N.L. East

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW The addition of RHP Pedro Martinez, who will head a group that already included LHP Tom Glavine and RHPs Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano, gives the Mets a solid rotation. But with RHP Steve Trachsers back an issue-newly acquired LHP Kazuhisa Ishii is expected to replace him to start the season-there could be greater strain on a questionable bullpen. The most compelling question is: Who will be used in middle relief? RHPs Mike De Jean, Scott Strickland, Heath Bell, Bartolome Fortunato and LHPs Felix Heredia and Dae-Sung Koo are options, but they represent the team's biggest uncertainty.--Marty Noble

PROJECTIONS

LINEUP

SS Jose Reyes

2B Kazuo Matsui

CF Carlos Beitran

C Mike Piazza

LF Cliff Floyd

RF Mike Cameron

3B David Wright

1B Doug Mientiewicz

ROTATION

RH Pedro Martinez

LH Tom Glavine

RH Kris Benson

RH Victor Zambrano

LH Kazuhisa Ishii

CLOSER

RH Braden Looper

TSN FANTASY TIP

Mike Piazza's fantasy stock has fallen because of injuries and a decline in average. But he was one of just four catchers to hit 20-plus homers last season.

BREAKOUT PLAYER

Most of the regulars should produce fairly predictable results. But that's not the case with SS Jose Reyes, who is the swing man on this team. He has experienced several leg injuries but appears to have put them behind him. After an injury-free winter ball season, Reyes appears poised to become a special player as the leadoff man and defender at the most critical position.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

WHAT WE KNOW The veteran bullpen arguably is the deepest and most balanced in baseball, assuming fireballing closer Billy Wagner is healthy. RHP Tim Worrell is a durable setup man, and LHP Rheal Cormier seemingly can pitch every day. RHPs Ryan Madson, Terry Adams and Amaury Telemaco and either LHP Aaron Fultz or LHP Mike Bacsik will fill out the staff with experience and depth. The infield defense, led by Gold Glove candidate SS Jimmy Rollins, should be among the league's best. Rollins is emerging as a special do-it-all leadoff hitter, and he likely will learn a few things from CF Kenny Lofton, a career leadoff man. 1B Jim Thorne and RF Bobby Abreu should continue to produce at their usual high levels in the middle of the order.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW The health of LHP Randy Wolf and RHP Vicente Padilla is crucial to the success of the rotation. Thus far, Wolf has shown no signs of the elbow tendinitis that curtailed his 2004 season. Padilla has been set back by a recurrence of triceps tendinitis and likely won't be ready for the start of the season. If he can't go, the Phillies will insert prospect RHP Gavin Floyd into the rotation, which isn't a bad thing. 3B David Bell's back is a concern, though the presence of Placido Polanco makes it easier for the team to wait on Bell until he is 100 percent. LF Pat Burrell (wrist) is healthy this spring, but he needs to recapture the batting stroke he had during his 2002 breakout season, when he hit .282 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs.--Ken Mandel