American League

Sporting News, The, Jan 25, 1999 by Tom Maloney, Marc Topkin, Kevin Lonnquist, Jim Street, Casey Tefertiller, David Lennon, John Millea, Luciana Chavez, Tom Gage, Steve Herrick, Scot Gregor, Paul Doyle, Peter Schmuck

Anaheim

MAKE ROOM FOR LUKE: Not since Jack Howell had four pinch-hit home runs in 1996 has the team had a lefthanded hitter who could come off the bench in late innings and provide power in the clutch. The team had no homers in 87 pinch-hit at-bats last season, but that could change with last week's signing of reserve OF/1B Matt Luke, 28, to a one-year, $250,000 contract. Luke signed a split contract and will play at Class AAA Edmonton if he doesn't make the Angels. However, it appears the team will trade reserve OF Orlando Palmeiro, who is more of a defensive specialist than an offensive threat, to clear the way for Luke. In dire need of a utility infielder, the team also signed IF Luis Rivera, 35, to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS, RELIEF PITCHERS: In addition to seasoned closer Troy Percival, righthanded setup men Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Rich DeLucia will return. Lefthander Mike Holtz struggled for most of 1998, and with righthanders Pep Harris and Mike James out because of elbow surgeries, the team will need a middle-relief boost. That could come from Jason Dickson, a young righthander who was more effective as a reliever than as a starter last season, going 3-0 with an 0.87 ERA in nine relief appearances and 7-10 with a 7.11 ERA in 18 starts. --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

WHO'S NEXT? Manager Ray Miller is still pondering who will hit ahead of Albert Belle in the lineup. Who bats second could determine how well the team exploits Belle's impressive offensive credentials. Miller could use former leadoff man Brady Anderson to increase the number of runners likely to be on base ahead of Belle, or go with someone like SS Mike Bordick, whose ability to move namers could optimize run-production situations. Miller probably will go with Anderson, who would benefit from the additional at-bats that come near the top of the order.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS, RELIEF PITCHERS: The bullpen may be the greatest area of uncertainty because the team traded away hard-throwing Armando Benitez and lost RHP Alan Mills to free agency. G.M. Frank Wren signed closer Mike Timlin, then signed free agent RHP Xavier Hernandez to fill one of the open setup roles. The club also signed RHP Ricky Bones, who could work in middle relief or as the fifth starter, depending on how things transpire in spring training. Last week, the team signed RHP Heathcliff Slocumb with the hope that he will continue his success from the latter half of last season. The lefthanded side of the ledger does not appear to be a problem, with ageless Jesse Orosco in the specialty short setup role and hard-throwing Arthur Rhodes able to work in virtually any relief capacity. --Peter Schmuck

Boston

ROTATION SET: Righthander Pat Rapp, signed to a one-year contract last week, will be the No. 5 starter behind Pedro Martinez, Bret Saberhagen, Tim Wakefield and Mark Portugal. The team was prepared to choose between rookie Brian Rose and underachieving veteran John Wasdin for the fifth spot. Now, Wasdin will compete for a bullpen spot, and Rose appears destined for Class AAA Pawtucket. Rapp, 31, was 12-13 with a 5.30 ERA for the Royals in '98. With Rapp and Portugal joining the rotation, the Red Sox have five starters who won 10 or more games last season .... C Jason Varitek, who could seize the starting job this season, had a cast removed from his left middle finger and will be ready for spring training.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS, RELIEF PITCHERS: With Jim Corsi, Derek Lowe and Tom Gordon occupying the late innings, the Red Sox consider the bullpen a strength. Gordon was stunning in his first full season as closer, saving 46 games in 47 opportunities. In Corsi and Lowe, the team has two solid righthanded setup men. Both throw hard sinkers and are equally tough on lefthanded and righthanded hitters. And LHP Mark Guthrie was signed to provide another experienced arm for the late innings. The middle relief likely will fall among several veterans, including Wasdin, Rheal Cormier, Brad Clontz and Ron Mahay. --Paul Doyle

Chicago

ON THE MOVE: The team thinks Carlos Lee, 22, is ready for the major leagues as a hitter. With OF Albert Belle out of the picture, it's likely Lee will get a very long look in left field when spring training opens. Currently, OF Jeff Abbott is slated to start in left, but if rookie Brian Simmons doesn't play well enough to win the starting job in center field, Abbott could move to the middle and Lee would take over in left. With the opening of training camp just around the comer, the unsettling situation in the outfield could spell disaster.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS, RELIEF PITCHERS: This young, unproven group might turn out to be the strength of the team. Hard-throwing RHP Bob Howry emerged as a promising closer at the end of the season. RHP Bill Simas lost the closer's job but combined with RHP Keith Foulke to give the team two capable setup men. Long relief is set with RHP Carlos Castillo and LHP Scott Eyre, who have been used in starting roles. In middle relief, RHP Chad Bradford did a good job after being called up from Class AAA Calgary at the end of July. The team still must decide if LHP Bryan Ward is capable of striking out lefthanded hitters and figure out what to do with RHP Jaime Navarro, who has bombed as a starter for the last two seasons. If Navarro isn't traded or moved back to the rotation, the team will probably dump him in the bullpen again. --Scot Gregor