AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Baltimore Orioles (Sarasota, Fla.)
The Orioles spent a good part of the off-season trying to make sure slugger Chris Davis didn’t get away and finally struck a deal for $161 million. Keeping catcher Matt Weiters and reliever Darren O’Day were astute moves as well, and the pending addition of former Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo would be a boost for the starting rotation.
Boston Red Sox (Fort Myers, Fla.)
The Red Sox welcome manager John Farrell back and he will try to get the team back on track after a disjointed 2015 season. The move of Hanley Ramirez from shortstop to left field proved disastrous so he will give first base a crack. The rotation and bullpen were upgraded considerably with David Price and Craig Kimbrel, respectively.
New York Yankees (Tampa, Fla.)
Much was made about the Yankees abandoning past practices and declining to sign a free agent. They did acquire Starlin Castro from the Cubs to play second base and added Reds closer Aroldis Chapman to the back end of a ridiculously deep bullpen already featuring Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.
Tampa Bay Rays (Port Charlotte, Fla.)
Corey Dickerson was acquired from Colorado to play left field, leaving Desmond Jennings to find a niche after an injury-plagued 2015 season. Lefty Matt Moore finally looked like himself in September after returning from Tommy John surgery, but that same procedure is expected to keep Alex Cobb sidelined for most of the season. A big trade with Seattle netted shortstop Brad Miller and first baseman/outfielder Logan Morrison.
Toronto Blue Jays (Dunedin, Fla.)
Having finally broken through to the playoffs in 2015, the Blue Jays are counting on outfielder Michael Saunders (knee) and second baseman Devon Travis (shoulder) to bounce back from injuries and keep the momentum going. It also will help if shortstop Troy Tulowitzki returns to the offensive force he was in Colorado before coming over in a blockbuster trade.