American League Preview
By Jim Lachimia

Silly Red Sox. They believed they would be on even terms with the Yankees. Of course, that was before the Bronx Bombers landed a haymaker by acquiring the game's best player on the eve of spring training.

Only the Yankees could lose Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and David Wells, a combined 659 lifetime victories, and come out of it okay. Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez will ease the pain, and A-Rod and Gary Sheffield will add sizzle to an already star-studded line-up.Don't expect the Red Sox to go down without a fight. Boston now has three potential 20-game winners in Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Curt Schilling, plus they added a bona fide closer in Keith Foulke ...The Blue Jays have a pair of Triple Crown candidates in Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells. Toronto could contend if Pat Hentgen, Ted Lilly and Miguel Batista pitch well in support of reigning Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, Lou Piniella has vowed his Devil Rays won't finish last. He could be right if the team's young pitchers develop the way outfielders Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli and Aubrey Huff have.The Orioles added power with Javy Lopez, Miguel Tejada and Rafael Palmeiro, but the O's have pitching issues despite Sidney Ponson's return.

Playoff Contenders
New York, Boston and Toronto

The folks in Kansas City are fired up because their team is favored to win the AL Central. The Royals haven't made the playoffs since they won the Series with George Brett and Bret Saberhagen in 1985.

Veteran catcher Benito Santiago will help bring out the best in KC's young pitchers, and the Royals have plenty of offense with newly acquired Juan Gonzalez leading the way along with Mike Sweeney and Carlos Beltran, Chicago underachieved last season with Jerry Manuel at the helm. Now the White Sox hope new skipper Ozzie Guillen can do what Tony Pena has done in Kansas City. Losing Bartolo Colon certainly hurts, and it's still hard to believe Esteban Loaiza was one of baseball's best pitchers last year.Minnesota's reign as the top team in the division is over. Losing closer Eddie Guardado and set-up man LaTroy Hawkins turned the Twins into also-rans, Detroit has brought in established veterans such as Pudge Rodriguez, Fernando Vina and Rondell White, but do the math. The Tigers could improve by almost 20 games and still lose 100, The Indians will continue to let young players gain experience in the majors. The problem is there are way too many of them, and the Tribe is still in that awkward growing stage.

Playoff Contenders
Kansas City and Chicago

Anaheim stood pat after winning the World Series in '02, and that turned out to be a mistake as manager Mike Scioscia's club went 77-85 last year. New owner Arte Moreno's willingness to spend has the Angels back.

Signing outfielders Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen and pitchers Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar cost Moreno more than $140 million. But the moves give the Angels a roster more talented than the one they used to capture the World Championship two years ago. The past two seasons, Seattle had a great first half, then bellyached when management didn't make significant additions at the July trading deadline. As a result, Oakland overtook the Mariners on the way to the division title on both occasions. Nonetheless, Seattle remains a well-balanced club capable of contending...The Athletics' window of opportunity is closing since they have lost two MVPs, Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada, in the span of three years. Saves leader Keith Foulke has also departed, and the Oakland offense has become below average.The Rangers traded away Alex Rodriguez and failed to improve a pitching staff that gave up more runs than Detroit last season. That doesn't sound like a recipe for success, does it?

Playoff Contenders
Anaheim, Seattle and Oakland

Jim Lachimia spent 14 years in media relations with the Piratesand Kansas City Royals. He is currently editor of the Pirates' monthly On Deck magazine.