Sports | Rays

Rays/MLB

AL Central outlook

By Times Staff Writer
Published April 2, 2006

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2005: 99-63, 1st, World Series champs.

MANAGER: Ozzie Guillen.

PAYROLL: $97-million.

KEY ADDITIONS: DH Jim Thome, RHP Javier Vazquez.

KEY LOSSES: CF Aaron Rowand, DH Frank Thomas, OF Carl Everett.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

LF Scott Podsednik .290, 0 HR, 25 RBIs.

2B Tadahito Iguchi .278, 15, 71.

DH Jim Thome .207, 7, 30.

1B Paul Konerko .283, 40, 100.

RF Jermaine Dye .274, 31, 86.

C A.J. Pierzynski .257, 18, 56.

3B Joe Crede .252, 22, 62.

SS Juan Uribe .252, 16, 71.

CF Brian Anderson .176, 2, 3.

ROTATION: LHP Mark Buehrle, RHP Jose Contreras, RHP Jon Garland, RHP Freddy Garcia, RHP Javier Vazquez.

CLOSER: RHP Bobby Jenks.

BOTTOM LINE: Assuming Thome can get back to his old self, the Sox should have more offense with just as much pitching.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2005: 93-69, 2nd.

MANAGER: Eric Wedge.

PAYROLL: $57-million.

KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Paul Byrd, 1B Eduardo Perez.

KEY LOSSES: RHP Kevin Millwood, LF Coco Crisp.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Grady Sizemore .289, 22 HR, 81 RBIs.

LF Jason Michaels .304, 4, 31.

SS Jhonny Peralta .292, 24, 78.

DH Travis Hafner .305, 33, 108.

C Victor Martinez .305, 20, 80.

1B Ben Broussard .255, 19, 68.

2B Ron Belliard .284, 17, 78.

3B Aaron Boone .243, 16, 60.

RF Casey Blake .241, 23, 58.

ROTATION: LHP C.C. Sabathia, RHP Jake Westbrook, LHP Cliff Lee, RHP Paul Byrd, RHP Jason Johnson.

CLOSER: RHP Bob Wickman.

BOTTOM LINE: Losing Millwood hurt, but one of the majors' best core groups should be a year older and a year better.

MINNESOTA TWINS

2005: 83-79, 3rd.

MANAGER: Ron Gardenhire.

PAYROLL: $63-million.

KEY ADDITIONS: 2B Luis Castillo, 3B Tony Batista, DH Rondell White.

KEY LOSS: RF Jacque Jones.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

LF Shannon Stewart .274, 10 HR, 56 RBIs.

2B Luis Castillo .301, 4, 30.

C Joe Mauer .294, 9, 55.

DH Rondell White .313, 12, 53.

CF Torii Hunter .269, 14, 56.

1B Justin Morneau .239, 22, 79.

3B Tony Batista .263, 27, 90 (Fukuoka, Japan).

RF Michael Cuddyer .263, 12, 42.

SS Jason Bartlett .241, 3, 16.

ROTATION: LHP Johan Santana, RHP Brad Radke, RHP Carlos Silva, RHP Kyle Lohse, RHP Scott Baker.

CLOSER: RHP Joe Nathan.

BOTTOM LINE: The Twins can match pitchers with any team in the majors but last season were last in the league in runs.

DETROIT TIGERS

2005: 71-91, 4th.

MANAGER: Jim Leyland.

PAYROLL: $80-million.

KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Todd Jones, LHP Kenny Rogers.

KEY LOSSES: LF Rondell White, RHP Kyle Farnsworth.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

CF Curtis Granderson .272, 8 HR, 20 RBIs.

2B Placido Polanco .331, 9, 56.

C Ivan Rodriguez .276, 14, 50.

RF Magglio Ordonez .302, 8, 46.

DH Dmitri Young .271, 21, 72.

LF Craig Monroe .277, 20, 89.

SS Carlos Guillen .320, 5, 23.

1B Chris Shelton .299, 18, 59.

3B Brandon Inge .261, 16, 72.

ROTATION: LHP Kenny Rogers, RHP Jeremy Bonderman, LHP Mike Maroth, LHP Nate Robertson, RHP Justin Verlander.

CLOSER: RHP Todd Jones.

BOTTOM LINE: The Tigers will be tough on offense, but a lack of pitching depth will sink the ship.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2005: 56-106, 5th.

MANAGER: Buddy Bell.

PAYROLL: $47-million.

KEY ADDITIONS: RF Reggie Sanders, 2B Mark Grudzielanek.

KEY LOSS: LF Terrence Long.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

CF David DeJesus .293, 9 HR, 56 RBIs.

2B Mark Grudzielanek .294, 8, 59.

DH Mike Sweeney .300, 21, 83.

RF Reggie Sanders .271, 21, 54.

1B Doug Mientkiewicz .240, 11, 29.

LF Emil Brown .286, 17, 86.

3B Mark Teahen .246, 7, 55.

SS Angel Berroa .270, 11, 55.

C John Buck .242, 12, 47.

ROTATION: RHP Scott Elarton, RHP Joe Mays, LHP Jeremy Affeldt, RHP Denny Bautista, RHP Runelvys Hernandez.

CLOSER: RHP Ambiorix Burgos.

BOTTOM LINE: With ace Zack Greinke still dealing with personal issues and closer Mike MacDougal out for a month with a right arm strain, things already look bleak.

[Last modified April 2, 2006, 01:24:20]

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