen and Overbay to return to form, and steady improvement from Rios and Hill.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

2007: 69-93, fourth place.

Manager: Dave Trembley (first full season).

Projected Lineup: 2B Brian Roberts (.290, 12 HRs, 57 RBIs, 103 runs, 50 SBs), 3B Melvin Mora (.274, 14, 58), RF Nick Markakis (.300, 23, 112), 1B Kevin Millar (.254, 17, 63), DH Aubrey Huff (.280, 15, 72), C Ramon Hernandez (.258, 9, 62), LF Luke Scott (.255, 18, 64), CF Adam Jones (.314, 24, 84 with Triple-A Tacoma), SS Luis Hernandez (.290, 1, 7).

Rotation: RH Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 3.70 ERA), LH Adam Loewen (2-0, 3.56), RH Daniel Cabrera (9-18, 5.55), RH Steve Trachsel (6-8, 4.48), RH Matt Albers (4-11, 5.86).

Closer: LH George Sherrill (2-0, 2.36, 3 saves with Seattle).

Hot Spot: Shortstop. With SS Miguel Tejada gone to Houston, the Orioles have no choice but to rush Hernandez into the picture. He's had an awful spring in the field and at the plate, and backup Brandon Fahey has a decent glove but batted .167 in 40 games last year.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2007: 66-96, fifth place.

Manager: Joe Maddon (third season).

Projected Lineup: 2B Akinori Iwamura (.285, 7 HRs, 34 RBIs), LF Carl Crawford (.315, 11, 80, 50 SBs), CF B.J. Upton (.300, 24, 82, 22 SBs), 1B Carlos Pena (.282, 46, 121), DH Cliff Floyd (.284, 9, 45 with Cubs), RF Jonny Gomes (.244, 17, 49), 3B Willy Aybar (missed last season with Atlanta due to injured right wrist and personal matter), C Dioner Navarro (.227, 9, 44), SS Jason Bartlett (.265, 5, 43 with Minnesota).

Rotation: LH Scott Kazmir (13-9, 3.48 ERA), RH James Shields (12-8, 3.85), RH Matt Garza (5-7, 3.69 with Minnesota), RH Edwin Jackson (5-15, 5.76) or RH Jason Hammel (3-5, 6.14) or RH Andy Sonnanstine (6-10, 5.85) or LH J.P. Howell (1-6, 7.59) or RH Jeff Niemann (12-6, 3.98 at Triple-A Durham).

Closer: RH Troy Percival (3-0, 1.80 with St. Louis).

Hot Spot: The bullpen was one of the worst in the majors in 2007. Percival takes over the closer's job, moving Reyes into a setup role. Maddon also is counting on Miller and Wheeler's experience to make a difference.

AL CENTRAL

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2007: 96-66, first place.

Manager: Eric Wedge (sixth season).

Projected Lineup: CF Grady Sizemore (.277, 24 HRs, 78 RBIs, .390 OBP, 118 runs, 101 BBs, 33 SBs, 162 games), 3B Casey Blake (.270, 18, 78), DH Travis Hafner (.267, 24, 100), C Victor Martinez (.301, 25, 114), 1B Ryan Garko (.289, 21, 61, 20 HBPs), LF Jason Michaels (.270, 7, 39, 1 error) or David Dellucci (.230, 4, 20 in 56 games due to injury), SS Jhonny Peralta (.270, 21, 72), RF Franklin Gutierrez (.266, 13, 36 in 100 games), 2B Asdrubal Cabrera (.283, 3, 22 in 45 games; Indians were 28-12 when he started).

Rotation: LH C.C. Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 ERA, AL-high 241 innings, won Cy Young Award), RH Fausto Carmona (19-8, league's second-best ERA at 3.06), RH Jake Westbrook (6-9, 4.32, missed six weeks with abdominal strain), LH Cliff Lee (5-8, 6.29, hurt in spring training, demoted to minors in July), RH Paul Byrd (15-8, 4.59, AL-best 1.31 walks per 9 innings).

Closer: RH Joe Borowski (4-5, 5.07, AL-high 45/53 saves, 9.60 ERA in non-save situations).

Hot Spot: Very few of Borowski's saves were of the 1-2-3 variety. If he struggles, Betancourt, arguably the AL's best setup man, could take over as closer.

DETROIT TIGERS

2007: 88-74, second place.

Manager: Jim Leyland (third season).

Projected Lineup: CF Curtis Granderson (.302, 23 HRs, 74 RBIs, 38 2Bs, 23 3Bs, 23 SBs, 141 Ks), 2B Placido Polanco (.341, 9, 67), DH Gary Sheffield (.265, 25, 75), RF Magglio Ordonez (.363, 28, 139), 3B Miguel Cabrera (.320, 34, 119 with Marlins), 1B Carlos Guillen (.296, 21, 102), SS Edgar Renteria (.332, 12, 57 with Braves), C Ivan Rodriguez (.281, 11, 63), LF Jacque Jones (.285, 5, 66 with Cubs).

Rotation: RH Justin Verlander (18-6, 3.66 ERA, 183 Ks in 201 2-3 IP), LH Kenny Rogers (3-4, 4.43), RH Jeremy Bonderman (11-9, 5.01), LH Dontrelle Willis (10-15, 5.17 with Marlins), LH Nate Robertson (9-13, 4.76).

Closer: RH Todd Jones (1-4, 4.26, 38/44 saves).

Hot Spot: The bullpen. With Joel Zumaya out for at least half the season and Fernando Rodney going on the DL to start the year — both because of shoulder injuries — middle relievers without a consistent track record of success will be in the spotlight.

MINNESOTA TWINS

2007: 79-83, third place.

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (seventh season).

Projected Lineup: CF Carlos Gomez (.232, 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, 12 SBs in 58 games with Mets), C Joe Mauer (.293, 7, 60, .382 OBP), RF Michael Cuddyer (.276, 16, 81), 1B Justin Morneau (.271, 31, 111), LF Delmon Young (.288, 13, 93 with Tampa Bay), DH Jason Kubel (.273, 13, 65), 3B Mike Lamb (.289, 11, 40 with Houston), 2B Brendan Harris (.286, 12, 59 with Tampa Bay), SS Adam Everett (.232, 2, 15 in 66 games with Houston).

Rotation: RH Livan Hernandez (11-11, 4.93 ERA, 34 HRs allowed in 204 1-3 IP with Arizona), RH Scott Baker (9-9, 4.26, 102 Ks, 29 BBs in 143 2-3 IP), RH Boof Bonser (8-12, 5.10, 136 Ks, 27 HRs allowed in 173 IP), LH Francisco Liriano (missed last season following elbow surgery; 12-3, 2.16, 144 Ks, 32 BBs, 121 IP in 2006), RH Kevin Slowey (4-1, 4.73 in 13 games, including 11 starts).

Closer: RH Joe Nathan (4-2, 1.88, 37/41 saves, 77 Ks, .209 opponent BA).

Hot Spots: Center field and the rotation. Gomez won a three-way competition to replace Torii Hunter, a perennial Gold Glove winner, but he's young and unproven and showed in spring training he's plenty raw despite his tantalizing potential. There is plenty of youth in the rotation as well, which is minus an ace (Johan Santana) and a workhorse (Carlos Silva).

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2007: 72-90, fourth place.

Manager: Ozzie Guillen (fifth season).

Projected Lineup: CF Jerry Owens (.267, 1 HR, 17 RBIs, 32 SBs), LF Nick Swisher (.262, 22, 78 with Oakland), 1B Paul Konerko (.259, 31, 90), DH Jim Thome (.275, 35, 96), RF Jermaine Dye (.254, 28, 78), C A.J. Pierzynski (.263, 14, 50), 3B Joe Crede (.216, 4, 22), SS Orlando Cabrera (.301, 8, 86 with Angels), 2B Juan Uribe (.234, 20, 68).

Rotation: LH Mark Buehrle (10-9, 3.63 ERA), RH Javier Vazquez (15-8, 3.74), LH John Danks (6-13, 5.50), RH Jose Contreras (10-17, 5.57), RH Gavin Floyd (1-5, 5.27).

Closer: RH Bobby Jenks (3-5, 2.77, 40/46 saves).

Hot Spot: The hot corner. A healthy Crede is a Gold Glove-caliber fielder with the potential to hit 30 homers, as he did two years ago. He's getting another chance with the White Sox because they were unable to trade him to make room for Josh Fields, who was sent back down to the minors despite hitting 23 homers with 67 RBIs in 373 at-bats last season.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2007: 69-93, fifth place.

Manager: Trey Hillman (first season).

Projected Lineup: CF David DeJesus (.260, 7 HRs, 58 RBIs, 101 runs), 2B Mark Grudzielanek (.302, 6, 51), LF Mark Teahen (.285, 7, 60), RF Jose Guillen (.290, 23, 99 with Seattle), 3B Alex Gordon, (.247, 15, 60), DH Billy Butler (.292, 8, 52), 1B Ross Gload, (.288, 7, 51), C John Buck (.222, 18, 48), SS Tony Pena Jr. (.267, 2, 47).

Rotation: RH Gil Meche (9-13, 3.67 ERA), RH Brian Bannister (12-9, 3.87), RH Zack Greinke, (7-7, 3.69), John Bale (1-1, 4.05), RH Brett Tomko (2-11, 5.80 with Dodgers; 2-1, 4.61 with San Diego).

Closer: RH Joakim Soria (2-3, 2.48, 17/21 saves).

Hot Spot: Offense. The Royals did little to upgrade a punchless lineup that was last in the league by far with 102 home runs. They added only Guillen, who has a potent bat but brings a history of strained relations with previous managers. Can he get along with Hillman?

AL WEST

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

2007: 94-68, first place.

Manager: Mike Scioscia (ninth season).

Projected Lineup: 3B Chone Figgins (.330, 3 HRs, 58 RBIs, 41 steals in 115 games), DH-LF Gary Matthews Jr. (.252, 18, 72), LF-DH Garret Anderson (.297, 16, 80), RF Vladimir Guerrero (.324, 27, 125), CF Torii Hunter (.287, 28, 107 with Minnesota), 2B Howie Kendrick (.322, 5, 39 in 88 games), 1B Casey Kotchman (.296, 11, 68), C Mike Napoli (.247, 10, 34) or Jeff Mathis (.211, 4, 23), SS Maicer Izturis (.289, 6, 51) or Erick Aybar (.237, 1, 19).

Rotation: RH John Lackey (19-9, AL-best 3.01 ERA, staff-high 224 innings; likely to miss at least a month with strained right triceps), RH Jered Weaver (13-7, 3.91), RH Jon Garland (10-13, 4.23 with White Sox), RH Ervin Santana (7-14, 5.76), LH Joe Saunders (8-5, 4.44) or RH Dustin Moseley (4-3, 4.40 in 46 games, including 8 starts). RH Kelvim Escobar (18-7, 3.40; out indefinitely with shoulder injury).

Closer: RH Francisco Rodriguez (5-2, 2.81, 40/46 saves).

Hot Spot: Shortstop. New Angels general manager Tony Reagins, who took over when Bill Stoneman retired in October, dealt Cabrera to the White Sox for Garland. That means the Angels figure to have a drop-off both offensively and defensively at shortstop, where Izturis and Aybar are competing for the starting job.

SEATTLE MARINERS

2007: 88-74, second place.

Manager: John McLaren (first full season).

Projected Lineup: CF Ichiro Suzuki (.351, 6 HRs, 68 RBIs, 238 hits, 111 runs, 37 SBs), DH Jose Vidro (.314, 6, 59), LF Raul Ibanez (.291, 21, 105), 3B Adrian Beltre (.276, 26, 99, 41 2Bs), 1B Richie Sexson (.205, 21, 63), RF Brad Wilkerson (.234, 20, 62 with Texas), C Kenji Johjima (.287, 14, 61), 2B Jose Lopez (.252, 11, 62), SS Yuniesky Betancourt (.289, 9, 67).

Rotation: LH Erik Bedard (13-5, 3.16 ERA, 221 Ks in 182 IP with Baltimore), RH Felix Hernandez (14-7, 3.92), RH Carlos Silva (13-14, 4.19 with Minnesota), LH Jarrod Washburn (10-15, 4.32), RH Miguel Batista (16-11, 4.29).

Closer: RH J.J. Putz (6-1, 1.38, 40/42 saves, 82Ks, 13 BBs).

Hot Spot: Setup relief. Seattle traded OF Adam Jones and LH George Sherrill, its best left-handed reliever, to get Bedard. The bullpen has no proven left-handers to set up Putz besides LH Arthur Rhodes, who is 38 and hasn't pitched in two years. He is six weeks ahead of recovery schedule following ligament replacement surgery last May. Another move to shore up the bullpen could be imminent.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

2007: 76-86, third place.

Manager: Bob Geren (second season).

Projected Lineup: RF Travis Buck (.288, 7 HRs, 34 RBIs), 2B Mark Ellis (.276, 19, 76), 3B Eric Chavez (.240, 15, 46), DH Mike Sweeney (.260, 7, 38), 1B Daric Barton (.347, 4, 8 in 72 ABs; .293, 9, 70 at Triple-A), LF Jack Cust (.256, 26, 82, 105 BBs) or Emil Brown (.257, 6, 62), SS Bobby Crosby (.226, 8, 31), CF Carlos Gonzalez (.288, 17, 86 at Double-A and Triple-A), C Kurt Suzuki (.249, 7, 39).

Rotation: RH Joe Blanton (14-10, 3.95 ERA), RH Rich Harden (1-2, 2.45 in 25 2-3 IPs), RH Justin Duchscherer (3-3, 4.96 in 17 relief appearances), LH Lenny DiNardo (8-10, 4.11), RH Chad Gaudin (11-13, 4.42) or LH Dana Eveland (1-0, 14.40 in 5 IPs; 1-0, 1.65 in 9 minor league appearances).

Closer: RH Huston Street (5-2, 2.88, 16/21 saves).

Hot Spot: GM Billy Beane decided he didn't have enough to compete in the power-packed AL so he decided to trade his ace, Haren, and best hitter, Swisher, as part of a rebuilding plan. Oakland got a boatload of prospects in the two deals and this year will begin to show whether Beane chose wisely in his deals.

TEXAS RANGERS

2007: 75-87, fourth place.

Manager: Ron Washington (second season).

Projected Lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler (.263, 20 HRs, 61 RBIs, 96 runs, 23 SBs), SS Michael Young (.315, 9, 94), CF Josh Hamilton (.292, 19, 47 with Cincinnati), 3B Hank Blalock (.293, 10, 33), DH Milton Bradley (.306, 13, 37 with Oakland and San Diego), LF David Murphy (.340, 2, 14), RF Marlon Byrd (.307, 10, 70), C Gerald Laird (.224, 9, 47), 1B Ben Broussard (.275, 7, 29 with Seattle).

Rotation: RH Kevin Millwood (10-14, 5.16 ERA), RH Vicente Padilla (6-10, 5.76), RH Jason Jennings (2-9, 6.45 with Houston), LH Kason Gabbard (6-1, 4.64 with Boston and Texas), RH Luis Mendoza (1-0, 2.25). RH Brandon McCarthy (5-10, 4.87, starting season on disabled list).

Closer: LH C.J. Wilson (2-1, 3.03, 12/14 saves).

Hot Spot: Catcher. Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a 22-year-old switch-hitter, split the starting job for the final two months last season after Saltalamacchia came over from Atlanta in the Mark Teixeira deal. The Rangers then had Laird, the opening-day starter last season, and Saltalamacchia compete for the starting job this spring. The Rangers decided that Laird did enough to be the starter and optioned Saltalamacchia to Triple-A Oklahoma, where they want him to play every day.