AL baseball preview

By Bill Shaikin

March 26, 2011 12 AM PT

EAST

BOSTON RED SOX

2010: 89-73, third

Last year in playoffs: 2009

The Carl Crawford-Adrian Gonzalez duo should cost the Red Sox $300 million, a steep price for the keys to reviving what could be baseball’s most dynamic lineup. The Red Sox stole 68 bases last year, when Jacoby Ellsbury was injured. But Ellsbury stole 70 by himself in 2009 and Crawford has stolen 50 five times. J.D. Drew, in his 14th and possibly last year, has yet to play a 150-game season.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

CF J. Ellsbury

2B D. Pedroia

LF C. Crawford

1B A. Gonzalez

3B K. Youkilis

DH D. Ortiz

RF J. Drew

C J. Saltalamacchia

SS M. Scutaro

Starting rotation

J. Lester (L)

J. Lackey (R)

C. Buchholz (R)

J. Beckett (R)

D. Matsuzaka (R)

Closer

J. Papelbon (R)

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2010: 96-66, first

Last year in playoffs: 2010

The Rays won the AL East two of the past three years, but the bill comes due for a team that had to give away tickets to fill its domed stadium in the September stretch. The Rays lost Crawford, pretty much their entire bullpen and Carlos Pena, who hit 144 home runs from 2007 to 2010. They might have the best starters in the division, but Manny Ramirez might not have much bat speed left, assuming he cares.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

2B B. Zobrist

LF J. Damon

3B E. Longoria

DH M. Ramirez

RF M. Joyce

CF B. Upton

1B D. Johnson

SS R. Brignac

C J. Jaso

Starting rotation

D. Price (L)

J. Shields (R)

W. Davis (R)

J. Niemann (R)

J. Hellickson (R)

Closer

K. Farnsworth (R)

NEW YORK YANKEES

2010: 95-67, second

Last year in playoffs: 2010

The Yankees have a $200-million payroll, so who is Ivan Nova and why is he the No. 4 starter? He started his spring with a 1.29 earned-run average, including a six-inning, no-hit outing. Oh, and Cliff Lee spurned Yankees bucks. The Yankees led the majors in runs last year, with Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira all hitting at least 29 home runs.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

LF B. Gardner

SS D. Jeter

1B M. Teixeira

3B A. Rodriguez

2B R. Cano

DH J. Posada

RF N. Swisher

CF C. Granderson

C R. Martin

Starting rotation

CC Sabathia (L)

A. Burnett (R)

P. Hughes (R)

I. Nova (R)

F. Garcia (R)

Closer

M. Rivera (R)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

2010: 66-96, fifth

Last year in playoffs: 1997

The Orioles haven’t posted a winning record since 1997, but they finished last season by going 34-23 under new Manager Buck Showalter. The Orioles imported aging sluggers Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero to support their young pitchers and reduce the offensive burden on hyped youngster Matt Wieters. They also added Mark Reynolds, who has struck out 200 times three years running.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

2B B. Roberts

RF N. Markakis

1B D. Lee

DH V. Guerrero

LF L. Scott

CF A. Jones

3B M. Reynolds

C M. Wieters

SS J. Hardy

Starting rotation

J. Guthrie (R)

B. Matusz (L)

J. Arrieta (R)

B. Bergesen (R)

C. Tillman (R)

Closer

K. Gregg (R)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

2010: 85-77, fourth

Last year in playoffs: 1993

Jose Bautista hit 59 home runs in four years, then led the major leagues with 54 last year, at age 29. Fluke? The Blue Jays bet $65 million that the answer is no. The Jays could apply the $70 million saved by trading Vernon Wells toward a youth movement already producing catcher J.P. Arencibia, the Pacific Coast League MVP, and pitcher Kyle Drabek, the prospect prize in the Roy Halladay trade.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

CF R. Davis

SS Y. Escobar

3B J. Bautista

1B A. Lind

2B A. Hill

DH E. Encarnacion

LF T. Snider

RF J. Rivera

C J. Arencibia

Starting rotation

R. Romero (L)

K. Drabek (R)

B. Cecil (R)

J. Reyes (L)

J. Litsch (R)

Closer

J. Rauch (R)

CENTRAL

MINNESOTA TWINS

2010: 94-68, first

Last year in playoffs: 2010

Joe Mauer hit one home run in the first five weeks, Justin Morneau did not play after the All-Star break and Joe Nathan did not pitch last season. The Twins still won the AL Central, for the sixth time in nine years. The Twins are breaking in a middle infield duo of shortstop Alexi Casilla, at second base last year, and second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka, in Japan last year.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

CF D. Span

2B T. Nishioka

C J. Mauer

1B J. Morneau

LF D. Young

DH J. Kubel

RF M. Cuddyer

3B D. Valencia

SS A. Casilla

Starting rotation

C. Pavano (R)

F. Liriano (L)

N. Blackburn (R)

B. Duensing (L)

S. Baker (R)

Closer

J. Nathan (R)

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2010: 88-74, second

Last year in playoffs: 2008

The happy-go-lucky Adam Dunn has powered up in relative obscurity, averaging 40 homers over the past seven years, all but six weeks of that time spent with Cincinnati and Washington teams that never posted a winning record. The White Sox want to win, urgently. They’ll start without Jake Peavy, expected to return to the disabled list after winning 10 games in his first 20 months in Chicago.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

LF J. Pierre

2B G. Beckham

DH A. Dunn

1B P. Konerko

CF A. Rios

RF C. Quentin

C A. Pierzynski

SS A. Ramirez

3B B. Morel

Starting rotation

M. Buehrle (L)

J. Danks (L)

G. Floyd (R)

E. Jackson (R)

P. Humber (R)

Closer

M. Thornton (L)

DETROIT TIGERS

2010: 81-81, third

Last year in playoffs: 2006

The Tigers spent $50 million on DH Victor Martinez and $16.5 million on setup man Joaquin Benoit. The top two starters are excellent, but Rick Porcello is 22, Phil Coke was a reliever last year and Brad Penny has not been both healthy and effective since 2007. The key is Triple Crown candidate Miguel Cabrera, effectively on MLB probation after allegedly driving drunk this spring.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

CF A. Jackson

2B W. Rhymes

RF M. Ordonez

1B M. Cabrera

DH V. Martinez

SS J. Peralta

LF R. Raburn

C A. Avila

3B B. Inge

Starting rotation

J. Verlander (R)

M. Scherzer (R)

R. Porcello (R)

P. Coke (L)

B. Penny (R)

Closer

J. Valverde (R)

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2010: 67-95, fifth

Last year in playoffs: 1985

Zack Greinke told the Royals he couldn’t wait for a winner. He is 27. The Royals have the deepest farm system in baseball, with third baseman Mike Moustakas, a former Chatsworth High star, leading a charge to 2012 and beyond. With Greinke traded, Luke Hochevar (5.60 career ERA) starts the opener for the Royals, who gave up the most runs and made the most errors of any AL team last year.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

3B M. Aviles

2B C. Getz

DH B. Butler

1B K. Ka’aihue

CF M. Cabrera

LF A. Gordon

RF J. Francoeur

C B. Pena

SS A. Escobar

Starting rotation

L. Hochevar (R)

J. Francis (L)

K. Davies (R)

B. Chen (L)

V. Mazzaro (R)

Closer

J. Soria (R)

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2010: 69-93, fourth

Last year in playoffs: 2007

The Indians traded back-to-back Cy Young winners, and it’s showtime for the prospects received in return. Outfielder Michael Brantley and first baseman Matt LaPorta came for CC Sabathia in 2008; pitcher Carlos Carrasco was part of the Cliff Lee package in 2009. The best prospect the Indians netted via trade: catcher Carlos Santana, acquired from the Dodgers for Casey Blake in ’08.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

CF M. Brantley

SS A. Cabrera

RF S. Choo

C C. Santana

DH T. Hafner

2B O. Cabrera

1B M. LaPorta

LF A. Kearns

3B J. Hannahan

Starting rotation

F. Carmona (R)

J. Masterson (R)

C. Carrasco (R)

M. Talbot (R)

J. Tomlin (R)

Closer

C. Perez (R)

WEST

TEXAS RANGERS

2010: 90-72, first

Last year in playoffs: 2010

The Rangers lost ace Cliff Lee and cleanup batter Vladimir Guerrero from the first World Series team in club history. The new cleanup batter is Adrian Beltre, who has hit at least 25 home runs in four of the past five years. MVP Josh Hamilton hit .359 last year, .369 with men in scoring position, .390 at home and .401 off right-handers.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

2B I. Kinsler

SS E. Andrus

LF J. Hamilton

3B A. Beltre

RF N. Cruz

DH M. Young

1B M. Moreland

C Y. Torrealba

CF J. Borbon

Starting rotation

C.J. Wilson (L)

C. Lewis (R)

M. Harrison (L)

T. Hunter (R)

D. Bush (R)/ M. Kirkman (L)

Closer

N. Feliz (R)

ANGELS

2010: 80-82, third

Last year in playoffs: 2009

The Angels scored 202 fewer runs in 2010 than they did in 2009, and they’ll start this year with their best hitter — Kendrys Morales — on the disabled list. They’ll need surprising production from a weak bottom half of the lineup to prevent opposing starters from speeding into the eighth and ninth innings. Every starter but Joel Pineiro is a fly-ball pitcher, so the stellar outfield defense should help.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

3B M. Izturis

2B H. Kendrick

DH B. Abreu

RF T. Hunter

LF V. Wells

SS E. Aybar

1B M. Trumbo

C J. Mathis

CF P. Bourjos

Starting rotation

J. Weaver (R)

D. Haren (R)

E. Santana (R)

J. Pineiro (R)

S. Kazmir (L)

Closer

F. Rodney (R)

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

2010: 81-81, second

Last year in playoffs: 2006

Oakland’s starters posted a 3.47 ERA last year, the best mark by any American League rotation in 20 years. The A’s rebuilt their outfield with trades for David DeJesus and Josh Willingham, their new No. 3 and No. 4 batters, who combined for 20 home runs last season. DH Hideki Matsui batted .125 with one extra-base hit in his first 48 spring at-bats.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

CF C. Crisp

1B D. Barton

RF D. DeJesus

LF J. Willingham

DH H. Matsui

C K. Suzuki

2B M. Ellis

3B K. Kouzmanoff

SS C. Pennington

Starting rotation

T. Cahill (R)

B. Anderson (L)

G. Gonzalez (L)

D. Braden (L)

B. McCarthy (R)

Closer

B. Fuentes (L)

SEATTLE MARINERS

2010: 61-101, fourth

Last year in playoffs: 2001

The Mariners scored fewer runs last year than any team in a full season since 1971, when pitchers still batted and the Mariners did not exist. The offense was so odious that Felix Hernandez went 13-12 and still won the Cy Young Award. Milton Bradley opened last season as the No. 4 hitter. He batted .205. He opens this season as the No. 3 hitter.

Starting lineup

(in projected batting order)

RF I. Suzuki

3B C. Figgins

LF M. Bradley

DH J. Cust

1B J. Smoak

C M. Olivo

CF F. Gutierrez

2B J. Wilson

SS B. Ryan

Starting rotation