AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

By Ben Bolch

April 1, 2004 12 AM PT

1. NEW YORK YANKEES

Key additions: 3B Alex Rodriguez, OF Kenny Lofton and Gary Sheffield, P Kevin Brown, Tom Gordon, Donovan Osborne, Paul Quantrill and Javier Vazquez, 1B/OF Travis Lee.

Key losses: 2B Alfonso Soriano, P Roger Clemens, Chris Hammond, Jeff Nelson, Andy Pettitte and David Wells, 1B/DH Nick Johnson, 3B Aaron Boone.

Strengths: The Yankees reloaded as only they can despite plenty of brand-name departures. A rotation that lost a future Hall of Famer and his star pal to the Houston Astros added Brown and Vazquez. Two of the game’s best setup men, Gordon and Quantrill, were added to the bullpen. And an infield that lost Soriano added the biggest prize of all in Rodriguez.

Weaknesses: Tension may build between Rodriguez and shortstop Derek Jeter if Jeter struggles in the field or if Rodriguez has difficulty making the transition to third base. Osborne, out of the major leagues for three of the last four seasons, opens as a potentially suspect No. 5 starter but could give way to Jorge DePaula.

Outlook: With a very deep lineup, the Yankees should emerge with a seventh consecutive division title.

At Angel Stadium: May 18-20.

At Dodger Stadium: June 18-20.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Kenny Lofton

SS Derek Jeter

3B Alex Rodriguez

1B Jason Giambi

RF Gary Sheffield

DH Bernie Williams

LF Hideki Matsui

C Jorge Posada

2B Enrique Wilson

STARTING PITCHERS

Mike Mussina

Kevin Brown

Javier Vazquez

Jose Contreras

Donovan Osborne

BULLPEN

Mariano Rivera

Paul Quantrill

Tom Gordon

Felix Heredia

Gabe White

2. BOSTON RED SOX

Key additions: P Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke, 2B Pokey Reese, DH Ellis Burks.

Key losses: 2B Todd Walker, P John Burkett, Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Scott Sauerbeck and Jeff Suppan.

Strengths: Schilling joins what may become a rotation for the ages with the hard-throwing Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, who has a team-high 38 wins over the last two seasons. Foulke ends the closer-by-committee disaster that last season yielded 36 saves among 10 pitchers. An offense that led the major leagues with 961 runs and a .289 batting average returns.

Weaknesses: Seven players, including stars Martinez, Lowe and Nomar Garciaparra, are eligible for free agency after the season, creating a potential distraction. First-year Manager Terry Francona has a reputation for being too chummy with his players.

Outlook: The Red Sox matched the Yankees pitcher for pitcher in a classic off-season duel between the archrivals. Boston is poised to end its run of six consecutive second-place finishes but could be susceptible early with Trot Nixon (back), Byung-Hyun Kim (shoulder) and Garciaparra (Achilles’ tendon) starting the season on the disabled list.

At Angel Stadium: June 1-2, July 15-18.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Johnny Damon

3B Bill Mueller

LF Manny Ramirez

SS Nomar Garciaparra

DH David Ortiz

1B Kevin Millar

RF Trot Nixon

C Jason Varitek

2B Pokey Reese

STARTING PITCHERS

Pedro Martinez

Curt Schilling

Derek Lowe

Tim Wakefield

Byung-Hyun Kim

BULLPEN

Keith Foulke

Scott Williamson

Alan Embree

Mike Timlin

Bronson Arroyo

3. TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Key additions: P Miguel Batista, Ted Lilly, Pat Hentgen, Kerry Ligtenberg, Terry Adams, Justin Speier and Valerio De Los Santos.

Key losses: P Kelvim Escobar, Cory Lidle, Mark Hendrickson, Trever Miller and Cliff Politte, OF Bobby Kielty, SS Mike Bordick.

Strengths: The offensive onslaught should continue with Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado in the middle of an order that last season scored a franchise-record 894 runs. Ace Roy Halladay, who won 22 games last year, is as good as it gets and should compete for a second consecutive Cy Young Award.

Weaknesses: The Blue Jays remade their starting rotation and bullpen in an effort to keep pace with their record-setting offense, but questions abound. Can the often-erratic Lilly rebound? Is Hentgen an injury risk at 35 and still recovering from elbow surgery? Will Ligtenberg, Adams and Speier stabilize an unreliable bullpen?

Outlook: A rebuilt pitching staff probably isn’t going to make a difference in a division laden with juggernauts. The Blue Jays could win 90 games and still miss the playoffs. A schedule that includes no games against the Yankees until after the All-Star break might help.

At Angel Stadium: Sept. 7-9.

PROJECTED LINEUP

RF Reed Johnson

LF Frank Catalanotto

CF Vernon Wells

1B Carlos Delgado

DH Josh Phelps

3B Eric Hinske

2B Orlando Hudson

SS Chris Woodward

C Kevin Cash

STARTING PITCHERS

Roy Halladay

Miguel Batista

Ted Lilly

Pat Hentgen

Josh Towers

BULLPEN

Aquilino Lopez

Terry Adams

Kerry Ligtenberg

Justin Speier

Valerio De Los Santos

4. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Key additions: SS Miguel Tejada, 1B Rafael Palmeiro, C Javy Lopez, P Sidney Ponson and Mike DeJean, INF Mark McLemore.

Key losses: 3B Tony Batista, SS Deivi Cruz, C Brook Fordyce, P Scott Erickson, Pat Hentgen, Jason Johnson, Kerry Ligtenberg and Damian Moss.

Strengths: Emerging stars Larry Bigbie, Luis Matos and Jay Gibbons form a potentially strong outfield. Bigbie hit .323 after the All-Star break, Matos finished with a .303 average and Gibbons drove in 100 runs. Newcomers Lopez, Tejada and Palmeiro add proven run producers to a suddenly formidable lineup.

Weaknesses: Ponson was the only starter in the rotation with a winning record last season -- and he ended the season as a San Francisco Giant. Kurt Ainsworth has considerable potential, but Rodrigo Lopez, who won 15 games in 2002, lost his job to Erik Bedard. And Omar Daal opens the season on the disabled list with a sore pitching shoulder.

Outlook: The Orioles’ off-season moves might have amounted to something in a lesser division, but a .500 finish is feasible if everything falls into place.

At Angel Stadium: May 21-23, Aug. 10-12.

At Dodger Stadium: June 15-17.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Brian Roberts

3B Melvin Mora

SS Miguel Tejada

1B Rafael Palmeiro

C Javy Lopez

RF Jay Gibbons

DH David Segui

LF Larry Bigbie

CF Luis Matos

STARTING PITCHERS

Sidney Ponson

Eric DuBose

Kurt Ainsworth

Matt Riley

Erik Bedard

BULLPEN

Jorge Julio

B.J. Ryan

Buddy Groom

Mike DeJean

Rodrigo Lopez

5. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

Key additions: 1B Tino Martinez, 2B Rey Sanchez, 3B Geoff Blum, RF Jose Cruz Jr., P Mark Hendrickson, Paul Abbott, Danys Baez, John Halama, Trever Miller and Damian Moss, INF/C Robert Fick.

Key losses: 1B Travis Lee, 2B Marlon Anderson, P Joe Kennedy, DH Al Martin.

Strengths: Outfielders Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli and designated hitter Aubrey Huff give the Devil Rays three young stars to build around. Cruz brings a winning mentality and a Gold Glove to the outfield.

Weaknesses: Ace Victor Zambrano, who was 12-10 with a 4.21 ERA last year, probably would be a No. 4 starter in most rotations, though rookie Doug Waechter is capable of emerging as a front-line starter. Baez blew 10 of 35 save opportunities last season for Cleveland, though there is no assurance he will get that many chances this time around.

Outlook: The Devil Rays signed a number of veterans to fill out their lineup, but the emphasis is unmistakably on the future. When No. 1 draft picks B.J. Upton and Delmon Young (brother of the Tigers’ Dmitri) arrive for good, probably in 2005, the Devil Rays can think about making a run at .500.

At Angel Stadium: May 6-9.

PROJECTED LINEUP

LF Carl Crawford

SS Julio Lugo

CF Rocco Baldelli

DH Aubrey Huff

RF Jose Cruz Jr.

1B Tino Martinez

3B Geoff Blum

C Toby Hall

2B Rey Sanchez

STARTING PITCHERS