Major League Baseball

AL East preview
1. Toronto Blue Jays
uWhy theyre enthused: The offseason additions have sent a message to players that the Blue Jays are serious about contending. Their lineup, with newcomers Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio at the top of the batting order, has tablesetters who can help manufacture runs, as well as big boppers such as Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. And the rotation has gotten a major boost from the acquisition of Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. This is a team primed to advance to the postseason for the first time since 1993. uWhy theyre worried: Erstwhile ace Ricky Romero had the worst ERA (5.77) of any qualifying starter in the majors last season, and he hasnt looked much better this spring. Dickey was a career journeyman until his magical season in 2012, and theres no certainty the 38-year-old knuckleballer will perform at that level again, especially in the American League East. Closer candidates Casey Janssen and Sergio Santos are coming off surgery, and the rest of the bullpen is not totally settled. uKid in play: Anthony Gose got an extended taste of the majors last year, playing all three outfield positions and doing some good things, like stealing 15 bases in 56 games. Gose, 22, will have to bide his time while the Blue Jays decide whether Colby Rasmus, who had 23 homers last season but batted .223, is the long-term answer in center field. uFollow this guy: @JoeyBats19. Bautista tweets bilingually with a heavy focus on photographs. uThe end game: A balanced lineup and strong rotation should end Torontos two-decades-long wait for a playoff spot. In a balanced division where its impossible to forecast the last-place team with any certainty, the Blue Jays still should rise above the fray.

USA TODAY Sports Jorge L. Ortiz looks at the American League East, in order of projected finish: 3. Boston Red Sox 4. Baltimore Orioles 5. New York Yankees

uWhy theyre enthused: The uWhy theyre enthused: Top Rays led the majors with a 3.19 ERA starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchlast season and, after trading James holz have been healthy and sharp in Shields and Wade Davis, still look the spring, both with ERAs under primed to have a strong staff with 1.00. There has been considerably the likes of Cy Young Award winner less drama this spring with new David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, manager John Farrell than last year Matt Moore and Alex Cobb. Offenunder Bobby Valentine. The bullpen sive centerpiece Evan Longoria, has three pitchers with closing who missed 88 games last season, experience in newcomer Joel Hanis healthy again. Enigmatic shortrahan, Andrew Bailey and Alfredo stop Yunel Escobar could thrive in Aceves. the Rays loose environment. uWhy theyre worried: DesiguWhy theyre worried: Losing nated hitter David Ortiz (sore heels) your leading home run and RBI will start the season on the disabled man (B.J. Upton) is no way to imlist, leaving a big void in a lineup prove an offense that ranked 11th that is not as fearsome as in the in the league in runs. James Loney, past. Its hard to know what to the projected starter at first, has expect from fifth starter John Lackaveraged nine home runs over the ey, who is coming back from Tomlast three seasons. Closer Fernando my John elbow surgery. Free agent Rodney threw more high-intensity acquisitions Shane Victorino and innings in the World Baseball Clas- Mike Napoli are coming off down sic than most teams would like and seasons. Will they bounce back might pay for it later. under the Boston scrutiny? uKid in play: Wil Myers showed uKid in play: Jackie Bradley Jr. a solid all-around game before has been the talk of camp with his being sent down and will be the hot bat (.444 batting average), Rays trump card if they need an speed and ability to make plays all offensive boost. over the field. A Myers, acquired in natural center fieldan offseason trade er, Bradley, 22, has with Kansas City, been playing left banged out the and could stick with second-most home the big club as it runs in the minors seeks to find offense last season with 37. in Ortizs absence. He should be makuFollow this ing his major league guy: @middledebut by June. brooks. Young third uFollow this baseman Will Midguy: @RaysJoe dlebrooks engages Maddon. One of the fans and teammates games most inwith equal aplomb. By Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports novative managers, uThe end game: Tampa Bays Wil Myers Joe Maddon shares Its safe to say the behind-the-scenes Red Sox will be better than last stories with his customary wit. year, when they went 69-93 and uThe end game: The Red Soxs finished last for the first time since David Ortiz says the Rays are like 1992. How much better will demoles, always making their move pend on whether their pitching underground. With strong pitchstaff, which had the leagues thirding as a constant, Tampa Bay will worst ERA in 2012 at 4.70, makes a contend for its fourth playoff spot in dramatic turnaround. The early six years. signs are encouraging.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

uWhy theyre enthused: BaltiuWhy theyre enthused: Secmore has an enviable core of posiond baseman Robinson Cano, ention players in Adam Jones, Nick tering the final year of his contract, Markakis, Matt Wieters and Manny was a line-drive machine in the Machado, who were factors in last World Baseball Classic and looks set years breakthrough season. Second to have a huge season. The starting baseman Brian Roberts, who rotation is solid with veterans CC missed most of the 2012 season Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Andy with concussion-like symptoms, Pettitte followed by Phil Hughes has swung the bat well and report- and Ivan Nova or David Phelps. ed no problems. Mariano Rivera is back. uWhy theyre uWhy theyre worried: The likeliworried: Where to hood of regression start? Injuries to to the mean is exCurtis Granderson, tremely high for a Mark Teixeira and club that went 29-9 Alex Rodriguez in one-run games have decimated a and 16-2 in extra once-potent lineup, innings last season, and Derek Jeters then didnt change continuing recovery the roster much. from a broken ankle By Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Theres no acehas deprived them quality pitcher on of their spiritual New Yorks Derek Jeter the staff, so Jason leader. The ownerHammel likely will get the opening- ships newfound frugality has made day start even though he would be it more difficult to replace departa No. 3 on other teams. A number of ing players and to make up for bad players who had breakthrough contracts. Pettitte, Kuroda, Jeter, seasons in 2012 Chris Davis, Jim Rivera and Ichiro Suzuki are all 38 Johnson, Miguel Gonzalez and or older. Pedro Strop dont have much of a uKid in play: At 28, Ronnier track record of sustained success. Mustelier hardly qualifies as a kid, uKid in play: Kevin Gausman, but the rookie has played his way last Junes fourth overall draft pick into the Yankees plans with his bat out of LSU, has had an impressive and versatility. The Cuban defector spring and might have positioned joined the organization in 2011 and himself to get called up if a starter has hit at every level, including a falters or gets hurt. Gausman has .324 batting average in the Grapebeen throwing in the mid-90s with fruit League. Mustelier is not a good secondary pitches. polished fielder but can play third uFollow this guy: @SimplyAJ10. base and the outfield, which enhances his chances. Jones is one of the leagues most uFollow this guy: @Joba_62. active tweeters and shares many of Reliever Joba Chamberlains enthuhis meals with the hashtag #Staysiastic tweets suggest his excitable Hungry. mound demeanor is no act. uThe end game: It wasnt until uThe end game: Its hard to the last week of 2012 that the imagine the Yankees finishing last Orioles went over the break-even after they led the AL with 95 wins mark in runs scored and allowed, last season, but the combination of and they finished at plus seven. Though some of their young players injuries, an aging roster and the improvement of their division rivals will improve, too many things points in that direction. This is a would have to go right for them to team in need of fresh blood. avoid coming down to the pack.