NEW YORK YANKEES (Last year's record, finish: 97-65, first)

Pitchers/all report: Thursday/Feb. 20

Key additions: P Kei Igawa, P Andy Pettitte, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, P Luis Vizcaino.

Key losses: P Randy Johnson, OF-1B Gary Sheffield, P Cory Lidle, P Jaret Wright.

Player to watch: 3B Alex Rodriguez. A lot was made of A-Rod’s “down” year (.290, 35 HR, 121 RBI) and his 1-for-14 showing in the playoffs. How will fans treat him in 2007?

Reasons to hope: The rotation, badly needing to be reworked, added Pettitte from Houston and Igawa from Japan. … The Yankees still have more offense than anybody, and should threaten to score at least 900 runs.

Reasons to mope: If Pettitte continues to be plagued by elbow problems, Igawa struggles and Carl Pavano – remember him? – can’t get healthy the rotation might be worse off. … Rogers Clemens decides to sign with Boston instead of returning to New York or Houston.

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TORONTO BLUE JAYS (87-75, second)

Pitchers/all report: Saturday/Feb. 22

Key additions: DH Frank Thomas, P John Thomson, SS Royce Clayton, P Tomo Ohka, P Victor Zambrano, OF-DH Matt Stairs.

Key losses: UTIL Frank Catalanotto, P Ted Lilly, C Bengie Molina, P Justin Speier.

Player to watch: OF Vernon Wells. The Blue Jays locked up Wells before he could be a free agent at the end of the season. Can he handle the pressure of a $126 million contract?

Reasons to hope: Thomas continues where he left off in Oakland and gives the Blue Jays the best middle of the order in baseball with Wells and Troy Glaus. … P A.J. Burnett, who went 9-5 in the second half, builds on that to become a reliable No. 2.

Reasons to mope: The rest of the rotation behind Burnett and Roy Halladay remains a disaster. … Thomas and Glaus, two fragile players, end up on the disabled list for long periods.

BOSTON RED SOX (86-76, third)

Pitchers/all report: Feb. 18/Feb. 22

Key additions: P Daisuke Matsuzaka, RF J.D. Drew, SS Julio Lugo, P Joel Pineiro, P Brendan Donnelly, P J.C. Romero.

Key losses: 2B Mark Loretta, OF Trot Nixon, P Keith Foulke, SS Alex Gonzalez.

Player to watch: P Jon Lester. The pride of Bellarmine Prep had his rookie season cut short by cancer. After six chemotherapy sessions, he’s been declared cancer-free and is working to get back on the mound.

Reasons to hope: With the offseason additions, the rotation and lineup are equal to any in baseball.

Reasons to mope: Matsuzaka ends up pitching like Hideki Irabu. … Pineiro, scheduled to contend for the closer’s role, implodes like he has done in recent seasons in Seattle. … Manny Ramirez gets into a funk, demands a trade – and means it.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (70-92, fourth)

Pitchers/all report: Thursday/Feb. 20

Key additions: 1B-3B Aubrey Huff, OF Jay Payton, P Jaret Wright, P Danys Baez, P Jamie Walker, P Chad Bradford.

Key losses: P Bruce Chen, P Rodrigo Lopez, P Chris Britton, P LaTroy Hawkins.

Player to watch: Huff. He’s hit at least 20 homers in five straight seasons and is being counted on to do at least that for the Orioles, who are desperate for offense.

Reasons to hope: The bullpen was remade with the additions of Baez, Walker and Bradford. … Pitching coach Leo Mazzone’s young charges show progress in the second year under him.

Reason to mope: Despite their improvements, the Orioles still play in the East.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS (61-101, fifth)

Pitchers/all report: Saturday/Feb. 22

Key additions: 3B Akinori Iwamura, SS-2B Brendan Harris.

Key losses: P Travis Harper, OF Damon Hollins, P Brian Meadows.

Player to watch: RF Delmon Young. You know about the hype and the bat throwing incident but did you know the 21-year-old hit .317 with 13 extra-base hits in just 126 at-bats last year? He should be the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year.

Reasons to hope: Iwamura, who hit .300 in Japan, should help the infield defense. He’s a six-time winner of Japan’s gold glove. … The Rays are stocking young talent, such as Young, Carl Crawford and Scott Kazmir.
Reasons to mope: There’s not ENOUGH talent overall, which is death in this division. … The bullpen looks like a holding bin for castoffs, retreads and never-will bes.