Milwaukee Brewers
By Andrew Dambeck
On the heels of their first winning season in 15 years, the Milwaukee Brewers head into the 2008 season with a lot more confidence and experience than a year ago.
The Brewers were among baseball's most complete teams prior to the All-Star break in 2007, jumping out to a big first-place lead early in a weak National League Central.
But Milwaukee's success would not continue into the latter part of the season. The Cubs surged during the month of June to narrow the first place gap, while the Brewers kept finding ways to beat themselves.
The Brewers entered the offseason looking to bolster the two major weaknesses on their roster: bullpen depth and defense. The loss of All-Star closer Francisco Cordero in free agency to Cincinnati was a crushing blow to Milwaukee's front office, but it triggered a slew of acquisitions that compiled a promising bullpen. Milwaukee signed relievers David Riske, Guillermo Mota and Saloman Torres and capped off the buying frenzy with all-time consecutive saves record holder Eric Gagne, who will assume closing duties in 2008.
Defensively, the Brewers signed veteran catchers Jason Kendall and Eric Munson while netting a bench upgrade in outfielder Gabe Kapler and three-time Gold Glove centerfielder Mike Cameron. However, Cameron will miss the first 25 games of the season after violating the leagues' substance abuse policy.
The biggest question mark heading into Spring Training was the move of 2007 NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun from third base to left field - a position he has never played at any level. So far, however, Braun's transition appears to have been a smooth one.
However, the question now is the starting rotation as Yovanni Gallardo will likely miss the first two weeks of the season with an injured knee, and former 18-game winner Chris Capuano will undergo reconstructive shoulder surgery for the second time in his career.
In a surprising move Tuesday the Brewers also cut starter Claudio Vargas, sliding Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra into the final two spots in the starting rotation.
Nevertheless, the Brewers are no longer flying under the radar and are expected to be one of the few teams scrapping for a playoff spot in the final stretch of the marathon to October.
Chicago White Sox
By Adam Hoge
The major story for the White Sox this spring is the logjam at third base, where Joe Crede and Josh Fields are both capable of starting. Crede is the proven veteran and one of the best defensive third basemen in the league, but is coming off back surgery. Fields hit 23 home runs and had 67 RBIs in 100 games last season while Crede missed time. The thought was that Crede would be traded and Fields would become the full-time starter, but General Manager Kenny Williams has received no offers and it looks like Field might have to start the season in Triple-A.
Although the biggest story was something that did not happen, Williams was still able to make a few moves this off season. He brought in former Oakland slugger Nick Swisher, whose high on-base percentage will help Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye see better pitches. Orlando Cabrera also comes to Chicago in a trade that sent Jon Garland to Anaheim.
He gives manager Ozzie Guillen a solid No. 2 hitter, but the lead off spot is still a question mark with centerfielder Jerry Owens continuing to struggle against lefties. Guillen will probably start Pablo Ozuna at second base against tough lefties and bat Owens ninth in that situation.
The White Sox will have a tough lineup all season, but it's likely to vary every day, which could result in some inconsistency. Losing Garland in the rotation will hurt, but Buerhle and Vazquez are primed for big seasons.
If one of the Chicago's young pitchers (John Danks or Gavin Floyd) can emerge, the Sox could compete in the division. That's likely a stretch, however, because Cleveland and Detroit will probably be too difficult to compete with.
Chicago Cubs
By Gabe Ubatuba
The Cubs hope to repeat their first place NL Central finish this year by adding a star from the Far East and changing up their pitching staff.
The Cubs signed Japanese player Kosuke Fukudome to a $48 million contract in the offseason and will start as the Cubs' right fielder. Fukudome, who played nine years with the Chunichi Dragons before signing with the Cubs, brings solid power and a much needed left-handed hitter to the predominantly right-handed lineup.
The addition of Fukudome makes the Cubs' offense, which featured the trio of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez last season, even more dangerous. Fukudome will bat fifth, which will assure him plenty of RBI opportunities and, combined with his previous experience, will make him a heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year.
Carlos Zambrano will still lead off the Cubs' pitching rotation. New to the rotation will be right-handed former closer Ryan Dempster, who will be sandwiched between left-handers Ted Lilly and Rich Hill in the third spot.
Jason Marquis will round out the rotation, winning the spot over Jon Lieber, who will work out of the bullpen.
Replacing Dempster as closer will be Kerry Wood. Although Wood was briefly unable to play during spring training because of back spasms, he walked zero batters and struck out 10 in 10 appearances. If he can remain healthy and continue to throw in the high 90s, he will be a lockdown closer.
With these improvements to an already playoff-quality team, Cubs fans, on the 100-year anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series Title, have a season to look forward to.
Minnesota Twins
By Jamie McMahon
As other top-tier American League Central teams maintained or improved over the winter, Minnesota endured an offseason most Twins fans have grudgingly come to expect.
Shipping off star players to maintain a modest payroll?
Check.
Signing an over-the-hill veteran to an expensive one-year deal?
Check.
Nick Punto still on team?
Sigh. Check.
The only check"" the Twins weren't able to produce was the blank one demanded by ace pitcher Johan Santana. His departure for New York, as well as franchise center fielder Torii Hunter's move to Los Angeles, will leave Minnesota fans reeling until a few years down the road, at which point the moves will manifest into the best trades in MLB history.
Twins management likely have their eyes set a couple years down the road anyway - specifically 2010, when the team's new ballpark is set to open. The hope is that up-and-coming pitchers like Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker and promising position players like Delmon Young and the injury-plagued Joe Mauer will mature in time for opening day in the new stadium.
As for this year, Minnesota should be happy with a third-place finish in the division.
The team has surprised before, but without an established pitcher to anchor the rotation or a clear team leader like Hunter, the Twins may struggle coming out of the gates. In 2006 they overcame a slow start in miraculous fashion, but it was largely fueled by team chemistry.
The two players most responsible for that chemistry? Probably Hunter and Santana.
If the Twins hope to come even close to competing for a playoff spot this year, their young rotation will have to mature unreasonably quickly. Considering this year's past-his-prime vet Livan Hernandez will likely make twice as much as the rest of the starting rotation combined, that may be a bit of a stretch.
