Perpetually rebuilding

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

CHANGES THAT FIT: OF Matt Lawton, acquired from the Indians for LHP Arthur Rhodes, should fill the gaping hole in the leadoff slot. He rebounded from two subpar years in Cleveland to hit .277 with 23 homers last season. His lefthanded bat fits nicely into a righthanded-heavy order. LHP Mark Redman adds experience to a young rotation. Redman, who was acquired from the A's for C Jason Kendall, should benefit from pitching at PNC Park, which favors lefthanders because of its deep power alley in left center field. CHANGE THAT DOESN'T FIT: The club shed Kendall's enormous contract, but his absence will hurt. One of his replacements, C Benito Santiago, is 39 and no longer in Kendall's class. Santiago, acquired in a trade with the Royals, will split time with young Humberto Cota. TO-DO LIST: The biggest spring battle will be for the No. 5 starter's job. RHP Ryan Vogelsong and LHP Dave Williams are the favorites. LHP Zach Duke, the club's top pitching prospect, also will be in the mix. Center field could be up for grabs. Incumbent Tike Redman must improve his defense and baserunning to keep his job. Jason Bay might shift from left to center, with Lawton taking over in left.--Ed Eagle

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

CHANGES THAT FIT: RHP Jose Lima, darling of the team's surprise charge in 2003, was brought back to be an innings-eater and dugout cheerleader. Coming off a good year with the Dodgers, he'll give the young rotation a lift. The other significant additions are OFs Terrence Long and Eli Marrero. Long was an effective pinch hitter for the Padres last year. He could be an everyday player if he shows the form he displayed in 2000 and 2001 with the A's. Marrero punished lefthanded pitchers for the Braves in '04 and is expected to provide depth at the corner spots. CHANGE THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Royals let 3B Joe Randa go to the Reds as a free agent and replaced him with veteran minor leaguer Chris Truby. Though Truby is a good fielder, he certainly is not in Randa's class, and he has holes in his swing. The idea is that Truby. 31, will play only until hot prospect Mark Teahen, 23, is ready to be called up. However, if Teahen needs a long time to get primed, third base could turn into a trouble spot. Just in case, IF Denny Hocking was signed as a nonroster player. TO-DO LIST: G.M. Allard Baird will continue to pursue a trade for a young, righthanded, power-hitting corner outfielder. He also might search for an experienced relief pitcher.--Dick Kaegel

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

CHANGE THAT FITS: 3B Corey Koskie should be a steady presence in Toronto's lineup, provided he stays healthy enough to combat a three-year streak of decreasing at-bats. When he's healthy, he'll field his position cleanly and provide a fitting complement for Vernon Wells in the middle of the order. Koskie's patience and moderate pop will help the Blue Jays score more runs. CHANGES THAT DON'T FIT: The Jays needed a power-hitting left fielder but instead added 1B/3B Shea Hillenbrand. That means Frank Catalanotto, an average defender at best, will play left field. The team would be better served with the injury-prone Catalanotto at DH. The Jays insist Eric Hinske will get the first crack at first base, but he hasn't hit well in two seasons and never has played first base in the big leagues. The Jays have outfield prospect Gabe Gross on the horizon, but he's not quite ready. TO-DO LIST: Toronto still is looking for help in the bullpen, specifically another lefthander. The Jays also have to make a decision on their best prospect, SS Aaron Hill. The team already has another top prospect, Russ Adams, at short, and second base (Orlando Hudson) and third base (Koskie) are spoken for.--Spencer Fordin

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

CHANGES THAT FIT: DH Josh Phelps should fill the team's desperate need for righthanded pop--even if he strikes out 160 times. Both 2B Roberto Alomar and 3B Alex Gonzalez are capable of playing above-average defense and contributing offensively. Both signed one-year deals, so Jorge Cantu and B.J. Upton should take their places by next year. Signing RHP Hideo Nomo to a minor league deal and acquiring LHP Casey Fossum can't hurt because the Devil Rays desperately need starting pitching depth. CHANGE THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Rays have liked LF Danny Bautista for several years and are convinced his move to the A.L. will increase his production. That could be, but manager Lou Piniella is projecting him to hit third in the order. That's a lofty spot for a player who will be the fourth outfielder when CF Rocco Baldelli returns. The team might have been better off with a platoon of rookies--Joey Gathright and either Matt Diaz or Jenny Gomes--in left until Baldelli returns. Then they could have used the Bautista money on a free-agent starter. TO-DO LIST: The team still needs starting pitching. It went through 14 starters last season, and not nearly enough has been added to the mix.--Paul C. Smith

COLORADO ROCKIES

CHANGE THAT FIT: Moving RHP Shawn Chacon from closer to the rotation was a no-brainer. In fact, some wondered why it wasn't done in the middle of last season. Chacon was moved to closer in 2004 because Colorado didn't have anyone else and because of concerns about his elbow. Chacon threw a large number of pitches during his difficult ninth-inning outings, and the elbow held up fine. CHANGE THAT DOESN'T FIT: A talented rotation would look better if the Rockies had kept LHP Shawn Estes (15-8 in 2004). But under the team's tight budget, it would have cost them Chacon or one of the other arbitration-eligible pitchers: RHP Jason Jennings or LHP Joe Kennedy. Estes, 32, would have been a playoff-tested leader for a young rotation. TO-DO LIST; Foremost, the team must find a closer. The Rockies also need to gauge the health of CF Preston Wilson, who's coming back from knee problems. They have to determine a pattern of rest for Wilson and/or give him days in a corner outfield position to help keep him healthy. 2B Aaron Miles and rookie SS Clint Barmes must mesh, and 3B Garrott Atkins must establish confidence defensively. The team has to make sure LHP Jeff Francis, a top prospect, is ready for prime time.--Thomas Harding

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