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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2009

Tampa Bay Rays

LAST SEASON: 97-65, first place, lost to Phillies in World Series

FIRST WORKOUT: Feb. 15 (pitchers and catchers), Feb. 19 (full squad)

ARRIVALS: DH/LF Pat Burrell, OF Gabe Kapler, RHP Joe Nelson, LHP Brian Shouse, RHP Lance Cormier, OF Matt Joyce

DEPARTURES: OF Rocco Baldelli, LHP Trever Miller, RHP Edwin Jackson, DH Cliff Floyd, IF/OF Eric Hinske, OF Jonny Gomes

OUTLOOK: The Rays wanted a right-handed power bat, and they got the best one available on the free-agent market in Burrell. They sought additional bullpen depth and appear to have given themselves ample options by bringing in the trio of Nelson, Shouse and Cormier. Adding Kapler (for the short term) and Joyce (for the long term) should address the question marks remaining about right field. They probably spent more than they would have preferred, and that could impact their flexibility at the trade deadline and in 2010, but the Rays seem to have shored up areas of need while maintaining the bulk of the group that led them to the World Series last fall.

Boston Red Sox

LAST SEASON: 95-67, second place, 2 GB, lost to Rays in ALCS

FIRST WORKOUT: Feb. 14 (pitchers and catchers), Feb. 18 (full squad)

ARRIVALS: RHP John Smoltz, RHP Brad Penny, OF Rocco Baldelli, C Josh Bard, RHP Takashi Saito

DEPARTURES: CF Coco Crisp, IF Alex Cora, 1B Sean Casey, C David Ross, RHP Bartolo Colon

OUTLOOK: While the Yankees went hog wild this offseason, the Red Sox took a more surgical approach to tweaking their roster. Boston maintained its impressive core group while taking on a series of low-risk, potentially high-reward signings to fill in around the edges. Smoltz won't be ready to start the season, but adding the playoff-tested veteran in mid-summer could provide a huge boost. Penny is always a health risk, and the Red Sox will have to figure out how they can use former Ray Baldelli as the season unfolds, but even if both turn out to be busts, the Red Sox haven't committed much money to them, and the rest of their team remains among the best in baseball.

New York Yankees

LAST SEASON: 89-73, third place, 8 GB

FIRST WORKOUT: Feb. 14 (pitchers and catchers), Feb. 18 (full squad)

ARRIVALS: LHP CC Sabathia, 1B Mark Teixeira, RHP A.J. Burnett, 1B/OF Nick Swisher

DEPARTURES: 1B/DH Jason Giambi, RHP Mike Mussina, RHP Carl Pavano, IF Wilson Betemit, C Chad Moeller, RHP Darrell Rasner

OUTLOOK: You knew it was coming, and the Yankees didn't disappoint. In committing nearly half-a-billion dollars to Sabathia, Teixeira and Burnett this offseason, New York ratcheted up the pressure on itself more than it already would have been - especially considering the Yankees are opening a new ballpark this year. Will the Yankees be better? They certainly should be, especially with the workhorse Sabathia fronting their rotation. Burnett isn't a sure thing to take the ball every fifth day (he has topped 170 innings only twice in the past six years), but having him around along with the return of Andy Pettitte and a healthy Chien-Ming Wang should make a big difference.

Toronto Blue Jays

LAST SEASON: 86-76, fourth place, 11 GB

FIRST WORKOUT: Feb. 16 (pitchers and catchers), Feb. 21 (full squad)

ARRIVALS: C Michael Barrett, RHP Mike Maroth, OF Jason Lane, C Raul Chavez

DEPARTURES: RHP A.J. Burnett, C Gregg Zaun, IF Hector Luna, OF Kevin Mench

OUTLOOK: Has there been a quieter team this offseason than the Blue Jays? Toronto hasn't signed a single player to a major-league contract (all of the players listed above got minor-league deals) and hasn't made any trades. The extent of General Manager J.P. Ricciardi's cash outlay has been a few million here and there to re-up the Jays' arbitration-eligible players. Obviously the economy has taken its toll even north of the border, and the Jays' chances of improving in 2009 essentially rest on hoping pitchers already in-house (Casey Janssen, Dustin McGowan) get healthy and stay healthy in the coming season.

Baltimore Orioles

LAST SEASON: 68-93, fifth place, 28.5 GB

FIRST WORKOUT: Feb. 15 (pitchers and catchers), Feb. 19 (full squad)

ARRIVALS: IF Ty Wigginton, IF/OF Ryan Freel, RHP Koji Uehara, SS Cesar Izturis, C Gregg Zaun, LHP Mark Hendrickson, RHP Rich Hill, OF Felix Pie

DEPARTURES: RHP Daniel Cabrera, C Ramon Hernandez, LHP Garrett Olson, RHP Randor Bierd, IF Freddie Bynum, IF Juan Castro, IF Alex Cintron, RHP Lance Cormier

OUTLOOK: The clubhouse turnstile has been busy at Camden Yards this offseason, but you wonder how much of an impact the movement will have. Though Baltimore has added some arms, most notably bringing Uehara over from Japan on a two-year, $10 million deal, a rotation featuring Jeremy Guthrie and a series of question marks wouldn't appear to be a formula for success in the AL East. Baltimore should be able to score runs with Nick Markakis, Aubrey Huff, Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora in the lineup, and hot prospect Matt Wieters should arrive this year. The question is whether Baltimore will be able to get anybody out.

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