AL TEAMS AT A GLANCE

Division Previews

AL WEST

OAKLAND A’S (PREVIEW, B8-9) HOUSTON ASTROS

2020: 2931, second place, lost to Rays in AL Championship Series.

Manager: Dusty Baker (second season). Outlook: The Astros seek their fourth AL West title in five seasons after keeping last year’s team that came a win shy of the World Series largely intact. They relied on a bevy of talented young pitchers to carry them in a season when ace Justin Verlander made just one start. One of those starters, LHP Framber Valdez, broke a finger on his pitching hand in spring training and could miss significant time. That leaves RHPs Lance McCullers, Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier needing to take another step forward this season with Verlander out all year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The rotation got a late boost when Houston added RHP Jake Odorizzi. The 2019 AllStar gives the Astros a veteran to pair with 37yearold RHP Zack Greinke and provide stability as some of the young arms develop. They’ll have a huge hole in the lineup after leadoff hitter and CF George Springer signed a $150 million, sixyear contract with the Blue Jays. The Astros brought back veteran OF Michael Brantley, who signed a twoyear deal to stay, and their offense should get a boost with the return of DH Yordan Alvarez. The 2019 AL Rookie of the Year is healthy after missing all but two games last season after being diagnosed with COVID19 before having knee surgery. The Astros announced in January that they would allow about 10,000 fans per game at Minute Maid Park early this season. But that could increase before Opening Day after the Texas Rangers’ decision to allow 100% capacity at their park after Gov. Greg Abbott lifted coronavirus restrictions.

SEATTLE MARINERS

2020: 2733, third place.

Manager: Scott Servais (sixth season).

Outlook: The Mariners believe they are on the cusp of contention, and this season will be the litmus test of whether that’s accurate, or if their rebuild still has more stages to come. CF Kyle Lewis is the first Rookie of the Year for Seattle since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 and combined with Gold Glove winners SS J.P. Crawford and 1B Evan White gives the Mariners a solid defensive foundation. The rotation has potential if James Paxton can rediscover his past form and if the Mariners have unearthed a gem in Chris Flexen, signed after a year in Korea. Bullpen has been remade, and along with depth of the batting order, will be key in just how competitive Seattle is in 2021. There is still the pending arrivals of prospects Jarred Kelenic, Logan Gilbert, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez on the horizon that Seattle believes could push its rebuild into being contenders. The Mariners will open the season with a capacity of 9,000 fans at TMobile Park.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

2020: 2634, fourth place.

Manager: Joe Maddon (second season). Outlook: The bigbudget Angels believe they’ve got the talent and stability to end their streaks of five losing seasons — the franchise’s longest skid since the 1970s — and six nonplayoff campaigns. Limited groups of fans at Angel Stadium next month should provide a big boost for a team that will welcome the help. With much of the AL West rebuilding or rebooting, the timing could be right for Los Angeles to get CF Mike Trout’s first playoff victory. Coming off an unimpressive year by his peerless standards, Trout is back with 3B Anthony Rendon for their first full season together. Starting pitching has been the Angels’ biggest problem for years, and new GM Perry Minasian addressed it only by acquiring Jose Quintana and Alex Cobb instead of biggername targets. Minasian is also overhauling the Halos’ awful bullpen, starting with new closer Raisel Iglesias. While they’re talented enough to win now, this also is a transition year for the Angels, with only four players under contract past 2021 — including DHP Shohei Ohtani, who will be a twoway player again after a rough 2020. Ohtani is hitting the cover off the ball in spring training, and the early results from his return to the mound are promising. This is also a probable farewell season for the 41yearold Albert Pujols, the oldest player in the majors as he hits the final summer of his 10year contract.

TEXAS RANGERS

2020: 2238, fifth place.

Manager: Chris Woodward (third season). Outlook: The Rangers are in a rebuilding mode that began last season when they finished an ALworst 2238 and traded away workhorse starters Lance Lynn and Mike Minor. There is uncertainty in a rotation that might utilize seven pitchers for five starting spots, two filled by twopitcher tandems. Jose Leclerc, coming back from a shoulder injury, was to be their closer but an elbow issue has sidelined him indefinitely. And Jonathan Hernandez, maybe the team's best reliever, is shut down from throwing until at least early April because of a ligament sprain in his right elbow. Several veterans in the lineup are coming off horrendous offensive seasons, including OFs Joey Gallo (who did win a Gold Glove in right field) and David Dahl, who wasn’t even offered a contract by Colorado over the winter after being an NL AllStar in 2019. There has been an infield shuffle, with Isiah KinerFalefa set to be the first Opening Day shortstop in 13 seasons other than Elvis Andrus, traded to the A’s. The young Hawaiian shifted over after winning a Gold Glove at third base last season. Longstruggling Rougned Odor is still in the lineup, at third base instead of second, where Nick Solak is getting his shot to be an everyday player. With Texas allowing businesses in the state to operate at 100% capacity, the Rangers are preparing for a potential full house of 40,518 fans for their home opener at Globe Life Field on April 5 against Toronto.

AL CENTRAL

MINNESOTA TWINS

2020: 3624, first place, lost to Astros in first round of playoffs.

Manager: Rocco Baldelli (third season). Outlook: The Twins have returned largely the same team that won the past two AL Central titles, aiming to end their major leaguerecord 18game postseason losing streak. The pitching staff was superb during the pandemicshortened 2020 schedule, and LHP J.A. Happ and RHP Matt Shoemaker have added value and experience to the rotation with RHP Randy Dobnak moving to a longrelief role after making 10 starts last year. RHPs Kenta Maeda and Jose Berríos make for a solid onetwo punch. Signing away closer Alex Colomé from their primary division competitor ought to pay off over the long haul, but to stay ahead of the White Sox, the offense will have to produce more like 2019 than 2020. Keeping CF Byron Buxton and 3B Josh Donaldson healthy figures to be the biggest key to success for the lineup, after a balky calf kept Donaldson from doing much in his debut with the Twins last year. The arrival of SS Andrelton Simmons has given the infield defense a big boost and allowed the offenseoriented Jorge Polanco to move to 2B. There should be a winning team waiting for Twins fans who file back into Target Field, starting at about 25% capacity.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2020: 3525, second place, lost to Yankees in first round of playoffs.

Manager: Terry Francona (ninth season). Outlook: Expectations have fallen following SS Francisco Lindor’s trade to the Mets this winter, but the Indians believe they have enough talent to compete for the AL Central title. They certainly have the pitching. At just 25, RHP Shane Bieber has become one of baseball’s best starters, and the righthander anchors a staff with big arms but limited experience. RHP James Karinchak is the new closer following Brad Hand’s departure, and RHP Emmanuel Clase, with his 100 mph fastball, gives Francona another backend weapon. 3B Jose Ramírez was more consistent than Lindor last season, and he’ll need to carry an even heavier offensive load. LF Eddie Rosario’s signing to a oneyear contract should offset some of the power lost with Lindor and 1B Carlos Santana leaving. Francona’s return after missing most of last season due to health issues is another positive for the Indians. Cleveland will host fans in April at 30% capacity at 34,788seat Progressive Field.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2020: 3525, third place, wild card, lost to Oakland in first round of playoffs.

Manager: Tony La Russa (first season of second stint with team).

Outlook: The White Sox made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and ended a run of seven losing seasons. Now they aim for the biggest prize of all. Chicago loaded up while other teams were cutting expenses, hoping to bring home its first World Series title since 2005. The club made an eyeopening change when it brought back Hall of Famer and threetime champion Tony La Russa to take over for Rich Renteria. The move came 34 years after the White Sox fired La Russa, who then won a title with Oakland and two more with St. Louis. They added arguably the game’s best closer when they signed former Athletic Liam Hendriks to a $54 million, threeyear deal. The White Sox also acquired RHP Lance Lynn from Texas, adding a workhorse starter to go with RHP Lucas Giolito and LHP Dallas Keuchel. Hardthrowing RHP Michael Kopech is back after Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a decision to opt out in 2020. The lineup — with AL MVP Jose Abreu at 1B and the 2019 major league batting champion, SS Tim Anderson — is deep, even with the injuryrelated absence of OF Eloy Jimenez. The White Sox got the green light to allow spectators with capacity capped at 20% — 8,122 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2020: 2634, fourth place.

Manager: Mike Matheny (second season). Outlook: The first wave of college arms that the Royals drafted a few years ago started to arrive last season with RHP Brady Singer and LHP Kris Bubic — who will begin the season at TripleA — showing promise. They could soon be joined by LHP Asa Lacy, the No. 4 pick last summer, and fellow firstrounders LHP Daniel Lynch and RHP Jackson Kowar. If all those youngsters are able to show progress on the mound, the Royals could return to .500 and perhaps compete for a playoff spot given the investment GM Dayton Moore made in the rest of the roster. He signed 1B Carlos Santana and swung a threeteam trade for LF Andrew Benintendi. Throw in the signings of LHP Mike Minor and RHP Wade Davis, and the Royals are deeper and more talented than at any point since going to the World Series in 2014 and ’15.

DETROIT TIGERS

2020: 2335, fifth place.

Manager: AJ Hinch (first season).

Outlook: After missing last season while suspended in the aftermath of the Houston Astros’ signstealing scandal, Hinch gets his opportunity to manage again with the rebuilding Tigers. He takes over a team that averaged 103 losses from 201719 and then finished last in the shortened 2020 season. Detroit does have a handful of highly touted prospects, including RHPs Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, who both pitched a bit at the big league level last year. 1B Miguel Cabrera is on the downside of his career, but he has a chance to reach 3,000 hits and 500 home runs this season. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said the state health department has had talks with the Tigers about expanding capacity limits at the ballpark, up from limits of 1,000 fans at recreational facilities.

AL EAST

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2020: 4020, first place, AL champions, lost to Dodgers in World Series.

Manager: Kevin Cash (seventh season). Outlook: The defending AL champions hope to build on last year’s run to the World Series, where the Rays lost to the Dodgers in six games. Expectations remain high for 2021 despite having to replace their top two starting pitchers after declining a $15 million option on RHP Charlie Morton and trading LHP Blake Snell, a former AL Cy Young Award winner, to San Diego. The team is counting on RHP Tyler Glasnow to step into a leading role, with offseason acquisitions Michael Wacha, Chris Archer and Rich Hill filling openings in a revamped rotation. A versatile lineup will be largely the same. The offense averaged 4.82 runs per game during the pandemicshortened 2020 season, its best showing in 10 years. Nevertheless, the Rays thrive on pitching and defense.

NEW YORK YANKEES

2020: 3327, second place, lost to Rays in Division Series.

Manager: Aaron Boone (fourth season). Outlook: A newlook rotation could include RHPs Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon, highrisk additions who due to injuries have combined for one inning since May 1, 2019, and RHP Domingo Germán, who hasn't pitched since September 2019 while serving a domestic violence suspension. They join ace Gerrit Cole, youngster Deivi García and LHP Jordan Montgomery, with Boone saying he is likely to push people back and skip turns early in the season. 2B DJ LeMahieu resigned for $90 million over six years after becoming the first player to win undisputed batting titles in both leagues. OFs Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are trying yoga after both missed a majority of their second straight season due to injuries. Focus will be on C Gary Sánchez, who struggled at the plate for the third straight year and hit a careerworst .147. Yankee Stadium will host fans at 20% capacity (up to 10,850 for Thursday’s opener against Toronto) to begin the season.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

2020: 3228, third place, wild card, lost to Rays in first round of playoffs.

Manager: Charlie Montoyo (third season). Outlook: The Blue Jays beefed up a young, talented team by adding several playofftested veterans in a busy, productive offseason. CF George Springer signed a teamrecord $150 million, sixyear deal, and former A’s SS Marcus Semien joined on an $18 million, oneyear deal. Toronto also acquired rotation depth by getting LHP Steven Matz in a trade with the Mets and bolstered its bullpen by signing a trio of righthanded relievers, though closer Kirby Yates will miss the season after Tommy John surgery. By adding Springer and Semien to a promising group of youngsters including SS Bo Bichette, 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr. and 3B Cavan Biggio, the Blue Jays have built one of the AL’s most fearsome lineups. However, beyond staff ace Hyun Jin Ryu, the rotation is full of question marks. If hardthrowing RHP Nate Pearson doesn’t develop quickly, Toronto might need to make an inseason pitching addition to boost its postseason hopes. With home games in Canada still ruled out by the COVID19 pandemic, the Blue Jays will begin the regular season at their spring training home in Dunedin, Fla.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

2020: 2535, fourth place.

Manager: Brandon Hyde (third season). Outlook: Although the Orioles appeared to make some progress last year following two straight 100loss seasons, GM Mike Elias remains focused on longterm stability in his effort to slash the payroll and rebuild the franchise. The restive fan base will welcome 1B Trey Mancini back after colon cancer surgery, but he and RF Anthony Santander could be July trade chips. 1B Chris Davis, entering the sixth season of a $161 million, sevenyear contract, is likely to begin on the injured list after playing just 16 games and hitting only .115 last season. Aside from LHP John Means, a 2019 AllStar, the rotation is full of pitchers who have yet to establish themselves and veterans like RHP Matt Harvey and RHP Felix Hernandez, whose success came years ago. Hernandez was pulled from a spring start with elbow discomfort March 16. The bullpen, improved in 2020, must provide stability for such a questionable rotation. The Orioles will allow about 11,000 fans — 25% capacity — at Camden Yards to begin the season.

BOSTON RED SOX

2020: 2436, fifth place.

Manager: Alex Cora (third season, first of second stint with team).

Outlook: After winning the 2018 World Series, the team's fourth championship in 15 seasons, the Red Sox traded 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price to the Dodgers in a salary dump. The Red Sox were also without LHP Chris Sale, who missed the 2020 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and LHP Eduardo Rodríguez, who was out with heart inflammation caused by COVID19. The team’s best hope of getting out of the cellar is that Cora relights a spark in DH J.D. Martinez and 3B Rafael Devers, who both struggled during the pandemicshortened season; Rodriguez returns strong and Sale is able to recover by midseason. SS Xander Bogaerts is signed to a longterm deal and could become the star future teams are built around. Or, he could become the next Betts. CF Alex Verdugo, the biggest acquisition in the Dodgers deal, is also a piece for the future. Fenway Park will be open to fans, beginning at 12% capacity, or around 4,500 people.