A team-by-team look at the American League entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:

EAST

Tampa Bay Rays

Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season).

2008: 97-65, first place, AL champions.

Training Town: Port Charlotte, Fla.

Park: Charlotte Sports Park.

First Workout: Feb. 15/Feb. 19.

He's Here: DH-OF Pat Burrell, OF Matt Joyce, OF Gabe Kapler, RHP Joe Nelson, RHP Lance Cormier.

He's Outta Here: RF-DH Rocco Baldelli, DH Cliff Floyd, OF-DH Jonny Gomes, RHP Edwin Jackson, LHP Trever Miller, OF Eric Hinske.

Outlook: The Rays were the biggest surprise of 2007, becoming the second team in major league history to make the postseason after finishing with the worst record in baseball the year before. In winning the AL pennant, they not only proved they could compete with big spenders like the Red Sox and Yankees despite having one of the lowest payrolls in the majors, but raised expectations for 2009 and beyond. The challenge now is for a young pitching rotation and youthful everyday lineup featuring B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena to continue to grow. The Yankees and Red Sox made several moves designed to improve themselves, but the Rays didn't stand pat, either. Burrell adds another big bat to the middle of the lineup, Nelson bolsters the bullpen, and Kapler and Joyce add depth in the outfield. The rotation figures to get a boost from young, hard-throwing lefty David Price. The Rays have a new spring training home this year, leaving their old camp around the corner in St. Petersburg, Fla., to move downstate to Port Charlotte.

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Boston Red Sox

Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season).

2008: 95-67, second place, wild card.

Training Town: Fort Myers, Fla.

Park: City of Palms Park.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 18.

He's Here: RHP John Smoltz, RHP Brad Penny, OF Rocco Baldelli, C Josh Bard, RHP Ramon Ramirez, RHP Takashi Saito.

He's Outta Here: RHP David Aardsma, RHP Paul Byrd, 1B Sean Casey, C Kevin Cash, INF Alex Cora, OF Coco Crisp, RHP Mike Timlin.

Outlook: After losing the ALCS to Tampa Bay in seven games and failing to repeat as World Series champions, the Red Sox made low-cost, potentially high-reward moves. Penny joins the rotation after an injury-plagued season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Smoltz could join him there in May after major shoulder surgery while with Atlanta. Josh Beckett was sidelined by a strained side muscle late last season, and DH David Ortiz is coming off a subpar year. He hit .264 with 23 homers and made two trips to the disabled list with a left wrist injury. 3B Mike Lowell appears to be making a good recovery from hip surgery. Comeback years from Ortiz and Lowell could provide power to a team that traded slugger Manny Ramirez last July. The bullpen seems stronger with Saito and Ramirez. Baldelli brings power and an ability to play all OF positions and hopes for improvement in a medical condition that slows muscle recovery and causes extreme fatigue.

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New York Yankees

Manager: Joe Girardi (second season).

2008: 89-73, third place.

Training Town: Tampa, Fla.

Park: George M. Steinbrenner Field.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 18.

He's Here: 1B Mark Teixeira, LHP CC Sabathia, RHP A.J. Burnett, OF-1B Nick Swisher, INF Angel Berroa, C Kevin Cash, RHP Jason Johnson, INF Justin Leone, OF Todd Linden, RHP Sergio Mitre.

He's Outta Here: RHP Mike Mussina, RF Bobby Abreu, 1B Jason Giambi, C Ivan Rodriguez, RHP Sidney Ponson, RHP Darrell Rasner, INF Wilson Betemit, RHP Carl Pavano, C Chad Moeller, RHP Chris Britton, OF Justin Christian.

Outlook: After missing a postseason for the first time since 1993, the Yankees whipped out their checkbook. They spent $423.5 million on Teixeira, Sabathia and Burnett, defying the struggling economy and aggravating other teams. With the club seeking its first World Series championship since 2000, there is immense pressure on Sabathia, Teixeira, Girardi and GM Brian Cashman to deliver during the team's first season in the new Yankee Stadium (price tag: $1.5 billion). Spring training will be filled with the usual soap-opera drama: Joe Torre's book, Alex Rodriguez's psyche, Joba Chamberlain's drunken-driving arrest and much-debated role on the pitching staff (starter or reliever). But on the field, age and injuries are the most pressing matters. All-Star closer Mariano Rivera, now 39, is coming off shoulder surgery. So is 37-year-old catcher Jorge Posada. New York needs them both healthy in the worst way. RHP Chien-Ming Wang is expected back from a foot injury that cost him the final 3½ months of last season. DH Hideki Matsui is recovering from his second knee surgery in two years, one on each leg. If he returns to form, where and when will Swisher play? SS Derek Jeter, already working out in Tampa, will leave camp to play for Team USA again in the World Baseball Classic. A-Rod is switching sides to the Dominican Republic. Light-hitting speedster Brett Gardner will compete for the center field job with Melky Cabrera, who lost his starting role last season and was demoted to Triple-A. Keep an eye on touted CF prospect Austin Jackson, ticketed for more seasoning in the minors. With Chamberlain in a potentially dominant rotation that includes Sabathia, Burnett, Wang and 36-year-old Andy Pettitte, the setup situation in the bullpen could become a question mark. 2B Robinson Cano looks to rebound from his 2008 slump. Mussina retired after his first 20-win season.

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Toronto Blue Jays

Manager: Cito Gaston (first full season of current tenure, 11th with Blue Jays overall).

2008: 86-76, fourth place.

Training Town: Dunedin, Fla.

Park: Knology Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 16/Feb. 21.

He's Here: C Michael Barrett, RHP Bryan Bullington, LHP Brian Burres, C Raul Chavez, RHP Matt Clement, INF Brandon Fahey, RHP Dirk Hayhurst, OF Jason Lane, LHP Mike Maroth, DH Randy Ruiz.

He's Outta Here: RHP A.J. Burnett, OF Kevin Mench, LHP John Parrish, OF Brad Wilkerson, C Gregg Zaun.

Outlook: Pitching was Toronto's strength in 2008 — the team led the majors with a 3.49 ERA. Closer B.J. Ryan and the bullpen remain intact, but the starting rotation is in tatters. Burnett opted out of the final two years of his contract to sign with the New York Yankees, right-hander Shaun Marcum will miss the season after elbow surgery and right-hander Dustin McGowan (shoulder surgery) isn't expected back until May or June. The credit crunch and the declining value of the Canadian dollar prevented GM J.P. Ricciardi from signing big-money free agents, so Toronto will field the same lineup that hit just 126 home runs last year. OF Vernon Wells was the only player to reach the 20-homer plateau, doing so despite missing more than 50 games because of injuries. 2B Aaron Hill, limited to 55 games because of a concussion, has been declared ready to return. Along with OF Alex Rios and emerging young sluggers Travis Snider and Adam Lind, they'll try to keep Toronto afloat in the ultra-competitive AL East. The Blue Jays went 51-37 under Gaston last season after John Gibbons was fired.

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Baltimore Orioles

Manager: Dave Trembley (third season).

2008: 68-93, fifth place.

Training Town: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Park: Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 15/Feb. 19.

He's Here: INF-OF Ty Wigginton, RHP Koji Uehara, LHP Mark Hendrickson, SS Cesar Izturis, C Gregg Zaun, INF-OF Ryan Freel, OF Felix Pie, RHP David Pauley, LHP Rich Hill, LHP John Parrish, INF Chris Gomez, C Chad Moeller.

He's Outta Here: C Ramon Hernandez, LHP Garrett Olson, SS Luis Hernandez, SS Freddie Bynum, SS Brandon Fahey, SS Alex Cintron, SS Juan Castro, SS Eider Torres, RHP Daniel Cabrera, RHP Lance Cormier, OF Jay Payton, RHP Randor Bierd.

Outlook: The Orioles appear destined to endure a franchise-record 12th consecutive losing season. The starting pitching is thin, the team has little speed or power and, worst of all, has the misfortune of competing in the AL East. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the club is newcomer Uehara, Baltimore's first Japanese-born import. But the second year of Andy MacPhail's rebuilding program probably will be similar to the first one, which means the Orioles will be lucky to escape the cellar.

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CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox

Manager: Ozzie Guillen (sixth season).

2008: 88-74, first place.

Training Town: Glendale, Ariz.

Park: Camelback Ranch.

First Workout: Feb. 15/Feb. 19.

He's Here: RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Jeff Marquez, INF Wilson Betemit, INF Jayson Nix, INF Brent Lillibridge, INF Dayan Viciedo.

He's Outta Here: OF-1B Nick Swisher, RHP Javier Vazquez, OF Ken Griffey Jr., SS Orlando Cabrera, 3B Joe Crede, LHP Boone Logan, INF Juan Uribe.

Outlook: After lessening their salary load with the separate trades of Swisher and Vazquez, the White Sox will feature a younger team around the veteran core of Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski and Jermaine Dye. Alexei Ramirez, a standout at second base as a rookie last season, will move to shortstop because Cabrera was not re-signed. At third base, the White Sox will count on Josh Fields, who hit 23 homers in 100 games while filling in for an injured Crede in 2007. Fields has overcome some injuries he had in the minors last season and hopes to return to the form of two years ago. Chicago did not re-sign Crede, who had more back problems. The second base job will be a competition between Chris Getz and Lillibridge, acquired in the trade with Atlanta for Vazquez. Colon's health will be a key if he is to become the fourth starter behind Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks. The fifth starter candidates include Lance Broadway, Aaron Poreda, Marquez and Clayton Richard. The White Sox also hope to have veteran RHP Jose Contreras (ruptured Achillles') back by the All-Star break. The competition for center field includes Jerry Owens, Dewayne Wise and Brian Anderson. Guillen also must find a leadoff hitter to replace Cabrera. Bobby Jenks returns as the closer, and the White Sox hope they can keep setup man Scott Linebrink (shoulder) healthy this year. Can LF Carlos Quentin duplicate a huge 2008 season that was cut short by injury? The club paid a $5 million buyout to break its lease in Tucson, Ariz., and move into a new $100 million spring training complex in Glendale that the White Sox will share with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Minnesota Twins

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (eighth season).

2008: 88-75, second place.

Training Town: Fort Myers, Fla.

Park: Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex.

First Workout: Feb. 16/Feb. 21.

He's Here: RHP R.A. Dickey, OF Luis Matos, on minor league contracts.

He's Outta Here: SS Adam Everett, LHP Dennys Reyes, LHP Eddie Guardado.

Outlook: After losing 1-0 to the White Sox in a tiebreaker for the AL Central title last year, the Twins so far have stayed as close to status quo as possible — a stark contrast from the previous offseason when Torii Hunter left and Johan Santana was traded. With a young team that surprised most observers by coming within one win of the playoffs in 2008, there were plenty of players worth keeping and few glaring holes to fill. The rotation should only be better, and a healthy Michael Cuddyer in RF ought to give the middle of the order a boost. Questions remain, however, about the 3B platoon of Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris, and the reliability of the middle relief. All-Star closer Joe Nathan's setup men faltered down the stretch last season, and unless a late addition to the roster is made before April the Twins must count on improvement from RHPs Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier.

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Cleveland Indians

Manager: Eric Wedge (seventh season).

2008: 81-81, third place.

Training Town: Goodyear, Ariz.

Park: Goodyear Ballpark.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 17.

He's Here: RHP Kerry Wood, INF Mark DeRosa, RHP Joe Smith, INF Luis Valbuena , RHP Carl Pavano, RHP Kirk Saarloos, RHP Tomo Ohka, RHP Vinnie Chulk.

He's Outta Here: CC Sabathia, 3B Casey Blake, OF Franklin Gutierrez, OF Jason Michaels, RHP Tom Mastny, RHP Joe Borowski, RHP Brendan Donnelly, C Sal Fasano.

Outlook: The Indians went 44-28 after July 10 last season and gained 8½ games in the AL Central — too little, too late. They targeted Wood as their closer this winter and landed the right-hander with a two-year, $20.5 million contract. They're banking on him to fix a bullpen that recorded the third-fewest saves in the majors in 2008. Cliff Lee will have a tough time duplicating his spectacular Cy Young season, and the Indians need Fausto Carmona to avoid injuries and return to his 2007 form. Pavano, a bust in New York, came cheap and could be a steal. DH Travis Hafner only recently began swinging a bat following offseason shoulder surgery. If he can't get back to the 30-homer, 100-RBI neighborhood, Cleveland is probably doomed. The Indians, who trained in Tucson from 1947-92, are back in Arizona this spring after leaving their rustic home in Winter Haven, Fla., for a state-of-the-art complex in Goodyear adjacent to an 8,500-seat ballpark.

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Kansas City Royals

Manager: Trey Hillman (second season).

2008: 75-87, fourth place.

Training Town: Surprise, Ariz.

Park: Surprise Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 13/Feb. 17.

He's Here: 1B Mike Jacobs, OF Coco Crisp, INF Willie Bloomquist, RHP Kyle Farnsworth, RHP Doug Waechter, bench coach John Gibbons, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer.

He's Outta Here: RHP Leo Nunez, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, RHP Ramon Ramirez.

Outlook: The Royals have doggedly gotten a little better for three years in a row, climbing from 56 victories in 2006 to 75 in 2008 when they actually escaped last place, by one game, in the AL Central. Locking up RHP Zack Greinke to a four-year, $38 million deal in January could pave the way for their strongest rotation in more than a decade. Also on hand are right-handers Gil Meche, Luke Hochevar, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies and LHP Horacio Ramirez. All-Star closer Joakim Soria, also signed long-term, anchors a bullpen that could be strengthened by Farnsworth, a 10-year veteran. The Royals will hope outfielder Jose Guillen, last year's RBI leader with 97, can be less volatile and that 3B Alex Gordon achieves the stardom in his fourth major league season that was predicted when he was drafted No. 2 overall in 2005.

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Detroit Tigers

Manager: Jim Leyland (fourth season).

2008: 74-88, fifth place.

Training Town: Lakeland, Fla.

Park: Joker Marchant Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 17.

He's Here: RHP Brandon Lyon, RHP Edwin Jackson, SS Adam Everett, C Gerald Laird.

He's Outta Here: SS Edgar Renteria, RHP Todd Jones, LHP Kenny Rogers.

Outlook: The Tigers went from being the mythical hot-stove league champion a year ago to baseball's bust of 2008. After creating a buzz last winter by acquiring Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Renteria, Detroit had a quiet offseason this time, adding Lyon, Jackson, Everett and Laird in relatively affordable moves that addressed needs. The Tigers will need each of those four to play well, plus RHP Justin Verlander and RHP Fernando Rodney to bounce back from lackluster seasons while RHP Jeremy Bonderman and RHP Joel Zumaya rebound from injuries. If all that happens, Detroit should be a contender in the AL Central.

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WEST

Los Angeles Angels

Manager: Mike Scioscia (10th season).

2008: 100-62, first place.

Training Town: Tempe, Ariz.

Park: Diablo Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 17.

Here's Here: LHP Brian Fuentes.

He's Outta Here: 1B Mark Teixeira, RHP Francisco Rodriguez, OF Garret Anderson, RHP Jon Garland.

Outlook: The Angels were baseball's only 100-game winners in 2008, but were eliminated by Boston in the AL division series for the second consecutive year and third time in five seasons. That didn't prevent them from locking up Scioscia with a 10-year contract extension. With Rodriguez gone as a free agent, Fuentes is expected to take over as closer. As long as he's effective, the back of the bullpen should still be a strength with Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo in setup roles. All-Star RHP Ervin Santana could have an arbitration hearing looming later this month. General manager Tony Reagins has said the club's youngsters will be given an opportunity to play, so look for 26-year-old first baseman Kendry Morales to take over at Teixeira's position. The outfield is still deep with veterans Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Rivera and Reggie Willits.

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Texas Rangers

Manager: Ron Washington (third season).

2008: 79-83, second place.

Training Town: Surprise, Ariz.

Park: Surprise Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 15/Feb. 19.

He's Here: SS Elvis Andrus, SS Omar Vizquel, LHP Eddie Guardado, OF Greg Golson, pitching coach Mike Maddux.

He's Outta Here: OF-DH Milton Bradley, C Gerald Laird, RHP Wes Littleton, RHP Kameron Loe, INF Ramon Vazquez.

Outlook: The Rangers appear focused on building to win after 2009. Nolan Ryan, who became team president last February, seems to back GM Jon Daniels' ongoing plan to build from within through a minor league system recently tabbed by Baseball America as the best in baseball. The most significant change is 20-year-old SS Andrus getting promoted from Double-A to major league starter and the move of Gold Glove winner Michael Young to third base. Young, a five-time All-Star shortstop just beginning a five-year contract extension signed in 2007, initially balked and asked for a trade. Young has since reluctantly agreed to the plan. Vizquel signed a minor league deal and is expected to be a mentor to Andrus. Maddux was the most substantial addition for a pitching staff that had a major league-worst 5.37 ERA and the most overworked bullpen in the game last season. But he didn't bring his brother Greg (355 wins) out of retirement. Contract negotiations fell through with free-agent pitcher and Dallas resident Ben Sheets, who could be headed for elbow surgery. Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla, who top the rotation, each had two stints on the disabled list last season. Former first-round pick Eric Hurley was a starting candidate before season-ending surgery last month for a torn rotator cuff.

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Oakland Athletics

Manager: Bob Geren (third season).

2008: 75-86, third place.

Training Town: Phoenix.

Park: Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 19.

He's Here: 1B Jason Giambi, LF Matt Holliday, RHP Russ Springer, RHP Michael Wuertz.

He's Outta Here: RHP Huston Street, 1B Mike Sweeney, OF Matt Murton, RHP Kirk Saarloos, LHP Alan Embree, OF Carlos Gonzalez, LHP Greg Smith, LHP Lenny DiNardo.

Outlook: After essentially sacrificing last season in the name of cost-cutting and long-term growth, GM Billy Beane stopped the fire sale and pursued power in the offseason, landing Holliday and welcoming home Giambi after seven ringless years under the New York microscope. Throw in Jack Cust and Eric Chavez, who's returning from an injury-plagued year, and the A's finally might have some pop in the middle of their lineup. But Oakland's long-powerful starting rotation hasn't been such a question mark in almost a decade, with Justin Duchscherer, Dana Eveland, Sean Gallagher and Dallas Braden filling the gaps left by nearly a dozen former A's who are now pitching for other teams and bigger salaries. A playoff chase doesn't seem impossible with Oakland's hitting in the thin AL West, but the readiness of the A's pitching will determine their fate.

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Seattle Mariners

Manager: Don Wakamatsu (first season).

2008: 61-101, fourth place.

Training town: Peoria, Ariz.

Park: Peoria Stadium.

First Workout: Feb. 14/Feb. 18.

He's Here: OF Franklin Gutierrez, 1B Russell Branyan, INF Ronny Cedeno, OF Endy Chavez, LHP Garrett Olson, RHP Tyler Walker, RHP David Aardsma, DH-1B Mike Sweeney, LHP Tyler Johnson.

He's Outta Here: Manager Jim Riggleman, LF Raul Ibanez, RHP J.J. Putz, DH Jose Vidro, INF-OF Willie Bloomquist, OF Jeremy Reed, RHP Sean Green, INF Miguel Cairo, RHP R.A. Dickey, RHP Jared Wells, INF Luis Valbuena.

Outlook: Be patient. After years of trying to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001 by adding aging free agents as stopgap fixes, Seattle has fired its manager, its coaching staff, its general manager and most of the scouting department. First-time GM Jack Zduriencik says he can't "feel warm and fuzzy" about his rebuilding team. No wonder. There's a first-time manager, a new LF (Chavez), new CF (Gutierrez), new 1B (Branyan), new closer (perhaps Walker), new DH (perhaps Sweeney) and an expensive catcher (Kenji Johjima) who slumped to .227 last season with 7 homers and 39 RBIs. Plus, Gold Glove 3B Adrian Beltre and recently injured pitcher Erik Bedard are entering the final years of their contracts. The Mariners are challenging veterans by making spring training a proving ground at nearly every position but Ichiro Suzuki's — he won't arrive in camp until perhaps late March, after playing in the World Baseball Classic. With an electric arm, Felix Hernandez leads an experienced rotation that was a huge disappointment last year.