Baltimore Orioles
Manager: Dave Trembley
2007: 69-93, fourth
Projected lineup: 2B Brian Roberts, 3B Melvin Mora, RF Nick Markakis, 1B Kevin Millar, DH Aubrey Huff, C Ramon Hernandez, LF Luke Scott, CF Adam Jones, SS Luis Hernandez
Projected rotation: RH Jeremy
Guthrie, LH Adam Loewen, RH Daniel
Cabrera, RH Steve Trachsel,
LH Brian Burres
Closer: LH George Sherrill
Outlook: This is yet another rebuilding year for the Orioles, who no longer can pretend they have a shot at making some noise in the division. Their rotation is young, their cleanup hitter lacks power and they've got inexperience in center field, left field, shortstop and at the helm. Trembley will enter his first full year as a major-league manager with little hope of ending Baltimore's franchise-record run of 10 straight losing seasons. With Miguel Tejada traded, the O's may enter the season with Hernandez, who promises to be one of the league's worst regulars, as the starting shortstop.

Boston Red Sox
Manager: Terry Francona
2007: 96-66, first, won World Series
Projected lineup: CF Jacoby Ellsbury, 2B Dustin Pedroia, DH David Ortiz, LF Manny Ramirez, 3B Mike Lowell, RF J.D. Drew, 1B Kevin Youkilis, C Jason Varitek, SS Julio Lugo
Projected rotation: RH Josh Beckett, RH Daisuke Matsuzaka, LH Jon Lester, RH Tim Wakefield, RH Clay Buchholz
Closer: RH Jonathan Papelbon
Outlook: The World Series winners two of the past four seasons stood pat and have several key young players who gained experience. Lowell, the Series MVP, took less money than he could have made elsewhere to stay in Boston with a new three-year contract. Pedroia, a fiery competitor who toned down some of his personality as a rookie, is more vocal now and a spark plug in the dugout. Ramirez, who's in a contract year, and Ortiz are back to supply the power in the middle of a tough lineup. Beckett (back spasms) will miss opening day, but the team isn't concerned. RH Curt Schilling (shoulder) is out until at least the all-star break.

New York Yankees
Manager: Joe Girardi
2007: 94-68, second, lost in ALDS
Projected lineup: LF-DH Johnny Damon, SS Derek Jeter, RF Bobby Abreu, 3B Alex Rodriguez, C Jorge Posada, DH-LF Hideki Matsui, 1B-DH Jason Giambi, 2B Robinson Cano, CF Melky Cabrera
Projected rotation: RH Chien-Ming Wang, LH Andy Pettitte, RH Phil Hughes, RH Mike Mussina, RH Ian Kennedy
Closer: RH Mariano Rivera
Outlook: The Yankees have pledged patience with a bunch of talented youngsters and have lost their status as heavy favorites, but missing the playoffs still would be unacceptable. The top teams in the rugged American League keep getting better, though, and a trip to the postseason is no longer a sure thing. The lineup remains loaded, but defense is a weakness besides Cabrera. The Yankees want to avoid the slow start that put them in an early hole two of the past three years, and new manager Girardi, replacing Bronx legend Joe Torre, has emphasized conditioning in spring training.

Tampa Bay Rays
Manager: Joe Maddon
2007: 66-96, last
Projected lineup: 2B Akinori Iwamura, LF Carl Crawford, CF B.J. Upton (Chesapeake), 1B Carlos Pena, DH Cliff Floyd, RF Jonny Gomes, 3B Willy Aybar, C Dioner Navarro, SS Jason Bartlett
Projected rotation: LH Scott Kazmir, RH James Shields, RH Matt Garza, RH Edwin Jackson, RH Andy Sonnanstine
Closer: RH Troy Percival
Outlook: Thanks to a deep farm system, the Rays have finally assembled enough talent on the major-league level to have reasonable expectations of escaping the division cellar. Tampa Bay, which dropped the "Devil" from its nickname this offseason, never has won more than 70 games in the club's 10-year history. The prospect for success in '08 hinges on how the young starting rotation and overhauled bullpen hold up. The offense is anchored by two exciting players in Crawford and Upton.

Toronto Blue Jays
Manager: John Gibbons
2007: 83-79, third
Projected lineup: SS David Eckstein, RF Alex Rios, CF Vernon Wells, 3B Scott Rolen, DH Frank Thomas, LF Matt Stairs, 1B Lyle Overbay, 2B Aaron Hill, C Gregg Zaun
Projected rotation: RH Roy Halladay, RH A.J. Burnett, RH Dustin McGowan, RH Shaun Marcum, RH Jesse Litsch
Closer: LH B.J. Ryan
Outlook: Hobbled by injuries (13 players combined to miss 951 games) and held back by punchless bats, the Blue Jays discovered a surprise strength in 2007 - talented young arms. If McGowan, Marcum and Litsch can pitch as well or better this year and the hitters return to form, Toronto has the talent to make the AL East interesting. The team must hope Wells, Rolen and Overbay return to form and Rios and Hill continue to improve. After putting together a lineup built to slug in 2007, the Jays ranked in the bottom half of the AL in every major offensive category.