An offseason of roster shuffling in the American League has altered the outlook for many teams, but one constant remains: The New York Yankees are the favorites to win another pennant.
While some of their closest competitors lost stars and others bolstered their rosters, all the three-time defending World Series champion Yankees did was add the best pitcher on the market — Mike Mussina — to the best rotation in the league.
"It's been a long time since I wasn't considered the No. 1 starter," Mussina said. "There are four guys here who can be considered that and now we all get to pitch on the same staff."
That doesn't give much hope to the rest of league.
And that's a big reason why all seven teams that have made the postseason the past three years made major offseason additions.
AL West champion Oakland added Johnny Damon, the Central champion Chicago White Sox traded for ace David Wells, Texas gave $252 million for Alex Rodriguez, Cleveland brought in two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez, Seattle signed Japanese import Ichiro Suzuki, and Boston signed Manny Ramirez for $160 million.
But the Red Sox, looking for their first World Series title since 1918, have already hit a stumbling block as All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra could miss up to four months with an injured right wrist.
"I don't even want to think about losing Nomar for a significant amount of time because it would be really devastating for us," Pedro Martinez said.
How the newcomers fare — and how teams make up for some key departures — will play a big role in determining who will be in the best position to challenge the Yankees.
"I strongly believe this is the team to go to the World Series," said Oakland's Jason Giambi, last year's MVP.
"I don't think there's a much more talented group of guys anywhere unless it's the Yankees, and even then I'm not sure."
A look at the AL in predicted order of finish:
EAST
NEW YORK YANKEES: Added Mussina (3.79 ERA last season) to rotation that already included Roger Clemens (13-8, 3.70), Andy Pettitte (third in majors with 88 wins the past five years) and Orlando Hernandez (12-13, 4.51). Hernandez will likely start the season on the DL with an elbow injury, but the Yankees have the depth to survive that.
Throw in the game's best closer in Mariano Rivera (36 saves) and the Yankees are once again the team to beat.
There are questions for the fifth starter, right-handed setup man and Chuck Knoblauch's throwing woes, which have moved the second baseman to left field.
Also, there has been diminished production at the corners as 3B Scott Brosius (.230, 16, 64), 1B Tino Martinez (.258, 16, 91), and RF Paul O'Neill (.283, 18, 100) have shown signs of aging.
BOSTON RED SOX: Even without Garciaparra, the Red Sox still have the game's best pitcher in Martinez (18-6, 1.74) and Ramirez (.351, 38, 122) and Carl Everett (.300, 34, 108) to anchor the middle of the lineup.
It's Nomar's replacement — possibly Lou Merloni or Mike Lansing — and the rest of the rotation that raises questions. Manager Jimy Williams needs to find some combination of starters out of David Cone, Hideo Nomo, Frank Castillo, Tim Wakefield, Rolando Arrojo, Paxton Crawford and Tomo Ohka.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Struggling to tread water in same division with big-spending New York and Boston. Offseason marked by trading 20-game winner David Wells for bum-armed Mike Sirotka.
1B Carlos Delgado (.344, 41, 137) leads powerful lineup that was tops in AL with 244 homers last season. 3B Tony Batista (41 HRs), RF Raul Mondesi (24 HRs in 96 games), DH Brad Fullmer (32 HRs), OF Jose Cruz Jr. (31 HRs), OF Shannon Stewart (21 HRs), and C Darrin Fletcher (20 HRs) also provide power.
The rotation, however, remains a question. It is time for Chris Carpenter (10-12, 6.26) and Roy Halladay (4-7, 10.64) to reach their potential.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: Injuries did in Devil Rays last season as big boppers Fred McGriff, Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughn and Vinny Castilla only started 38 games together.
Spent about $14 million last season for 5 2/3 innings from Wilson Alvarez and Juan Guzman at top of rotation. But Tampa Bay's starters still ended up with best ERA in AL after May 30.
Albie Lopez (11-13, 4.13) allowed two or fewer earned runs in 16 of 24 starts, and former Mets phenom Paul Wilson might finally be healthy.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: A bad team suddenly got much worse in spring training when Albert Belle's career ended because of a hip injury.
Baseball's model franchise of the '70s has become the perfect example of how money can't buy wins. Owner Peter Angelos has spent unwisely in recent years before cutting back late last season.
CENTRAL
CLEVELAND INDIANS: Perhaps the best team in the AL by the end of the season, the Indians finished out of the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Ellis Burks (.344, 24, 96) and a healthy Juan Gonzalez should help make up for the loss of Ramirez. But then hitting hasn't been the problem in Cleveland in recent years.
Bartolo Colon (15-8, 3.88) is showing signs of developing into the consistent ace Cleveland needs. Chuck Finley (16-11, 4.17) and Dave Burba (16-6, 4.47) are solid complements to Colon.
Cleveland either needs Charles Nagy and Jaret Wright to be healthy or to get a strong rookie season from hard-throwing lefty C.C. Sabathia.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Won the most games in the AL last season and made perhaps the best offseason trade.
Dealt injured Sirotka to Toronto for Wells, one of the best big-game pitchers in the league. With James Baldwin starting the season on the DL, Wells is vital at the top of a rotation that should be helped by youngsters Kip Wells and Jon Garland.
SS Royce Clayton should help solidify a defense that contributed to 88 unearned runs last season. Clayton made 20 fewer errors than last year's starter Jose Valentin, who moves to center field.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS: The Royals sure were fun to watch last season with their potent offense and combustible bullpen that made no lead safe.
Damon will be missed sorely at top of the lineup and Royals need Carlos Beltran (.247, 7, 44) to bounce back from his sophomore slump. Mike Sweeney (.333, 29, 144), Jermaine Dye (.321, 33, 118), and Mark Quinn (.294, 20, 78) form lethal middle of lineup.
MINNESOTA TWINS: The Twins can pitch and catch, but hitting is another question.
Brad Radke (12-16, 4.45), Eric Milton (13-10, 4.86) and Mark Redman (12-9, 4.76) give manager Tom Kelly a solid top of the rotation and LaTroy Hawkins (3.39 ERA, 14 saves) leads a balanced bullpen.
Minnesota was second-to-last in runs scored in AL last season and doesn't have a single 20-homer player in the lineup despite playing in the Homerdome.
DETROIT TIGERS: Optimism from last year's move into new stadium has turned into reality of budget-cutting and player losses.
Gonzalez is gone and journeyman Billy McMillon will take his place at DH for the Tigers, who were shut out 15 times last season. Roger Cedeno's speed and on-base ability (.383) should help in spacious Comerica Park.
Jeff Weaver (11-15, 4.32) needs to show continued improvement at top of rotation and Todd Jones (42 saves) needs to match last year's All-Star campaign without setup man Doug Brocail.
WEST
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: One of the youngest teams in the game came within one bad inning of knocking the Yankees out of the playoffs last season.
Oakland should be even more talented this year with the added dimension of Damon's speed. Damon's 46 steals last season were six more than Oakland had as a team. He also will be on base in front of Giambi (.333, 43, 137) plenty of times.
Miguel Tejada (.275, 30, 115) has the bat to rival the AL's Big Three shortstops of Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra. With rookie 2B Jose Ortiz (.351, 24, 108 at Triple-A), Oakland could have the most powerful middle-infield combo in the league.
But Oakland's key resides in its young pitching staff, headed by 20-game winner Tim Hudson and 22-year-old Barry Zito (7-4, 2.72).
SEATTLE MARINERS: After losing Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr., the Mariners made it to the ALCS last season, falling to the Yankees in six games. Making up for A-Rod's bat, glove and leadership will be even tougher.
Move to Safeco Field has shifted team from waiting for the big inning to strong pitching and timely hitting. Freddy Garcia (9-5, 3.91) is turning into an ace and Aaron Sele (17-10, 4.51) is a solid second starter.
TEXAS RANGERS: Offense won't be a problem in Texas where Rodriguez (.316, 41, 132), DH Andres Galarraga (.302, 28, 100), former MVP Ken Caminiti and 2B Randy Velarde join Rafael Palmeiro (.288, 39, 120) and Ivan Rodriguez (.347, 27, 83 in 91 games) to form dangerous lineup.
Pitching is a whole other question. Rick Helling (16-13, 4.48) and Kenny Rogers (13-13, 4.55) are the only dependable starters and Tim Crabtree (5 career saves) replaces John Wetteland as closer.
ANAHEIM ANGELS: Lost 1B Mo Vaughn before the season even began. Lineup still has power, with Darin Erstad (.355, 25, 100), Troy Glaus (.284, 47, 102), Garret Anderson (.286, 35, 117) and Tim Salmon (.290, 34, 97).
Questions at first base, middle infield and starting rotation. Angels haven't had a 15-game winner in five years and a 20-game winner in 27 years.
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