Al Preview: Red Sox, Yankees battle

When the Chicago White Sox last tried to defend a World Series title, the Boston Red Sox wound up winning the 1918 championship. So who knows?

There's a good chance an unexpected team will wind up playing for the American League in the World Series. Not since the New York Yankees took four straight pennants from 1998-2001 has there been a repeat winner, so there's more to the league these days than the Yankees and the Red Sox.

"I want to prove what we did last year wasn't a one-time thing," Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzysnki said. "I was on a mission last year, and I'm on a mission again this year."

Boston hopes Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke are healthy and can bring the World Series back to Fenway Park this year. In New York, the Yankees hope -- well, make that expect -- to have games in the Bronx in late October. After all, isn't that why Johnny Damon cut his hair and switched sides in baseball's hottest rivalry?

"We're going to win it this year," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said. "We're going after it."

How is that different from any other year?

To keep the World Series flag flying in Chicago, the White Sox acquired pitcher Javier Vazquez and slugger Jim Thome. Boston reshuffled its roster after it was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the White Sox.

Then there's the youthful Cleveland Indians, who pressured the White Sox late in the season before skidding. Cleveland is trying to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1997 and to win it for the first time since 1948.

"We want to get back out there and prove we can do it," catcher Victor Martinez said.

At this point of the year, most teams think they can.

A look at the AL in predicted order of finish:

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EAST

New York Yankees

It only seems like the Yankees are ready to pass out AARP cards in their clubhouse. Most of their starting pitchers had medical issues last year: Randy Johnson (back), Mike Mussina (elbow), Carl Pavano (shoulder), Chien-Ming Wang (shoulder) and Jaret Wright (shoulder). Only midseason addition Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small were healthy. Pavano (back and buttocks) and Small (hamstring) will start the season on the disabled list.

New York will go as far as its glitzy batting order takes it. Damon, the new center fielder, tops a batting order that includes former World Series MVP Derek Jeter, former MVPs Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and Robinson Cano (the only regular starter under 30).

Mariano Rivera, entering his 10th season as closer, is the key to the Yankees' success. With Tom Gordon having left for Philadelphia, there's a new set of setup men, with Tanyon Sturtze joined by Kyle Farnsworth, left-handers Ron Villone and Mike Myers. Octavio Dotel, recovering from elbow surgery, likely will join them in June.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox had so much turmoil during the offseason that they seemed to be the Yankees. First, Theo Epstein quit as GM, then he came back.

Boston's biggest move was to acquire 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett from Florida to bolster a starting rotation that includes Schilling, David Wells, Matt Clement and Jon Papelbon. Just like last year, the health of Schilling (ankle) and closer Foulke (knees) will be key. Mike Timlin is joined in the bullpen by newcomers Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez and David Riske, and 2005 draft pick Craig Hansen could be an option if Foulke falters.

Manny Ramirez may have whined that he wanted a trade during the offseason, but he and David Ortiz remain the key to a powerful offense that led the majors in scoring and batting average. First baseman Kevin Youkilis is joined by three infield additions -- second baseman Mark Loretta, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and third baseman Mike Lowell.

Toronto Blue Jays

General manager J.P. Ricciardi had money to spend and boosted his Blue Jays from pretender to contender by signing three key free agents: starter A.J. Burnett, closer B.J. Ryan and catcher Bengie Molina. Toronto, which went 80-82 last year, could be the most improved team in the majors as it tries for its first postseason appearance since winning consecutive World Series titles in 1992-93.

Roy Halladay, the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, heads a rotation that includes Burnett (who starts the season on the DL with an elbow injury), Ted Lilly, Gustavo Chacin and Josh Towers, and Jason Frasor, Vinnie Chulk, Scott Schoeneweis and Justin Speier help set up Ryan.

They have new corners in the infield with Troy Glaus at third and Lyle Overbay at first, and Vernon Wells, Frank Catalanotto and Shea Hillenbrand are counted on to drive in the runs.

Baltimore Orioles

It was another messy offseason for a franchise that's seen better days. Sammy Sosa retired, Rafael Palmeiro retired and Ryan left. Starter Kris Benson -- now apparently Anna-less -- was acquired from the New York Mets, joining an unproven rotation that includes Rodrigo Lopez, Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera and Bruce Chen. New pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who left Atlanta, has lots of work ahead.

Shortstop Miguel Tejada remains -- frustrated over the lack of moves, he asked to be traded, then withdrew his request. LaTroy Hawkins takes over from Ryan as the closer.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Manager Lou Piniella had enough of the penny-pinching Devil Rays and quit, and Joe Maddon was hired. There's a new controlling owner (Stuart Sternberg), new general manager (Andrew Friedman), and a new nickname might follow in 2007. For now, the best thing that happened to Devil Rays fans during the offseason was the team's decision to make parking free at Tropicana Field, where a major league-low 1.1 million spectators showed up last year.

Center fielder Rocco Baldelli returns after missing last season with knee and elbow injuries. All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford and infielder Jorge Cantu, part of a pesky but undermanned lineup, are joined by new third baseman Sean Burroughs. Lefty Scott Kazmir has shown flashed of promise mixed with inconsistency. More than likely, the Devil Rays will finish last for the eighth time in their nine-season history.

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CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox

After building a 15-game lead by August, then letting Cleveland pull within 1 1/2 games before holding on, the White Sox romped through the postseason, going 11-1.

Trying to win consecutive Series titles for the first time in franchise history, the White Sox inserted Vazquez into a rotation that includes Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Joe Contreras and Jon Garland. That bodes well for a pitching staff that had the second-best ERA in the league last year behind the Indians.

Thome takes over at DH from the departed, unhappy Frank Thomas, and Brian Anderson is likely to see most of the time in center field in place of Aaron Rowand, sent to Philadelphia in the Thome deal. Rob Mackowiak, another newcomer, can play all three outfield positions and third base.

Chicago's bullpen could be its weak spot -- it was needed for just two outs in the ALCS and hard-throwing Bobby Jenks was alternately shaky and spectacular in the World Series sweep of Houston.

Cleveland Indians

A surprising stretch run fell short in the final week as young players appeared to try to do too much.

Cleveland lost a lot during the offseason, with starter Kevin Millwood, reliever Bob Howry and outfielder Coco Crisp departing. The additions don't appear to be enough to keep pace.

Paul Byrd and Jason Johnson join C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook in the rotation, and Bob Wickman stayed on as the closer after the Indians failed to sign Trevor Hoffman. Third baseman Andy Marte, acquired from Boston in the Crisp trade, could displace Aaron Boone at third.

Minnesota Twins

Winners of three straight division titles from 2002-04, Minnesota dropped to 83-79 last season when Johan Santana was left as the only consistent starting pitcher. Brad Radke, Carlos Silva and Kyle Lohse combined for just 27 wins, let down by an offense that scored a league-low 688 runs.

Second baseman Luis Castillo, third baseman Tony Batista and DH Rondell White were brought it to provide some pop and spark, but it doesn't appear to be enough to get the low-spending Twins back to the playoffs.

Kansas City Royals

Kansas City went a franchise-worst 56-106 last year, its third 100-loss season in four years, and brought in three new starters in Scott Elarton, Mark Redman and Joe Mays. The Royals also added outfielder Reggie Sanders, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz as they try to stop their stretch of consecutive losing seasons at 11.

Sanders joins Emil Brown and David DeJesus in an outfield that should provide some offense to supplement Mark Sweeney, who shifted from first base to DH.

Detroit Tigers

General manager Dave Dombrowski brought in Jim Leyland to manage following a 71-91 season that cost Alan Trammell his job. Dombrowski and Leyland put together a World Series champion in Florida in 1997, but it's unlikely they'll be able to generate a quick turnaround for a franchise that's finished with a losing record for 12 straight seasons.

Kenny Rogers joins the rotation after leaving Texas, where a tantrum in which he shoved television cameramen earned him a suspension last year. Todd Jones, who left the Tigers in 2001, is back as closer but will start the season on the disabled list with an injured left hamstring.

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WEST

Los Angeles Angels

The most puzzling aspect of the offseason in the AL was the Angels' decision not to add a big bat. They tried for Paul Konerko, who decided to stay with the White Sox, then didn't make any moves to sign Mike Piazza, who seemed to be a good fit. Piazza went to San Diego.

Jeff Weaver was added to a rotation that includes Bartolo Colon, John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar, and Francisco Rodriguez should be even better in his second season as closer.

Vladimir Guerrero again anchors an offense that had 147 homers -- 113 fewer than major league-leading Texas. Still, the Angels beat the Yankees in the playoffs for the second time in four years, and could have beaten the White Sox in the AL championship series if a few calls had gone their way.

Texas Rangers

Sensing that pitching help was needed, new general manager Jon Daniels added Kevin Millwood, Adam Eaton and Vicente Padilla, who will start along with Kameron Loe and Juan Dominguez, but Eaton will miss at least the first month because of the same finger injury that bothered him last year. Francisco Cordero, bothered by a sore shoulder that kept him out of the World Baseball Classic, probably will have Akinori Otsuka as his new setup man.

Texas hit 260 home runs, led by Mark Teixeira's 43, and Michael Young won the AL batting title, but the Rangers went 79-83, 10 fewer wins than in 2004. Rookie Ian Kinsler takes over at second from Alfonso Soriano, dealt to Washington for outfielder Brad Wilkerson.

Seattle Mariners

A second straight last-place finish and a 69-93 record caused Seattle to make some moves, but likely not enough to make the Mariners a contender. Jarrod Washburn was added to a rotation that includes Jamie Moyer, Joel Pineiro, Gil Meche and Felix Hernandez, who doesn't turn 20 until April 8. Hernandez impressed when he came up last season, going 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 84 1-3 innings.

Also added were Kenji Johjima, who becomes the first Japanese catcher in the big leagues, and DH Carl Everett.

Ichiro Suzuki, who helped Japan win the first World Baseball Classic, starts an offense that sputtered last season, when Adrian Beltre struggled in his first season with the Mariners. Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez also supply run production, and Eddie Guardado is one of baseball's better closers.

Oakland Athletics

Oakland has a deep starting rotation with Barry Zito, Rich Harden, newcomer Esteban Loaiza, Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, and a top closer in AL Rookie of the Year Huston Sreet, but an offense that was 12th in batting average doesn't seem to have gotten much better.

The primary additions were outfielder Milton Bradley and DH Thomas, available primarily because they no longer were wanted by their former clubs. It's hard to envision Oakland competing unless both have big years.

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AP Sports Writer Rick Gano contributed to this report.