EAST DIVISION

1. NEW YORK YANKEES

Arrivals: SP Randy Johnson, SP Carl Pavano, SP Jaret Wright, 2B Tony Womack, 1B Tino Martinez, RP Felix Rodriguez, 2B Rey Sanchez, RP Mike Stanton.

Departures: SP Jon Lieber, SP Javier Vazquez, SP Orlando Hernandez, SP Esteban Loaiza, 2B Miguel Cairo, 1B Tony Clark, P Bret Prinz, 2B Enrique Wilson.

On the way up: By virtue of their payroll and their preference for buying the best at any position, the Yankees are forever fielding players at or just past their peak. But it appears Hideki Matsui is growing more comfortable with the U.S. game.

On the way out: Tom Gordon hit every bat in Boston in the American League championship series, so he could quickly lose his grip as setup man. He has pitched better in spring, but the Yankees don’t generally gauge players by their spring play. Bernie Williams is in the final year of his contract.

Story lines: Jason Giambi plays back from injuries and a bottom-drops-out winter. They’ll take him back in New York, where he’ll be the designated hitter and split time at first base with Tino Martinez, but it will be tough on the road, and Giambi is a sensitive sort. Johnson takes on the big city for the first time in his career, trying to save a team that last year won 101 games and was within two outs of the World Series.

At Angel Stadium: July 21-24.

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2. BOSTON RED SOX

Arrivals: SP Matt Clement, SS Edgar Renteria, SP David Wells, SP John Halama, SP Wade Miller, RP Matt Mantei, OF Jay Payton.

Departures: SP Pedro Martinez, SP Derek Lowe, SS Orlando Cabrera, 2B Pokey Reese, RF Gabe Kapler, RP Terry Adams, SP Pedro Astacio, DH Ellis Burks, RP Ramiro Mendoza, RP Mike Myers, SP Billy Traber, RP Scott Williamson, RP Curtis Leskanic, RP Byung-Hyun Kim, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, OF Dave Roberts.

On the way up: Bronson Arroyo is the unknown in an overhauled rotation that headlines Curt Schilling, Wells and Clement. With Miller expected to sit out at least the first month of the season and Schilling to skip a start or two, Arroyo follows Wells and Clement in early series against the Yankees.

On the way out: After stripping away the likes of Cabrera, Martinez and Lowe in their World Series afterglow, the Red Sox could have themselves another off-season project. Center fielder Johnny Damon, first baseman Kevin Millar, third baseman Bill Mueller and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield can be free agents in November.

Story lines: Life has changed in Boston, where the local nine went the better part of a century without a World Series title. They’ve moved some pieces, lost some personality, but have enough to challenge the Yankees in an October series.

At Angel Stadium: Aug. 18-21.

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3. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Arrivals: RF Sammy Sosa, RP Scott Kline, RP Steve Reed, 2B Enrique Wilson, SP James Baldwin.

Departures: SP Omar Daal, DH David Segui, LF Marty Cordova, RP Buddy Groom, INF Jerry Hairston, INF Jose Leon, C Robert Machado.

On the way up: Opportunity and lack of injury afforded David Newhan his best season. In 95 games, he batted .311, hit eight home runs and had 54 RBIs. He played the outfield, designated hitter, third base and first base last season, and apparently will see more of the same.

On the way out: An interesting swap for Sosa, who had 35 home runs last season, his fewest since 1997. He left one middling franchise (the Chicago Cubs) for another, one hitters’ park (Wrigley Field) for another (Camden Yards), and the result, apparently, was his loss of fluency in English, if the Congressional hearing on steroid use in baseball was any indication. Sosa, at 36, has some game left, but it goes to waste here. In 16 major league seasons, Sosa has 53 postseason at-bats, a shame.

Story lines: The Orioles will score runs with nearly anyone, but the best they could do for their pitching staff over the winter was a minor league contract for Baldwin. Lee Mazzilli could be the first manager to go if the Orioles can’t stay with the Yankees and Red Sox in the division, which they probably won’t.

At Angel Stadium: Aug. 2-4.

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4. TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Arrivals: 3B Corey Koskie, SP Scott Schoeneweis, 1B Shea Hillenbrand, SS John McDonald, C Gregg Zaun.

Departures: 1B Carlos Delgado, LF Dave Berg, RP Valerio De Los Santos, RP Kevin Frederick, SS Chris Gomez, C Kevin Cash, SS Chris Woodward.

On the way up: Russ Adams arrived from triple-A in September, took over at shortstop, and batted .306 in 22 games. He’ll start there this season. Roy Halladay appears ready to show the form that won him the 2003 Cy Young Award, when he had 22 victories and a 3.25 earned-run average. He was sidelined two months last season because of a tired arm, the result of a rigorous off-season program. Halladay cut back on his winter workouts and had a terrific spring.

On the way out: In Eric Hinske, the Blue Jays have a corner infielder who hasn’t hit for two years. He has two seasons left -- at $3.5 million and $5 million -- and they’ll listen to all offers.

Story lines: The owners of the Blue Jays say they will commit $210 million for payroll -- over the next three years. That’s better than it was but they’re probably in the wrong division for economy. Ted Rogers, president of Rogers Communications, which owns the club, said in February, “We’re the only team in Canada. Let’s not have it fail.” Not quite “You Gotta Believe!”

At Angel Stadium: Aug. 15-17.

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5. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

Arrivals: 1B Travis Lee, SS Alex S. Gonzalez, IF Nick Green, SP Denny Neagle, SP Hideo Nomo, DH Josh Phelps, OF Michael Restovich, CF Chris Singleton, C Kevin Cash, RP Casey Fossum.

Departures: 1B Tino Martinez, SP John Halama, 2B Rey Sanchez, C Brook Fordyce, INF Geoff Blum, SP Todd Ritchie, 3B Damian Rolls, RP Jorge Sosa.

On the way up: The Mets traded Scott Kazmir to the Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano and fans in Queens were irate. By the end of the season, Kazmir had started seven times for the Devil Rays, his ERA was 5.67, and still fans were unhappy. People get worked up over 21-year-old left-handers with top-of-the-rotation stuff, and pretty soon Omar Minaya had replaced General Manager Jim Duquette. That’s how good Kazmir is.

On the way out: Roberto Alomar, Danny Bautista, Marty Cordova. A funny thing happened as the Devil Rays tried again at mixing in a few veterans: They all retired. Cordova didn’t even make it to camp. On March 19, Alomar and Bautista quit within an hour of each other.

Story lines: In at least a couple of divisions, the Devil Rays would have reason to hope. But they can’t match talent or payrolls with the top-end Yankees and Red Sox, and probably never will.

At Angel Stadium: Aug. 5-7, Sept. 23-25.