East
Boston Red Sox
2016: 93-69, first place, lost to Cleveland in ALDS.
Manager: John Farrell (fifth season).
He's Here: LHP Chris Sale, RHP Tyler Thornburg, 1B Mitch Moreland.
He's Outta Here: DH David Ortiz, 3B Travis Shaw, RHP Clay Buchholz, RHP Koji Uehara, RHP Junichi Tazawa, RHP Brad Ziegler, C Ryan Hanigan, C Bryan Holaday, 3B-2B Aaron Hill.
Projected Lineup: 2B Dustin Pedroia (.318, 15 HRs, 74 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.295, 2, 14 in 34 games), RF Mookie Betts (.318, 31, 113, All-Star), SS Xander Bogaerts (.294, 21, 89, All-Star), DH Hanley Ramirez (.286, 30, 111), CF Jackie Bradley (.267, 26, 87, All-Star), 3B Pablo Sandoval (.000, 0, 0 in 3 games before season-ending shoulder surgery; .245, 10, 47, .658 OPS, 126 games in 2015), 1B Mitch Moreland (.233, 22, 60, Gold Glove with Texas), C Sandy Leon (.310, 7, 35).
Rotation: RH Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.15 ERA, 189 Ks, AL Cy Young Award winner), LH Chris Sale (17-10, 3.34, 233 Ks, All-Star with White Sox), LH Eduardo Rodriguez (3-7, 4.71, 100 Ks), LH Drew Pomeranz (11-12, 3.32, 186 Ks with Padres and Red Sox, NL All-Star), RH Steven Wright (13-6, 3.33, All-Star), LH David Price (17-9, 3.99, 228 Ks, likely to start season on disabled list with sore elbow).
Outlook: It will take a while to get used to life without Ortiz, but Boston's young core of Betts, Bradley and Bogaerts certainly puts the Red Sox among the early favorites in the American League. How far they go will depend upon how well the new-look rotation performs, how Sandoval looks after sitting out nearly all of last season, and whether the lineup remains as potent without Big Papi's game-changing left-handed bat.
Toronto Blue Jays
2016: 89-73, tied for second place, wild card, lost to Cleveland in ALCS.
Manager: John Gibbons (fifth season).
He's Here: DH Kendrys Morales, INF-OF Steve Pearce, LHP J.P. Howell, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Mat Latos, INF-OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., RHP Glenn Sparkman.
He's Outta Here: 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Michael Saunders, LHP Brett Cecil, RHP Joaquin Benoit, RHP R.A. Dickey, RHP Scott Feldman, C Dioner Navarro, C Josh Thole.
Projected Lineup: 2B Devon Travis (.300, 11 HRs, 50 RBIs in 101 games), 3B Josh Donaldson (.284, 37, 99), RF Jose Bautista (.234, 22, 69 in 116 games), DH Kendrys Morales (.263, 30, 93 with Kansas City), SS Troy Tulowitzki (.254, 24, 79), 1B Steve Pearce (.288, 13, 35 in 85 games with Baltimore and Tampa Bay), C Russell Martin (.231, 20, 74), LF Melvin Upton Jr. (.238, 20, 61 with San Diego and Toronto) or Ezequiel Carrera (.248, 6, 23 in 270 ABs), CF Kevin Pillar (.266, 7, 53).
Rotation: RH Aaron Sanchez (15-2, AL-leading 3.00 ERA), LH J.A Happ (20-4, 3.18), RH Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48), RH Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37), LH Francisco Liriano (8-13, 4.69 with Pittsburgh and Toronto).
Outlook: After losing in the ALCS each of the past two seasons, Toronto hopes to take the next step in 2017 and reach its first World Series since 1993, when Joe Carter's home run gave the Blue Jays the second of back-to-back titles. To get to the Fall Classic, Toronto will have to overcome the loss of Encarnacion, the slugger who signed with AL champion Cleveland. The Blue Jays will hope for a bounce-back year from Bautista, hobbled by foot and knee injuries last season, and a power boost from Morales as he moves into hitter-friendly Rogers Centre.
Baltimore Orioles
2016: 89-73, tied for second place, lost wild-card game to Toronto.
Manager: Buck Showalter (eighth season).
He's Here: C Welington Castillo, OF Seth Smith, RHP Logan Verrett, OF Aneury Tavarez, OF Anthony Santander, RHP Gabriel Ynoa.
He's Outta Here: C Matt Wieters, RHP Yovani Gallardo, OF Steve Pearce, LHP Brian Duensing, OF Nolan Reimold, RHP Vance Worley, RHP Tommy Hunter, OF Drew Stubbs, LHP T.J. McFarland.
Projected Lineup: LF Hyun Soo Kim (.302, 6 HRs, 22 RBIs), CF Adam Jones (.265, 29, 83), 3B Manny Machado (.294, 37, 96), 1B Chris Davis (.221, 38, 84, MLB-high 219 Ks), DH Mark Trumbo (.256, MLB-best 47 HRs, 108), RF Seth Smith (.249, 16, 63 with Seattle), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.267, 25, 82), C Welington Castillo (.264, 14, 68 with Arizona), SS J.J. Hardy (.269, 9, 48).
Rotation: RH Kevin Gausman (9-12, 3.61 ERA, 174Ks), RH Dylan Bundy (10-6, 4.02, 104 Ks), RH Ubaldo Jimenez (8-12, 5.44, 125 Ks), LH Wade Miley (2-5, 6.17 with Orioles; 7-8, 4.98 with Seattle), RH Tyler Wilson (4-6, 5.27).
Outlook: The Orioles intend to once again pound the opposition into submission, hoping their power-laden lineup is enough to overcome a questionable starting rotation. That's why Executive VP of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette brought back Trumbo and paid heavily to retain Davis one year earlier. Five starters hit at least 25 homers last season for a team that earned a playoff berth for the third time in five years. The theory is that the ascension of Kim to the leadoff spot and the acquisition of Smith will improve the team's ability to put runners on base ahead of those long balls.
New York Yankees
2016: 84-78, fourth place.
Manager: Joe Girardi (10th season).
He's Here: LHP Aroldis Chapman, DH-OF Matt Holliday, DH-1B Chris Carter, RHP Ernesto Frieri, INF Ruben Tejada, C Wilkin Castillo, INF Pete Kozma.
He's Outta Here: 1B Mark Teixeira, C Brian McCann, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Kirby Yates, RHP Nick Goody, INF Dustin Ackley, DH Billy Butler, OF Eric Young Jr.
Projected Lineup: LF Brett Gardner (.261, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs, 16 SBs), CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.263, 9, 56, 20 SBs), C Gary Sanchez (.299, 20, 42 in 53 games), 1B Greg Bird (missed last season following shoulder surgery; .261, 11, 31, .871 OPS in 46 games in 2015), DH-OF Matt Holliday (.246, 20, 62 with Cardinals) or DH-1B Chris Carter (.222, 41, 94, NL-high 206 Ks in 160 games with Milwaukee), 3B Chase Headley (.251, 14, 51), 2B Starlin Castro (.270, 21, 70), RF Aaron Judge (.179, 4, 10, 42 Ks, 84 ABs in 27 games), SS Ronald Torreyes (.258, 1, 12).
Rotation: RH Masahiro Tanaka (14-4, 3.07 ERA, 165 Ks), RH Michael Pineda (6-12, 4.82, 207 Ks), LH CC Sabathia (9-12, 3.91), RH Bryan Mitchell (1-2, 3.24 in 5 games), RH Luis Severino (3-8, 5.83).
Outlook: With starting shortstop Didi Gregorius (.276, 20, 70) expected to miss the first month of the season with a shoulder injury, Torreyes figures to fill in. A team in transition, the Yankees plan to start three young players in Sanchez, Bird and Judge and await the emergence of top prospects Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, James Kaprielian and Gleyber Torres. Holliday should provide more offense than Alex Rodriguez did before his August release last year. After his hot start, Sanchez cooled in late September and must show he can adjust when pitchers pound his weak spot.
Tampa Bay Rays
2016: 68-94, fifth place.
Manager: Kevin Cash (third season).
He's Here: C Wilson Ramos, OF Colby Rasmus, OF Mallex Smith, RHP Shawn Tolleson, RHP Tommy Hunter, RHP Jose De Leon, OF-INF Rickie Weeks, C Jesus Sucre.
He's Outta Here: LHP Drew Smyly, 2B Logan Forsythe, RHP Kevin Jepsen, LHP Enny Romero, RHP Steve Geltz, INF Alexei Ramirez, OF Mikie Mahtook, INF-OF Taylor Motter.
Projected Lineup: 1B Logan Morrison (.238, 14 HRs, 43 RBIs in 107 games), CF Kevin Kiermaier (.246, 12, 37, 21 SBs, Gold Glove in 105 games), 3B Evan Longoria (.273, 36, 98), 2B Brad Miller (.243, 30, 81), DH Corey Dickerson (.245, 24, 70), LF Mallex Smith (.238, 3, 22, 16 SBs in 72 games with Atlanta), SS Matt Duffy (.258, 5, 28 in 91 games with Giants and Rays) or Tim Beckham (.247, 5, 16 in 64 games), RF Steven Souza Jr. (.247, 17, 49 in 120 games), C Curt Casali (.186, 8, 25 in 64 games) or Wilson Ramos (.307, 22, 80 in 131 games with Washington).
Rotation: RH Chris Archer (9-19, 4.02 ERA, 233 Ks in 201 1/3 innings), RH Alex Cobb (1-2, 8.59 in 5 starts), RH Jake Odorizzi (10-6, 3.69), LH Blake Snell (6-8, 3.54), RH Matt Andriese (8-8, 4.37).
Outlook: The Rays have missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, but a budget-minded front office feels spending modestly in free agency to sign Ramos and Rasmus, trading for Smith and pitching prospect De Leon, and giving defensive whiz Kiermaier a six-year, $53.5 million contract will help the club escape the AL East cellar. A lingering question is whether Tampa Bay has done enough to improve the overall talent around team leader Longoria, especially since Ramos, Duffy and Boxberger figure to begin the season on the disabled list.
Central
Cleveland Indians
2016: 94-67, first place, AL champions, lost to Chicago Cubs in World Series.
Manager: Terry Francona (fifth season).
He's Here: 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Carlos Frias, OF Wily Mo Pena, CF Bradley Zimmer, SS Eric Stamets.
He's Outta Here: 1B-DH Mike Napoli, OF Coco Crisp, OF Rajai Davis, C Chris Gimenez, 1B Jesus Aguilar, OF Marlon Byrd, RHP Jeff Manship.
Projected Lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.301, 15 HRs, 78 RBIs, Gold Glove, league-leading 15 sac flies in first full MLB season), 2B Jason Kipnis (.275, 23, 82, career-high 156 games), LF Michael Brantley (.231, 0, 7 in 11 games following shoulder surgery; .310, 15, 84, MLB-best 45 doubles, 15 SBs in 2015), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.263, 42, AL-high 142 RBIs for Toronto), 1B Carlos Santana (.259, 34, 87, 99 BBs, 99 Ks), 3B Jose Ramirez (.312, 11, 76, played 4 positions) or Giovanny Urshela (.225, 6, 21 in 81 games for Cleveland), RF Brandon Guyer (.333, 2, 14 in 38 games with Indians; .241, 7, 18 in 63 games with Rays; led majors with 31 HBP) or Lonnie Chisenhall (.286, 8, 57), C Yan Gomes (.167, 9, 34 in 74 games due to shoulder injury), CF Tyler Naquin (.296, 14, 43) or Austin Jackson (.254, 0, 18 in 54 games with White Sox before left knee surgery).
Rotation: RH Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA, 227 Ks, third in Cy Young voting), RH Carlos Carrasco (11-8, 3.32, 25 starts due to injuries), RH Danny Salazar (11-6, 3.87, 25 starts, limited in postseason by injury), RH Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26, 28 starts, began season in bullpen), RH Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40, 5.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio).
Outlook: With perhaps the league's deepest pitching staff, the Indians are an AL favorite and appear poised to return to the World Series. Last year, they exceeded expectations and built a 3-1 Series lead against the Cubs before losing three straight -- including a dramatic Game 7 at home. One elusive win from the franchise's first championship since 1948. This season, the Indians will try to finish the job. There are injury concerns with Brantley and Kipnis, who won't be ready for the start of the season because of shoulder inflammation. Ramirez could slide over to help fill in at second base. But the addition of Encarnacion finally gives Cleveland the intimidating, middle-of-the-order slugger the club has coveted.
Detroit Tigers
2016: 86-75, second place.
Manager: Brad Ausmus (fourth season).
He's Here: C Alex Avila, OF Mikie Mahtook.
He's Outta Here: OF Cameron Maybin, SS Erick Aybar, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 3B Casey McGehee.
Projected Lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler (.288, 28 HRs, 83 RBIs), 3B Nicholas Castellanos (.285, 18, 58 in 110 games), 1B Miguel Cabrera (.316, 38, 108), DH Victor Martinez (.289, 27, 86), RF J.D. Martinez (.307, 22, 68 in 120 games), LF Justin Upton (.246, 31, 87), C James McCann (.221, 12, 48) or Alex Avila (.213, 7, 11 with White Sox), CF Mikie Mahtook (.195, 3, 11 with Tampa Bay) or Tyler Collins (.235, 4, 15), SS Jose Iglesias (.255, 4, 32).
Rotation: RH Justin Verlander (16-9, 3.04 ERA, 254 Ks), RH Michael Fulmer (11-7, 3.06), RH Jordan Zimmermann (9-7, 4.87), LH Daniel Norris (4-2, 3.38), LH Matt Boyd (6-5, 4.53) or RH Anibal Sanchez (7-13, 5.87).
Outlook: The Tigers have made no secret of the fact that they'll need to cut costs soon, but they've generally put off doing so. Verlander, Cabrera and Kinsler are back, and Detroit is ready to make another bid for a postseason spot. The Tigers fell just short of a wild card last season, and the team's top players aren't getting any younger, so this could be the last shot for Detroit to win big before a significant overhaul. Verlander and Cabrera are still producing like stars, and Fulmer won Rookie of the Year honors last year. If the Tigers are going to take another step forward, they'll probably need Zimmermann and Norris to perform well after both dealt with injury problems a season ago.
Kansas City Royals
2016: 81-81, third place.
Manager: Ned Yost (eighth season).
He's Here: OF Jorge Soler, RHP Jason Hammel, RHP Nathan Karns, DH Brandon Moss, LHP Travis Wood.
He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, DH Kendrys Morales, OF Jarrod Dyson, RHP Luke Hochevar, RHP Edinson Volquez.
Projected Lineup: SS Alcides Escobar (.261, 7 HRs, 55 RBIs), LF Alex Gordon (.220, 17, 40), CF Lorenzo Cain (.287, 9, 56), 1B Eric Hosmer (.266, 25, 104), DH Brandon Moss (.255, 28, 67), RF Jorge Soler (.238, 12, 31 with Cubs), 3B Mike Moustakas (.240, 7, 13), C Salvador Perez (.247, 22, 64), 2B Whit Merrifield (.283, 2, 29) or Raul Mondesi Jr. (.185, 2, 13).
Rotation: LH Danny Duffy (12-3, 3.51 ERA, 188 Ks), RH Ian Kennedy (11-11, 3.68, 184 Ks), RH Jason Hammel (11-11, 3.83 with Cubs), LH Jason Vargas (0-0, 2.25 in 3 starts after returning from Tommy John surgery), RH Nathan Karns (6-2, 5.15 with Mariners).
Outlook: Royals GM Dayton Moore thinks his starting rotation is the best it has been during his tenure, even if just about every spot is tenuous. He also thinks Kansas City has more power at the plate this year thanks to Moustakas' return from a torn ACL and the signing of Moss. But there are plenty of question marks up and down the lineup, not to mention on the pitching staff, and several things must break right for Kansas City to make noise in the AL Central and take a run at its third World Series appearance in four years.
Chicago White Sox
2016: 78-84, fourth place.
Manager: Rick Renteria (first season).
He's Here: RHP Lucas Giolito, INF Yoan Moncada, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Reynaldo Lopez, C Geovany Soto, OF Peter Bourjos.
He's Outta Here: Manager Robin Ventura, LHP Chris Sale, OF Adam Eaton, OF Austin Jackson, DH Justin Morneau, C Alex Avila, RHP Matt Albers.
Projected Lineup: CF Peter Bourjos (.251, 5 HRs, 23 RBIs in 123 games with Philadelphia), SS Tim Anderson (.283, 9, 30), LF Melky Cabrera (.296, 14, 86), 1B Jose Abreu (.293, 25, 100), 3B Todd Frazier (.225, 40, 98), RF Avisail Garcia (.245, 12, 51), DH Matt Davidson (missed much of last season with broken right foot), C Omar Narvaez (.267, 1, 10), 2B Tyler Saladino (.282, 8, 38).
Rotation: LH Jose Quintana (13-12, 3.20 ERA), RH Miguel Gonzalez (5-8, 3.73), LH Derek Holland (7-9, 4.95 ERA in 22 games with Texas), RH James Shields (6-19, 5.85 in 33 starts with Padres and White Sox), LH Carlos Rodon (9-10, 4.04).
Outlook: Lots of losses and trades. Quintana and Frazier likely will be shipped out at some point this season, and Robertson also could be on the move in the right deal. The White Sox seem fully committed to a major overhaul, and they added several prospects when they traded away Sale and Eaton over the winter. But it could be a rough couple of years while general manager Rick Hahn tries to establish a more reliable pipeline of talent throughout the organization. In the meantime, the White Sox still have Anderson, who was impressive in his first major league stint last year. Abreu is going for his fourth straight season of at least 25 homers and 100 RBIs.
Minnesota Twins
2016: 59-103, fifth place.
Manager: Paul Molitor (third season).
He's Here: C Jason Castro, RHP Matt Belisle, SS Ehire Adrianza, LHP Craig Breslow.
He's Outta Here: 3B Trevor Plouffe, C Kurt Suzuki, LHP Tommy Milone, RHP Pat Light.
Projected Lineup: CF Byron Buxton (.225, 10 HRs, 38 RBIs, 118 Ks in 298 ABs), 1B Joe Mauer (.261, 11, 49), 2B Brian Dozier (.268, 42, 99, 18/20 SBs), 3B Miguel Sano (.236, 25, 66, 178 Ks in 437 ABs), RF Max Kepler (.235, 17, 63), DH Kennys Vargas (.230, 10, 20 in 152 ABs) or Byung Ho Park (.191, 12, 24, 80 Ks in 215 ABs), LF Eddie Rosario (.269, 10, 32), C Jason Castro (.210, 11, 32 with Houston), SS Jorge Polanco (.282, 4, 27 in 245 ABs).
Rotation: RH Ervin Santana (7-11, 3.38 ERA, 149 Ks), RH Phil Hughes (1-7, 5.95, 11 HRs, 11 starts), LH Hector Santiago (3-6, 5.58, 13 HRs, 11 starts after trade with Angels), RH Kyle Gibson (6-11, 5.07, 1.561 WHIP), RH Tyler Duffey (9-12, 6.43) or RH Jose Berrios (3-7, 8.02, 14 starts) or LH Adalberto Mejia (rookie).
Outlook: The Twins ranked a respectable sixth in the American League in total bases and eighth in OPS despite their abysmal record last year. Buxton's sparkling September, following a second straight frustrating summer, restored his and the club's confidence in the 2012 second overall draft pick. Dozier probably hit his power ceiling in 2016, but if Buxton and Sano can strike out less and get on base more there's the potential in place for a productive offense. Vargas hit his way back into contention for the DH spot with a decent finish to 2016, but the pressure is on him to prove he's worth a spot in the lineup with a strong performance this spring by Park, who struggled badly to adjust to major league pitching in his arrival from South Korea last year.
West
Texas Rangers
2016: 95-67, first place, lost to Toronto in ALDS.
Manager: Jeff Banister (third season).
He's Here: 1B Mike Napoli, RHP Andrew Cashner, RHP Tyson Ross, RHP Mike Hauschild, RHP Dillon Gee.
He's Outta Here: LHP Derek Holland, CF Ian Desmond, DH Carlos Beltran, 1B Mitch Moreland, RHP Colby Lewis.
Projected Lineup: CF Carlos Gomez (.210, 5 HRs, 29 RBIs in 85 games with Astros; .284, 8, 24 in 33 games with Rangers), DH Shin-Soo Choo (.242, 7, 17), 3B Adrian Beltre (.300, 32, 104), 2B Rougned Odor (.271, 33, 88), 1B Mike Napoli (.239, 34, 101 with Indians), C Jonathan Lucroy (.299, 13, 50 in 95 games with Brewers; .276, 11, 31 in 47 games with Rangers), RF Nomar Mazara (.266, 20, 64), LF Jurickson Profar (.239, 5, 20) or Ryan Rua (.258, 8, 22), SS Elvis Andrus (.302, 8, 69, 24/32 SBs)
Rotation: LH Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.32 ERA, 200 Ks in 200 2/3 IP), RH Yu Darvish (7-5, 3.41, 132 Ks in 100 1/3 IP), LH Martin Perez (10-11, 4.39), RH A.J. Griffin (7-4, 5.07), RH Mike Hauschild (Rule 5 draft pick, 9-10, 3.22 at Triple-A Fresno).
Outlook: Texas won an AL-high 95 games last year and has taken the division title in both seasons under Banister. But over the course of 162 games, the Rangers outscored their opponents by only eight runs in 2016. They lost the big bats of Desmond, Moreland and Beltran in the offseason. The return of Napoli should help. Since going to the World Series with Texas in 2011, he's been back with two other teams. Lucroy and Gomez were big acquisitions late last season. Beltre goes into his 20th major league season 58 hits shy of 3,000, and Andrus is coming off his best offensive year. With a healthy Darvish and Hamels, the Rangers are set at the top of the rotation.
Seattle Mariners
2016: 86-76, second place.
Manager: Scott Servais (second season).
He's Here: SS Jean Segura, OF Jarrod Dyson, 1B-3B Danny Valencia, OF Mitch Haniger, LHP Drew Smyly, RHP Yovani Gallardo, C Carlos Ruiz, RHP Shae Simmons, LHP Marc Rzepczynski, RHP Casey Fien.
He's Outta Here: RHP Taijuan Walker, 1B Adam Lind, OF Nori Aoki, 1B Dae-Ho Lee, OF Franklin Gutierrez, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Nathan Karns, LHP Vidal Nuno, RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, RHP Drew Storen, C Jesus Sucre.
Projected Lineup: LF Jarrod Dyson (.278, 1 HR, 25 RBIs, 30 SBs with Royals), SS Jean Segura (.319, 20, 64, 203 hits with Diamondbacks), 2B Robinson Cano (.298, 39, 103), DH Nelson Cruz (.287, 43, 105), 3B Kyle Seager (.278, 30, 99), 1B Danny Valencia (.287, 17, 51), RF Mitch Haniger (.229, 5, 17 in 34 games with Diamondbacks), C Mike Zunino (.207, 12, 31) or Carlos Ruiz (.264, 3, 15 in 64 games with Phillies and Dodgers), CF Leonys Martin (.247, 15, 47).
Rotation: RH Felix Hernandez (11-8, 3.82 ERA in 25 starts), RH Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.12), LH James Paxton (6-7, 3.79 in 20 starts), LH Drew Smyly (7-12, 4.88 with Rays), RH Yovani Gallardo (6-8, 5.42 with Orioles).
Outlook: The Mariners completed the second phase of their remodel this past offseason. Dipoto wanted a lineup that was less reliant on the long ball and better defensively in the outfield. Segura and Dyson legitimize the top of the order and can be speedy table-setters for Cano, Cruz and Seager. The keys to scoring more will be Valencia and Haniger. Their production will determine whether Seattle actually lengthened its lineup or it essentially ends at No. 5. Hernandez appears determined to rebound from last year's average performance, and Smyly was a critical winter acquisition. Seattle has the look of a team that could improve by a few wins, which might be enough to end baseball's longest playoff drought.
Houston Astros
2016: 84-78, third place.
Manager: A.J. Hinch (third season).
He's Here: OF Josh Reddick, C Brian McCann, DH-OF Carlos Beltran, RHP Charlie Morton, OF Norichika Aoki.
He's Outta Here: C Jason Castro, RHP Pat Neshek, OF Colby Rasmus, 3B Luis Valbuena, RHP Doug Fister.
Projected Lineup: CF George Springer (.261, 29 HRs, 82 RBIs), 2B Jose Altuve (.338, 24, 96), SS Carlos Correa (.274, 20, 96), LF-DH Carlos Beltran (.295, 29, 93 with Yankees and Rangers), C-DH Brian McCann (.242, 20, 58 with Yankees), 1B Yulieski Gurriel (.262, 3, 15 in 36 games), DH-C Evan Gattis (.251, 32, 72), RF Josh Reddick (.281, 10, 37 for Athletics and Dodgers) or LF-RF Norichika Aoki (.283, 4, 28 for Seattle), 3B Alex Bregman (.264, 8, 34 in 49 games).
Rotation: LH Dallas Keuchel (9-12, 4.55 ERA, 144 Ks), RH Lance McCullers (6-5, 3.22), RH Collin McHugh (13-10, 4.34), RH Charlie Morton (1-1, 4.15 with Philadelphia), RH Mike Fiers (11-8, 4.48) or RH Joe Musgrove (4-4, 4.06).
Outlook: The Astros appear to have all the pieces necessary to make a deep postseason run and possibly even contend for a championship after narrowly missing the playoffs last season following a 7-17 start. The already-powerful lineup led by last year's AL batting champ (Altuve) and 2015 Rookie of the Year (Correa) got a boost with the addition of slugging veterans Beltran and Reddick. A key for Houston will be for Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, to rebound from a disappointing and injury-shortened 2016 season to lead the rotation.
Los Angeles Angels
2016: 74-88, fourth place.
Manager: Mike Scioscia (18th season).
He's Here: OF Cameron Maybin, 2B Danny Espinosa, INF Luis Valbuena, OF Ben Revere, RHP Jesse Chavez, C Martin Maldonado.
He's Outta Here: RHP Jered Weaver, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, INF Gregorio Petit, C Jett Bandy.
Projected Lineup: 3B Yunel Escobar (.304, 5 HRs, 39 RBIs), RF Kole Calhoun (.271, 18, 75), CF Mike Trout (.315, 29, 100), DH Albert Pujols (.268, 31, 119), 1B Luis Valbuena (.260, 13, 40 with Houston), 2B Danny Espinosa (.209, 24, 72 with Washington), LF Cameron Maybin (.315, 4, 43 with Detroit), C Carlos Perez (.209, 5, 31), SS Andrelton Simmons (.281, 4, 44).
Rotation: RH Garrett Richards (1-3, 2.34 ERA in 6 starts before elbow injury), RH Matt Shoemaker (9-13, 3.88, team-leading 143 Ks), LH Tyler Skaggs (3-4, 4.17 in 10 late-season starts), RH Ricky Nolasco (8-14, 4.42 for Twins and Angels), RH Jesse Chavez (2-2, 4.43 in 62 relief appearances for Blue Jays and Dodgers).
Outlook: The Angels come off the worst season of Scioscia's long tenure with hopes for a quick turnaround. Trout is the center of everything after winning his second MVP award, and he intends to steal more bases. Despite salary constraints caused by owner Arte Moreno's free-spending past, GM Billy Eppler plugged two holes by putting the athletic Maybin in left field, with Revere backing him up, and Orange County native Espinosa at second base.
Oakland Athletics
2016: 69-93, fifth place.
Manager: Bob Melvin (seventh season).
He's Here: 3B Trevor Plouffe, RHP Santiago Casilla, RF Matt Joyce, CF Rajai Davis, 3B Adam Rosales, LF Alejandro De Aza.
He's Outta Here: 3B Danny Valencia, CF Brett Eibner, LHP Dillon Overton.
Projected Lineup: CF Rajai Davis (.249, 12 HRs, 48 RBIs, 43 SBs with Indians), C Stephen Vogt (.251, 14, 56) or Josh Phegley (.256, 1, 10), DH Ryon Healy (.305, 13, 37), LF Khris Davis (.247, 42, 102), RF Matt Joyce (.242, 13, 42 with Pirates) or Mark Canha (.122, 3, 6 in 41 ABs), SS Marcus Semien (.238, 27, 75), 3B Trevor Plouffe (.260, 12, 47 with Twins), 1B Yonder Alonso (.253, 7, 56), 2B Jed Lowrie (.263, 2, 27).
Rotation: RH Sonny Gray (5-11, 5.69 ERA), RH Kendall Graveman (10-11, 4.11), LH Sean Manaea (7-9, 3.86), RH Jharel Cotton (2-0, 2.15 in 5 starts), RH Jesse Hahn (2-4, 6.02), RH Andrew Triggs (1-1, 4.31).
Outlook: The A's are coming off a second straight last-place finish and the worst two-year run for the franchise since 1978-79, before Billy Ball, the Bash Brothers or Moneyball. After moving top players like Josh Reddick, Rich Hill and Coco Crisp last season before losing them in free agency, this doesn't appear to be the year the A's will vault back into contention.
Sports on 03/26/2017