The Red Sox enter the season with Julian Tavarez as their fifth starter -- this after Jonathan Papelbon was moved back into the closer role.  The former starter took the pill-to-the-hill in the first inning six times last season, and did so with relative success

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

NOTES: Jay Payton will start the season on the DL, providing Kevin Millar with an opportunity to earn at-bats.  The Orioles’ outfield is crowded following the signing of Aubrey Huff, forcing Millar, Payton and Jay Gibbons to fight for at-bats.  Millar is nowhere close to Payton defensively, but he could help his playing time long term with a strong start to the season.

The addition of former top pitching prospect Sean Tracey presents more options in a bullpen that could be one of the American League’s strongest.  The Orioles remedied the loss of Chris Britton to the Yankees by bringing on Scott Williamson, Jamie Walker and Danys Baez.  Still, the acquisition of a plus minor league arm like Tracey’s off of waivers gives the Orioles more options heading into the year.

INJURIES: As mentioned, Jay Payton will start the year on the DL with a hamstring injury.  He is eligible to return from the in early April.  Kris Benson was also placed on the 60-day DL with a torn rotator cuff.  The transaction is just a formality, as Benson is out for the season.

Player Watch:  Erik Bedard gets most of the press, but Adam Loewen has a chance to be the top lefty in the Orioles’ rotation this season.  The former first-round pick struggled with his control last season, but he was dominant during the spring with a 1.42 ERA in five starts.  An improvement in control under the tutelage of pitching coach Leo Mazzone could be all Loewen needs to become an ace.

Prospect Watch: Hayden Penn goes into the season as Baltimore’s sixth starter and top pitching prospect in the upper minors.  He had a 1.80 ERA in four appearances during the spring and should be an excellent option should Jaret Wright or Steve Trachsel not help the Orioles enough in the back of the rotation.

BOSTON RED SOX

NOTES: The Red Sox go into the season with Julian Tavarez as their fifth starter after Jonathan Papelbon was moved back into the closer role.  The former starter started six games last season, but he has mostly been a reliever since the beginning of 2003.  It could just be a matter of time before Boston calls up Jon Lester to replace Tavarez in the rotation.  

INJURIES: Reliever Mike Timlin is starting the year on the DL with a strained oblique.  If his rehab goes without a hitch, he should be able to return April 7.

Player Watch: Rookie sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka ended spring training with a tired arm, but it is not likely to change his status going into the season.  Matsuzaka was dominant during spring training and provides a difficult adjustment for major league hitters initially due to his pitching motion and rare pitch repertoire.  It would come as no surprise if he dominates opposing hitters at the beginning of the season.

Prospect Watch: Jon Lester is rehabbing in the minors to begin the year following treatment for lymphoma last season.  He was by far Boston’s best pitching prospect going into last season and could still make a great impact by May.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

NOTES: The White Sox signed lefthanded reliever Matt Thornton to a long-term contract through at least the 2009 season.  Thornton has found his role as a short reliever in Chicago after struggling in the Seattle organization.

Top prospect John Danks has emerged as the White Sox fifth starter.  He was acquired from Texas in the Brandon McCarthy trade during the offseason and has been a highly touted prospect during his professional career.  There is still some concern that the White Sox are rushing Danks, as the 21-year-old has only 13 appearances above Double-A.

INJURIES: Catcher Toby Hall will try to rehab a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and return in May.  If the rehab does not work, he could face surgery and miss the entire 2007 season.

Player Watch: Darin Erstad enters the season as the starting center fielder after a terrible spring from Brian Anderson. Erstad has a reputation as an injury-prone player, and covering ground every night in center field certainly won’t help him.

Prospect Watch: Josh Fields batted .333 with two home runs in spring training, but he is blocked by Joe Crede at third and Scott Podsednik in the outfield.  He could see time in the majors this season if a corner outfielder or Crede get hurt. 

CLEVELAND INDIANS

NOTES: Infielder Mike Rouse won the main infield utility role for the Indians with a strong spring.  He was able to beat out favored infielders Hector Luna and Joe Inglett.  Rouse could pickup some at-bats at third base should young Andy Marte struggle like he did last season.

INJURIES: Starting pitcher Cliff Lee will miss 3-4 weeks with a strained abdominal muscle.  Joe Inglett was placed on the DL with a strained left quad after losing out on a roster spot.  Reliever Matt Miller will miss the first month with a strained forearm.

Player Watch: There was a collective sign of relief from Indians fans after the Indians confirmed that C.C. Sabathia would be ready to start on Opening Day.  Sabathia’s throwing wrist was hit by a line drive during a spring training start.  Sabathia is set to be Cleveland’s ace this season.

Prospect Watch: Reliever Tony Sipp impressed in his six appearances during spring training and is seen as Cleveland’s closer of the future.  That role could come as soon as 2008 with an aging Joe Borowski currently holding the job.

DETROIT TIGERS

NOTES: The early-season injury to Kenny Rogers will allow minor league veteran Chad Durbin to open the season in the rotation.  Durbin impressed the Tigers in spring training, but the organization has several options in the minors should he falter.

The Tigers locked up shortstop Carlos Guillen with a four-year, $48 million contract.  Guillen has been one of baseball’s best offensive shortstops in two of the last three seasons, but he has also played more than 140 games just once in his major league career.

INJURIES: Pitcher Kenny Rogers will miss the first three months of the season following surgery to removed a blood clot in his throwing shoulder.  Reliever Roman Colon could miss a month following neck surgery.  Backup catcher Vance Wilson will start the year on the DL because of a sore elbow.

Player Watch: 2007 breakout star Justin Verlander has to answer critics following his struggles during the second half of last season.  Verlander’s velocity didn’t drop during the second half, but he had a 4.54 ERA in the second half compared to 3.01 in the first half.

Prospect Watch: 2006 first-round pick Andrew Miller should be the first in line for the rotation should Chad Durbin struggle.  Miller may have been the top pick in the draft last year if not for his contract demands.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

NOTES: Top prospect Alex Gordon did all he needed and more during spring training to become the Royals’ starting third baseman.  Gordon should not only help the Royals on the field with his potent bat and defense, but also help them fill the seats in Kauffman Stadium.

Outfielder Joey Gathright was sent down following spring training.  The speedster could help the Royals with his defense and on the basepaths, but he is nothing more than a singles hitter at this point with little else to offer offensively.

INJURIES: Starter Luke Hudson is starting the year on the DL with shoulder tightness.  Reliever John Bale will miss the beginning of the season with a fractured right wrist.  Closer Octavio Dotel could potentially go on the DL at the beginning of the season with a strained oblique.

Player Watch: Starting pitcher Zack Greinke was the talk of spring training after missing much of last season due to depression.  He had a terrific rookie season for the Royals in 2004, and the team hopes that he can get back to where he was as one of baseball’s top young pitchers.

Prospect Watch: Outfielder Billy Butler absolutely crushed the ball in spring training, and the top prospect could be ready to contribute very soon.  His only problem is that he is not great defensively, which could force him to DH.  Franchise player Mike Sweeney fills that role now.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

NOTES: Top shortstop prospect Erick Aybar will start the year in the majors due to the injury to Chone Figgins.  Aybar may not play much initially, but he will receive ample opportunities as a pinch-runner.

Catcher Jeff Mathis was sent down to Triple-A in order to get more at-bats.  He struggled as the starting catcher early last season, but he could still get an opportunity later this season if Mike Napoli fails to hit.

INJURIES: Bartolo Colon is starting the year on the DL with a shoulder injury, but he could return in late April.  Chone Figgins will miss the first month with a hand injury.  Outfielder Juan Rivera will miss 3-4 months with a broken leg.  Jered Weaver is starting the year on the DL with biceps tendinitis.

Player Watch: First baseman Casey Kotchman missed most of last season with mono, but he had a terrific spring.  The former top prospect could be in for a breakout season if he is able to stay healthy.

Prospect Watch: First baseman Kendry Morales lost the first base job to Casey Kotchman, but he should be a fine option if Kotchman doesn’t work out.  Morales is one of the Angels’ best hitting prospects.

MINNESOTA TWINS

NOTES: The Twins will slot Sidney Ponson in the back of the rotation after what he showed during spring training.  Ponson struggled with the Cardinals and Yankees last season, but he still has the stuff that made him a 17-game winner during 2003.  

Minnesota brought back Matt LeCroy for this season, but he failed to make the team out of spring training.  LeCroy has still shown good power in recent years, but he does not profile well at any positions defensively.

INJURIES: Outfielder Lew Ford will miss the first 2-4 weeks of the season following surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Player Watch: DH Jason Kubel has struggled with knee problems during the last two seasons.  Prior to that time he was one of the top outfield prospects in the game.  Kubel started off well last season before showing lingering knee problems, but he will get most of the at-bats against righthanded pitchers at DH this season.

Prospect Watch: Starting pitcher Matt Garza disappointed many by failing to win a rotation spot during spring training.  The top prospect should still get an opportunity in the rotation this season, especially considering the struggles of rotation members Sidney Ponson and Carlos Silva last season.