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American League West

Anaheim Angels
1. David Eckstein, SS
2. Darin Erstad, LF
3. Tim Salmon, RF
4. Garret Anderson, CF
5. Troy Glaus, 3B
6. Brad Fullmer, DH
7. Scott Spiezio, 1B
8. Ben Molina, C
9. Adam Kennedy, 2B

Bench
Jorge Fabregas, C
Larry Barnes, 1B
Benji Gil, UT
Orlando Palmeiro, OF
Jeff DaVanon, OF

Rotation
1. Jarrod Washburn
2. Kevin Appier
3. Aaron Sele
4. Scott Schoeneweis
5. Ramon Ortiz

Bullpen
Closer: Troy Percival
Setup: Lou Pote
Righty: Al Levine
L1: Mark Lukasiewicz
Middle Relief: Ben Weber
Long Relief: Matt Wise

Injury Notes

Shawn Wooten is out until the All-Star break with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb. He was expected to platoon at 1B with Spiezio before the injury. The size of his role when he returns will likely hinge on the success of his teammates while he is on the DL.

Nathan Haynes underwent the same surgery on his left hand for the same injury Wooten has on his right. He had his surgery a less than week before Wooten so they should return at approximately the same time, though Haynes will go to the minors.

Dennis Cook has been unable to pitch for most of Spring Training due to a bruised rib cage. He will start the season on the DL though he should be eligible to come off the disabled list by April 5th. He has been able to throw off a mound recently, so after a couple weeks of rehab starts to prepare him for the regular season, he should return in the second or third week of April.

Last June, Steve Green had underwent Tommy John surgery, as well as surgery to repair a torn a muscle in his forearm. He may be able to begin serious rehab pitching around the All-Star break but will likely spend the entire year in the minors.

Derrick Turnbow had a pin permanently inserted into his right arm to repair a fracture in late January. He originally broke the arm last April and had surgery to insert to non-permanent pins last May. However, the bone did not heal properly. There is no timetable for his return, and even when he is able to pitch again, he still needs minor league experience.

Offense Notes: Spiezio announced he plans to appeal his six game suspension from the brawl with San Diego. However, if he decides to drop the appeal and take the suspension to start the season, Barnes will likely play 1B during that time.

Pitching Notes: Lukasiewicz will likely be sent down when Cook returns, though he has had a good spring and has great skills. If they want to keep two lefties in the pen then Wise will likely be demoted.

Oakland Athletics
1. Jeremy Giambi, RF
2. Frank Menechino, 2B
3. David Justice, RF
4. Eric Chavez, 3B
5. Miguel Tejada, SS
6. Terrence Long, LF
7. Ramon Hernandez, C
8. Carlos Pena, 1B
9. Eric Byrnes, CF

Bench
Greg Myers, C
Scott Hatteberg, C, 1B
Olmedo Saenz, CR
Randy Velarde, IF
Mike Colangelo, OF

Rotation
1. Mark Mulder
2. Tim Hudson
3. Barry Zito
4. Cory Lidle
5. Erik Hiljus

Bullpen
Closer: Billy Koch
Setup: Jim Mecir
Righty: Jeff Tam
L1: Mike Magnante
L2: Mike Holtz
Middle Relief: Chad Bradford

L3: Mike Venafro

Injury Notes

Jermaine Dye's broken tibia did not heal quickly enough for him to participate normally in regular Spring Training activities. He has been working on strengthening the leg all through camp and is making progress. However, he only recently lost his limp and still isn't able to run well. He may start the season on the roster as a DH but is more likely to spend a couple weeks on the DL.

Mario Valdez has a bruised calf muscle. Although the injury is not overly serious, he may go on the DL since he is out of options and would otherwise have to break camp with the team or pass through waivers. If the A's decide to demote Pena, then Valdez might make the team as the club doesn't want to lose him on waivers. Otherwise, the DL is their best shot at holding onto him for a while longer.

Offense Notes: There are few on Oakland's 40-man roster not worthy of a spot on the team, so cutting down to 25 is not an easy task, especially since several players are out of options.

Dye starting the season on the DL will give them a couple extra weeks to pursue trades so that they don't have to surrender their players to waivers without any compensation. When Dye returns, Mike Colangelo will be sent down.

While Pena has had a horrible spring, I think he will break camp with the team since he's proven himself at both AA and AAA. He won't be sitting on the bench as he has too much potential, so he will be playing regularly if he makes the team.

Pitching Notes: Justin Duchscherer, traded to the A's for Luis Vizcaino, will start the season in AAA but is likely to be the first person called up in case of injury to the rotation.

Oakland needs to dump a lefty reliever. I've listed the team with 26 players instead of 25 because I think they will trade one of the lefties before they break camp, though I don't know whom. Holtz is the least likely to be traded, but both of the others are fair game. Bradford is out of options and I don't see them demoting him, as they will almost certainly lose him on waivers. They might even demote a bench player, probably Pena, and carry 12 pitchers rather than lose Bradford.

Seattle Mariners
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Jeff Cirillo, 3B
3. Bret Boone, 2B
4. Edgar Martinez, DH
5. John Olerud, 1B
6. Mike Cameron, CF
7. Carlos Guillen, SS
8. Dan Wilson, C
9. Mark McLemore, LF

Bench
Ben Davis, C
Desi Relaford, IF
Alex Arias, IF
Ruben Sierra, LF/RF
Charles Gipson, UT

Rotation
1. Freddy Garcia
2. Jamie Moyer
3. Paul Abbott
4. James Baldwin
5. Joel Pineiro

Bullpen
Closer: Kazuhiro Sasaki
Setup: Jeff Nelson
Righty: Shigetoshi Hasegawa
L1: Arthur Rhodes
L2: John Halama
Long Relief: Ryan Franklin

Injury Notes

Ruben Sierra may start the season on the DL due to leg pain. He's been troubled by it all through camp and has had a poor spring. Reportedly the Mariners may DL him so that he can rehab as a DH, which would allow him to practice his hitting and rest his legs. If Sierra doesn't break camp with the club, Rule 5 pick IF Luis Ugueto may make the roster, as otherwise the Mariners will have to trade for his rights or let him return to Florida. However they are just as likely to replace Sierra with another outfielder, in which case Eugene Kingsale would probably make the team.

Ryan Anderson had surgery last week to repair a tear in his labrum and will miss the season. This is two springs in a row that Anderson has gone under the knife for essentially the same problem. He should no longer be considered a top prospect.

Jeff Heaverlo also had surgery this spring to repair a torn labrum, though this is his first. His operation was in late February, so he too will miss the season.

Gil Meche had two surgeries on his shoulder last year, an exploratory surgery in February that revealed a frayed rotator cuff and a second surgery in October on the same shoulder. He's easing into his recovery, so he will start the season on rehabbing in the minors.

Offense Notes: Many of the Mariners had career years last season, which they won't likely match this year, so they will lose more games despite the addition of Jeff Cirillo. The upgrades of Cirillo, Sierra, and Ben Davis will not nearly be enough to offset the losses due to age and natural regression.

Pitching Notes: While the bullpen has improved the rotation has taken a couple hits this off-season. Since it's very unlikely that they will reach anything close to 116 wins this season, no starter should reach a total of 20 wins or even the high teens.

Texas Rangers
1. Frank Catalanotto, DH
2. Ivan Rodriguez, C
3. Alex Rodriguez, SS
4. Juan Gonzalez, RF
5. Rafael Palmeiro, 1B
6. Carl Everett, CF
7. Gabe Kapler, LF
8. Hank Blalock, 3B
9. Mike Young, 2B

Bench
Bill Haselman, C
Herbert Perry, CR
Rusty Greer, OF

Rotation
1. Chan Ho Park
2. Kenny Rogers
3. Doug Davis
4. Dave Burba
5. Hideki Irabu

Bullpen
Closer: Jeff Zimmerman*
Lefty: John Rocker
Setup: Jay Powell
Middle Relief: Todd Van Poppel
L2: Juan Moreno
L3: Rich Rodriguez
Righty: Dan Miceli
Righty: Rudy Seanez
Swingman: Steve Woodard

Injury Notes

Rangers' 2001 first round draft pick Mark Teixeira will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a sore elbow and forearm. They hope to avoid surgery by immobilizing the elbow for two to three weeks. If he has to have surgery, then he will likely be out for the season.

Dave Burba's hamstring injury has reportedly improved, so he should be able to make his first start. Park recently tweaked his hamstring, though we don't yet know the extent of the injury.

*Jeff Zimmerman will spend at least the first month of the season on the DL. He has tendinitis in his elbow, though there is no ligament damage so he shouldn't require surgery. Rocker will close while Zimmerman is out, but Zimmerman will resume the role when he returns. When he comes off the DL, they will likely bump one of the three lefty relievers unless they've traded someone.

Valdes has also had trouble with a sore elbow and may start the season on the DL. When he returns, Steve Woodard will likely be sent to the minors.

Powell has tendinitis in the middle finger on his right hand but is attempting to pitch through it without spending any time on the DL. If he goes on the DL, then Chris Michalak or Francisco Cordero may break camp. Michalak/Cordero would then go to the minors whenever Valdes or Powell return, with Woodard following when the second pitcher recovered.

Hector Carrasco will begin the season in extended Spring Training because of a partially torn rotator cuff. There's no word yet on whether he'll need surgery, but he'll likely be sidelined for a while. Considering the Rangers' multitude of other options, he will probably stay in the minors for most of the season.

Jovanny Cedeno had surgery to repair a partially torn labrum last June. He is taking his time returning to avoid re-injuring the shoulder.

Danny Kolb will start the season on the DL with a partially torn rotator cuff. There is also no news on whether he will have surgery.

Offense Notes: The reason they are able to carry so few bench players is that, if healthy, all of their players should be playing almost all of the time. Everett has taken his time coming back from knee surgery, but he should still be in the outfield or at least at DH practically everyday, though without the Spring Training at-bats he may have a slow April.

IRod's knee problems apparently haven't been troubling him this spring, but any time a catcher starts to have troubles with his knees there's room for concern.

The club wants Blalock to play full-time, so Mike Lamb will be sent to AAA and is expected to be converted into a catcher. Depending upon his progress, he may be a candidate to push one of the pitchers off the team mid-season.

Pitching Notes: As of now, the Rangers are expected to carry 13 pitchers. They will likely add bench depth later in the season, in which case unless they've made a trade, Irabu will likely be demoted.

While members of the Rangers' bullpen seem to be dropping like flies, most of the injuries are minor. They also have incredible starting and relief depth. I think their pitching staff has been under-estimated by many analysts and only place them third in the division because of the quality of their competition. If either Oakland or Seattle suffers from poor luck with injuries, Texas could easily move up.

Division Ranking:
Oakland
Seattle
Texas
Anaheim