The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
30°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

East Division

Designated hitter David Ortiz continues to power the Boston Red Sox at the plate. (Associated Press)
Designated hitter David Ortiz continues to power the Boston Red Sox at the plate. (Associated Press)

Boston Red Sox

2013 record: 97-65, first place (World Series champions).

Hot spots: The Red Sox began spring training planning to have two rookies in the starting lineup, SS Xander Bogaerts and CF Jackie Bradley Jr. Bogaerts started all six World Series games against St. Louis at 3B and moved to SS to replace Stephen Drew, who became a free agent. Bradley competed to take over for Jacoby Ellsbury, who signed a seven-year contract with the New York Yankees after batting .298 with 52 steals as the leadoff hitter. But Grady Sizemore, who missed the past two seasons with right knee and back injuries that required surgery, has remained healthy and outplayed Bradley.

Outlook: After their third World Series championship in 10 years, the Red Sox stuck with the strategy that worked last offseason. They resisted giving free agents expensive, long-term contracts and signed Edward Mujica for two years and A.J. Pierzynski, Sizemore and Chris Capuano for one year each. The rotation is the same group of solid veterans led by Jon Lester. The bullpen is deep with the addition of Mujica. The lineup remains potent with David Ortiz and Mike Napoli providing power. The defense took a hit when Ellsbury and Drew left, but Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino are outstanding fielders. Still, the Red Sox won’t take anyone by surprise after their stunning rebound last year from a 69-93 record.

Tampa Bay Rays

2013 record: 92-71, 2nd place, lost to Boston in division series.

Hot spots: With little roster turnover in the offseason, the Rays entered spring training with fewer than usual battles for jobs. Most of the change has come in the bullpen, where Grant Balfour was brought as the closer and Heath Bell is looking to get his career back on track after struggling the past two seasons with the Marlins and Diamondbacks.

Outlook: The budget-minded Rays don’t have the financial capability of A.L. East rivals Red Sox and Yankees, but principal owner Stuart Sternberg spent generously this winter – boosting payroll to about $80 million, a team record – to ensure most of the key components of a team that won 92 games and made the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons remained together. With David Price anchoring one of the strongest starting rotations in baseball and Evan Longoria and Wil Myers providing a powerful one-two punch in the middle of the batting order, the Rays feel they not only have what it takes to get back to the playoffs but win the World Series.

Baltimore Orioles

2013 record: 85-77, third place (tie).

Hot spot: Tommy Hunter is likely to get the nod at closer as the fill-in for Jim Johnson, who was traded. Hunter has little experience as a closer but owns a 100 mph fastball.

Outlook: By signing Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz after the start of spring training, Baltimore solidified the rotation and improved its offense. Baltimore led the majors in HRs in 2013, and the addition of Cruz should enable the team to keep on slugging even if Chris Davis experiences an inevitable drop off after hitting a career-high 53 last year.

New York Yankees

2013 record: 85-77, third place (tie).

Hot spot: The Yankees will have an infield that is completely different than last year’s opening-day group. Mark Teixeira is returning from wrist surgery that limited him to 15 games last season; Derek Jeter played just 17 games because of a broken ankle, and the soon-to-be 40-year-old shortstop’s range is greatly diminished; the oft-injured Brian Roberts has not played more than 60 games at second base in any of the past four seasons; and Kelly Johnson has started just 16 games at the hot corner in his eight-year career. Expect to see Brendan Ryan, one of the best fielding shortstops in baseball, replace Jeter in late innings.

Outlook: The Yankees committed $471 million on free agents, including the $20 million payment to RHP Masahiro Tanaka’s Japanese team, hoping the shopping spree has the same payoff as their last pricey offseason after missing the playoffs did: a World Series championship. That could be difficult. Jeter, the last remaining member of the Core Four, is about to begin his retirement tour after missing nearly all of last season and career saves leader Mariano Rivera has already hung up his cutter.

Toronto Blue Jays

2013 record: 74-88, fifth place.

Hot spot: Brandon Morrow made just 10 starts last season before being shut down by a nerve problem in his forearm. If the former first-round pick can finally turn in a complete season of elite performance, it would be a massive boost to Toronto’s suspect rotation.

Outlook: Having failed to add reinforcements through trades or free agency, the Blue Jays will make another run for the playoffs with a roster strikingly similar to that of 2013, when a much-touted team turned in a disappointing last-place finish.