WEST DIVISION
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
2007 record: 94-68 (first place)
Manager: Mike Sciosia (ninth season, 703-593)
2008 payroll: $100 million
Additions: CF Torii Hunter, RHP Jon Garland
Subtractions: SS Orlando Cabrera, RHP Bartolo Colon
Projected lineup: 3B Chone Figgins, LF Gary Matthews Jr., RF Vladimir Guererro, DH Garret Anderson, CF Torii Hunter, 1B Casey Kotchman, 2B Howie Kendrick, C Mike Napoli/Jeff Mathis, SS Erick Aybar/Maicer Izturis
Projected rotation: RH Jon Garland, RH Jered Weaver, RH Ervin Santana, LH Joe Saunders (RH Kelvim Escobar, RH John Lackey on D.L.)
Closer: RH Francisco Rodriguez
Why they’ll soar: Hunter makes big-swinging lineup even more dynamic; Garland, Weaver hold down the fort until Lackey returns.
Why they’ll sink: Injuries to Lackey and Escobar leave rotation twisting in the wind; Hunter lost on the West Coast.
SEATTLE MARINERS
2007 record: 88-74 (second place)
Manager: John McLaren (first full season with Mariners, 43-41)
2008 payroll: $115 million
Additions: RHP Erik Bedard, RHP Carlos Silva, 2B Miguel Cairo
Subtractions: RF Jose Guillen, 1B Ben Broussard, OF Adam Jones, LHP George Sherrill
Projected lineup: CF Ichiro Suzuki, 2B Jose Lopez, LF Raul Ibanez, 3B Adrian Beltre, 1B Richie Sexson, RF Brad Wilkerson, DH Jose Vidro, C Kenji Johjima, SS Yuniesky Betancourt
Projected rotation: LH Erik Bedard, RH Felix Hernandez, RH Carlos Silva, LH Jarrod Washburn, RH Miguel Batista
Closer: RH J.J. Putz
Why they’ll soar: Bedard, Hernandez form dominating one-two punch; Ichiro excels at the plate as he does every year.
Why they’ll sink: Bedard struggles to live up to high expectations; Angels are just too good to hang with.
TEXAS RANGERS
2007 record: 75-87 (fourth place)
Manager: Ron Washington (second season, 75-87)
2008 payroll: $72 million
Additions: CF Milton Bradley, 1B Ben Broussard, CF Josh Hamilton
Subtractions: RHP Francisco Cruceta, C Guillermo Quiroz, RHP Edinson Volquez
Projected lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler, CF Josh Hamilton, SS Michael Young, DH Milton Bradley, 3B Hank Blalock, RF Marlon Byrd, 1B Ben Broussard, LF Frank Catalanotto/Kevin Mench, C Gerald Laird
Projected rotation: RH Kevin Millwood, RH Vicente Padilla, RH Jason Jennings, LH Kason Gabbard, RH Luis Mendoza
Closer: LH C.J. Wilson
Why they’ll soar: Bradley hits like he did with the Padres, minus the drama; Hamilton develops into a top-flight centerfielder; Young is his usually excellent self.
Why they’ll sink: Frayed by injuries and age, the rotation falls apart at the seams; Bradley finds himself in the middle of another soap opera.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
2007 record: 76-86 (third place)
Manager: Bob Geren (second season, 76-86)
2008 payroll: $72 million
Additions: LHP Dana Eveland, LHP Gio Gonzalez, LF Ryan Sweeney, CF Emil Brown
Subtractions: RHP Dan Haren, CF Nick Swisher, CF Mark Kotsay
Projected lineup: RF Travis Buck, 2B Mark Ellis, 1B Daric Barton, DH Jack Cust, 3B Eric Chavez, LF Emil Brown, SS Bobby Crosby, CF Chris Denorfia, C Kurt Suzuki
Projected rotation: RH Joe Blanton, RH Rich Harden, RH Chad Gaudin, RH Justin Duchscherer, LH Lenny DiNardo
Closer: RH Huston Street
Why they’ll soar: Cust comes into his own at cleanup; Harden, Blanton hold things down without Haren; Chavez finds some gas in the tank.
Why they’ll sink: Without Swisher and Haren, team founders and admits to being in full-on rebuilding mode.