MINNESOTA TWINS (Last year's record, finish: 96-66, first)

Pitchers/all report: Feb. 19/Feb. 24

Key additions: INF Jeff Cirillo, P Sidney Ponson, P Ramon Ortiz.

Key losses: P Brade Radke, P Willie Eyre.

Player to watch: P Matt Garza. He made it to the majors last season all the way from Single-A. With openings in the rotation, the hard-throwing 23-year-old could be there to stay.

Reasons to hope: Johan Santana remains the best pitcher in the game. … The Twins boast a solid core of young players in C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau and RF Michael Cuddyer.

Reason to mope: Besides losing Radke to retirement, the Twins are without rookie sensation Francisco Liriano for the season after he underwent elbow surgery in November. That’s a lot of pitching to have to make up.

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DETROIT TIGERS (95-67, second)

Pitchers/all report: Friday/Feb. 21

Key additions: OF-1B Gary Sheffield, P Jose Mesa.

Key losses: P Jamie Walker.

Player to watch: Sheffield. The veteran needs to show this spring that his wrist and pride are fully healed. The Tigers need him to be that consistent middle of the order threat.

Reason to hope: The team that won the AL pennant returns virtually intact.

Reason to mope: Can manager Jim Leyland work his magic again and avoid a World Series hangover? History is against the Tigers going back to the Series. No team has done it since the Yankees (2000-01).

CHICAGO WHITE SOX (90-72, third)

Pitchers/all report: Saturday/Feb. 22

Key additions: OF-1B Darin Erstad, P Gavin Floyd, C Toby Hall, P David Aardsma, P Andrew Sisco.

Key losses: P Freddy Garcia, P Brandon McCarthy, P Neal Cotts, P David Riske, 1B-OF Russ Gload.

Player to watch: Erstad. Ankle injuries limited him to 40 games with the Angels in 2006. Does he have anything left?

Reasons to hope: The offense returns six players who hit more than 18 homers. … The rotation, despite the loss of Garcia and McCarthy, has four quality starters.

Reasons to mope: The core of the team is graying – Jim Thome is 36, Jose Contreras is 35 and Jermaine Dye is 33. … Manager Ozzie Guillen is capable of doing or saying anything.

CLEVELAND INDIANS (78-84, fourth)

Pitchers/all report: Saturday/Feb. 22

Key additions: OF Trot Nixon, OF David Dellucci, P Keith Foulke, P Joe Borowski, P Aaron Fultz, P Roberto Hernandez, 2B Josh Barfield.

Key losses: 3B Aaron Boone, P Jeremy Guthrie.

Player to watch: Foulke. Knee injuries ruined his 2006 in Boston. He’s part of the new and improved bullpen but needs to show he’s healthy again.

Reasons to hope: One of the league’s worst bullpens has added four new arms. … Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are budding superstars. … The rotation has quality and depth.

Reasons to mope: Counting on injury-prone players like Fouke and Nixon to reverse their declines. … Defense at shortstop and catcher is subpar. … Tough division doesn’t help.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (62-100, fifth)

Pitchers/all report: Saturday/Feb. 22

Key additions: P Gil Meche, P David Riske, P Octavio Dotel, P Kenny Ray, P Brian Bannister, C Jason LaRue, 1B-OF Russ Gload.

Key losses: P Mark Redman, P Runelvys Hernandez, P Ambiorix Burgos, P Andrew Sisco, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, P Mike Wood.

Player to watch: 3B Alex Gordon. In his only year in the minors Gordon hit .325 with 29 homers and 101 RBI at Double-A. He’s slated to be in the opening lineup.

Reason to hope: Gordon leads a trio of young players (OF Billy Butler and P Luke Hochevar are the others) who could make an impact in 2006.
Reasons to mope: The pitching is better but not good enough. … DH Mike Sweeney is more fragile than a champagne glass. … Meche? $55 million? Seriously?