Spring training site
Goodyear, Ariz.
2008 record
81-81, third in AL Central (7.5 games behind White Sox)
New faces
RHP Kerry Wood (free agent, Cubs); IF Mark DeRosa (trade, Cubs); RHP Carl Pavano (free agent, Yankees); IF Luis Valbuena (trade, Mariners); RHP Juan Salas (trade, Rays)
Biggest offseason acquisition
Wood will try to stop what became a revolving door at closer in Cleveland last season that swung between Joe Borowski, Rafael Betancourt, Jensen Lewis, Masa Kobayashi, and on and on.
Gone but not forgotten
OF Franklin Gutierrez (trade, Mariners)
Spring training battles
The rotation after Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona is brand new in reclamation project Carl Pavano, former Cardinal Anthony Reyes and a host of players going for No. 5. The likely winner will be lefty Aaron Laffey, but Jeremy Sowers and a few others will get a look. The corner outfield spots have a minor battle in camp, which should be won by Ben Francisco and South Korea's Shin-Soo Choo.
Projected lineup
- CF Grady Sizemore
- 3B Mark DeRosa
- C-1B Victor Martinez
- DH Travis Hafner
- SS Jhonny Peralta
- RF Shin-Soo Choo
- 1B Ryan Garko or C Kelly Shoppach
- LF Ben Francisco
- 2B Asdrubal Cabrera
Projected starting rotation
- LHP Cliff Lee
- RHP Fausto Carmona
- RHP Carl Pavano
- RHP Anthony Reyes
- LHP Aaron Laffey
Projected bullpen
- RHP Kerry Wood (closer)
- RHP Rafael Betancourt
- LHP Rafael Perez
- RHP Jensen Lewis
- RHP Masa Kobayashi
- RHP Joe Smith
- RHP Matt Herges
Biggest strength
This team will go as far as the bounce-backs of Martinez and Hafner can take them. That's a solid top five in the batting order if healthy. And this team's bullpen could be the best in the AL not playing in Fenway Park.
Glaring weakness
Counting on Pavano and Reyes could be problematic, and Asdrubal Cabrera is a utility infielder disguised as a starter.
