EAST DIVISION

BOSTON RED SOX

2007 record: 96-66 (first place)

Manager: Terry Francona (fifth season with Red Sox, 375-273; ninth season overall, 660-636)

2008 payroll: $150 million

Additions: 1B Sean Casey, RHP Bartolo Colon

Subtractions: LHP Jay Marshall, RHP Eric Gagne, RHP Matt Clement

Projected lineup: CF Jacoby Ellsbury, 2B Dustin Pedroia, DH David Ortiz, LF Manny Ramirez, 3B Mike Lowell, RF J.D. Drew, 1B Kevin Youkilis, C Jason Varitek, SS Julio Lugo

Projected rotation: RH Josh Beckett, RH Daisuke Matsuzaka, RH Tim Wakefield, LH Jon Lester, RH Clay Buchholz (RHP Curt Schilling on DL)

Closer: RH Jonathan Papelbon

Why they’ll soar: With Ellsbury replacing Coco Crisp at leadoff, offense is even better than it was in 2007.

Why they’ll sink: Ellsbury flames out; in second full season, Pedroia takes a step backward.

NEW YORK YANKEES

2007 record: 94-68 (second place)

Manager: Joe Girardi (first season with Yankees; second season overall, 78-84)

2008 payroll: $205 million

Additions: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, RHP LaTroy Hawkins

Subtractions: RHP Tyler Clippard, RHP Luis Vizcaino

Projected lineup: LF Johnny Damon, SS Derek Jeter, RF Bobby Abreu, 3B Alex Rodriguez, C Jorge Posada, DH Hideki Matsui, 1B Jason Giambi, 2B Robinson Cano, CF Melky Cabrera

Projected rotation: RH Chien-Ming Wang, LH Andy Pettitte, RH Mike Mussina, RH Phil Hughes, RH Ian Kennedy (RH Carl Pavano on D.L.)

Closer: RH Mariano Rivera

Why they’ll soar: Rodriguez has another blistering start; young starting pitchers both step up .

Why they’ll sink: Rotation deflates early and often; bats all go cold at once.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

2007 record: 83-79 (third place)

Manager: John Gibbons (fifth season, 270-266)

2008 payroll: $100 million

Additions: 2B Marco Scutaro, CF Buck Coats, SS David Eckstein, 3B Scott Rolen

Subtractions: RHP Ty Taubenheim, 3B Troy Glaus, OF Reed Johnson

Projected lineup: SS David Eckstein, RF Alex Rios, CF Vernon Wells, DH Frank Thomas, 3B Marco Scutaro, 1B Lyle Overbay, LF Matt Stairs / Shannon Stewart, 2B Aaron Hill, C Gregg Zaun

Projected rotation: RH Roy Halladay, RH A.J. Burnett, RH Dustin McGowan, RH Shaun Marcum, RH Jesse Litsch

Closer: RH Jeremy Accardo

Why they’ll soar: 3B Scott Rolen bounces back from spring injury to have major impact; Wells returns to ‘06 form.

Why they’ll sink: LHP B.J. Ryan stays out of commission and bullpen falters.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

2007 record: 69-93 (fourth place)

Manager: Dave Trembley (first full season with Orioles, 40-53)

2008 payroll: $68 million

Additions: LHP George Sherrill, C Guillermo Quiroz, RF Luke Scott, LHP Troy Patton, RHP Matt Albers, RHP Dennis Sarfate, RHP Greg Aquino

Subtractions: SS Miguel Tejada, LHP Erik Bedard

Projected lineup: 2B Brian Roberts, 3B Melvin Mora, RF Nick Markakis, 1B Kevin Millar, LF Luke Scott, C Ramon Hernandez, DH Aubrey Huff, CF Adam Jones, SS Luis Hernandez

Projected rotation: RH Jeremy Guthrie, LH Adam Loewen, RH Daniel Cabrera, RH Steve Trachsel, LH Brian Burres (or RH Matt Albers, LH Garrett Olson, RH Hayden Penn)

Closer: LH George Sherrill

Why they’ll soar: Guthrie thrives as the de facto ace; Mora, Markakis and Millar able to fill in for Tejada’s missing bat.

Why they’ll sink: Without Bedard and Tejada, lineup and rotation fall apart.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2007 record: 66-96 (fifth place)

Manager: Joe Maddon (third season with Rays, 127-197; fifth season overall, 154-221)

2008 payroll: $42 million

Additions: RHP Troy Percival, RHP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett, RF Cliff Floyd, 3B Willy Aybar

Subtractions: LF Chris Snelling, LF Delmon Young, 2B Brendan Harris, CF Jason Pridie, CF Elijah Dukes

Projected lineup: 2B Akinori Iwamura, LF Carl Crawford, 1B Carlos Pena, CF B.J. Upton, DH Cliff Floyd, RF Jonny Gomes, 3B Willy Aybar, C Dioner Navarro, SS Jason Bartlett

Projected rotation: RH James Shields, RH Matt Garza, RH Andy Sonnanstine, RH Edwin Jackson, RH Jason Hammel (LH Scott Kazmir on D.L.)

Closer: RH Troy Percival

Why they’ll soar: Percival pitches like it’s 1998; Upton takes it to a new level in his second full season.

Why they’ll sink: Without Kazmir, rotation is rocked; Iwamura lets position switch affect him.

Capsules compiled by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel