A.L. East
NEW YORK YANKEES
Incoming: P Randy Johnson, P Carl Pavano, P Jaret Wright, 2B Tony Womack, 1B Tino Martinez, P Mike Stanton.
Outgoing: P Javier Vasquez, P Orlando Hernandez, P Jon Lieber, OF Kenny Lofton, 2B Miguel Cairo.
411: A revitalized and drastically reworked pitching staff boasts a fearsome threesome in Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano to go with a bullpen with October’s best closer, Mariano Rivera.
911: Jason Giambi is a pulsing question mark and his backup is slumbering Tino Martinez. Bernie Williams is fading as a center fielder.
Operator: Whether he’s hitting leadoff, batting second, stealing bags or hitting town, shortstop Derek Jeter remains the catalyst of the Yankees.
Hotline: The first team in baseball history to win 100 games without a pitcher winning 15 now has three pitchers capable of winning 20 to go with an offense boasting two MVP-quality hitters in Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield.
2004 finish: 101-61, division title
BOSTON RED SOX
Incoming: SS Edgar Renteria, P Matt Clement, P Wade Miller, P David Wells, P Matt Mantei.
Outgoing: P Pedro Martinez, SS Orlando Cabrera, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, P Derek Lowe.
411: Still giddy from their first World Series title in 86 years, the Red Sox still boast the best offense in baseball and added Edgar Renteria to an improving defense.
911: Curt Schilling won’t be ready for opening day, Wade Miller not for a few months, and Matt Clement can be flaky. So the revamped pitching staff doesn’t have the reliability the Sox claim.
Operator: Newly named captain of the Sox, catcher Jason Varitek is the bosom’s ballast — an integral part of the offense and the rock for the pitching staff.
Hotline: The Red Sox have led the majors in runs scored for two consecutive seasons and in doing so again will give pitchers ample slack to develop and eventually dominate.
2004 finish: 98-64, World Series Champion
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Incoming: OF Sammy Sosa, P Steve Kline, P Steve Reed.
Outgoing: UT Jerry Hairston Jr., OF Marty Cordova, P Buddy Groom.
411: A record-setting offense last season gets even more sock with the addition of Sammy Sosa.
911: Pitching staff tied for the fewest homers allowed in A.L., yet gave up the sixth-most runs in the league. No reinforcements have arrived as the O’s are content to try out-slugging the opposition.
Operator: Shortstop Miguel Tejada blasted apart the franchise record with 150 RBI in `04, leading the team with 34 homers and playing every day.
Hotline: Either upgrade the pitching or request transfer to the A.L. West; the Orioles have too much offense to be bad, but aren’t good enough in Yanks-Sox country.
2004 finish: 78-84
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
Incoming: 1B Josh Phelps, 1B Travis Lee, P Casey Fossum.
Outgoing: 1B Tino Martinez, OF Jose Cruz Jr., 2B Rey Sanchez.
411: The vibrancy of youth abounds with Carl Crawford (23), Rocco Baldelli (23), pitcher Scott Kazmir (21) and B. J. Upton (20) on his way.
911: Interest is waning as other expansion teams have playoff berths in their belt by now. All the Rays have is promise.
Operator: Outfielder Crawford led the A.L. with 59 steals and is rapidly developing into a complete-package player.
Hotline: The lowest payroll in baseball plays in the division with two of the highest payrolls and can’t thrive by youth alone.
2004 finish: 70-91
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Incoming: 1B Shea Hillenbrand, P Billy Koch, 3B Corey Koskie, P Scott Schoeneweis.
Outgoing: 1B Carlos Delgado, SS Chris Gomez, P Pat Hentgen.
411: The departure of Carlos Delgado leaves an already offensively challenged team in a decided lurch.
911: Much of the pitching staff returns, and so could its feast or flameout ways. Jays threw 11 shutouts, second in the A.L., but also allowed 10 or more runs in 16 games.
Operator: Roy Halladay is an injury-marred season removed from winning a Cy Young. His health could climb Jays out of cellar.
Hotline: The plan is to leap into the competitive A.L. East better armed with a bigger budget, but general manager J.P. Ricciardi has not established a clear direction.
2004 finish: 67-94