IN: LF Rocky Colavito, CF Roberto Clemente, C Johnny Romano, MR Dick Selma
OUT: C Sammy Taylor, MR Larry Sherry

Lineup: Colavito returns to give the East's best offense a further boost, completing a quartet of legitimate 100-RBI men (with Petrocelli, McAuliffe, and Cepeda).

Bench: Plenty of outfield cover with platooning Clemente and Hinton.  Manny Sanguillen among best backup catchers in the circuit.

Rotation: Decimated by injuries a year ago, left-leaning Boston staff (4/5 left-handers) looks as stong as ever.  Blyleven, still a teenager, could emerge as staff ace if he stays healthy.

Bullpen: "The Mad Hungarian", with 10 saves in his rookie campaign, is likely to get more save chances than Ray Clone, who is old enough to be his father.  Selma adds needed right-handed depth.

Outlook: Feds fell one game short of first World Series last year despite more than half of its staff spending time on the DL.  Healthy Blyleven and addition of Colavito should make Boston a legit title contender.
  

IN: LF Frank Robinson, 3B Tony Perez, *SP Bart Johnson,
*3B Steve Braun, *LF Johnny Grubb, *2B Davey Lopes
OUT: RF Mickey Mantle, LF Hank Aaron, SP Ken Holtzman, SP Sammy Ellis, MR Dick Selma, C Duane Josephson, 2B Joe Foy

Lineup: Belated rebuilding begins from the ground up under returning GM Glen Reed, who returns to the Frank after seven years in Atlanta.  Pat Kelly and Johnny Grubb fill the huge shoes of Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron until Frank Robinson comes off DL.

Bench: Tony Perez, a 25-homer man with the Colts, could challenge Horton for the 1B job, and Ted Sizemore will spot for rookie Davey Lopes.  Otherwise, options are very thin.

Rotation: No relief for the league's worst rotation.  Two rookies will join the mix in an initial six-man rotation to weed out the stinkers: candidates aplenty.

Bullpen: Ray Lamb was about the only bright spot of a dismal campaign, but must shake perceptions of a flash in the pan.  Jim Barr and Chuck Taylor are poised for breakout years in setup roles.

Outlook: Nowhere to go but up after two 100-loss seasons, but Reed's focus is far in the future and anything higher than fifth place would be a surprise.
  

IN: C Duane Josephson, *LF Ben Oglivie, *LF Hal McRae, *2B Rennie Stennett, *SS Freddie Patek, *MR Charlie Williams
OUT: SP Steve Kline, LF Matty Alou

Lineup: Four new faces in the bottom of the lineup, but none are notable upgrades, and Stennett and McRae look like downgrades to Don Money and Matty Alou.  You know you are in trouble when you just set the record for fewest runs scored and your best new bat (Josephson) is a .248 hitter.  On the plus side, Maddux is on the brink of superstardom.

Bench: Look for rookie Ben Oglivie to work his way into the lineup and Don Money to recapture full-time hot corner duties.

Rotation: Cy winner Palmer anchors deepest staff in the game.  McAnally is coming off 7-2 first year and rookie fireballer J.R. Richard should make a splash.  Rick Reuschel and Burt Hooton waiting in the wings should Foster falter.

Bullpen: Humphreys' 45 saves in last two years looks impressive; his 3-17 record and 1:1 K/W ratio do not.  Expect Steve Mingori to move to set-up or closer role and Charlie Williams to move down to long relief.

Outlook: Expect a fourth straight losing season and even lower-scoring games at Municipal Stadium as the best pitching gets better but the worst offense gets worse. 
 

IN: SP Ron Kline, RF Billy Williams, SP Ken Holtzman, LF Matty Alou, MR Larry Sherry
OUT: SP Joey Jay, C Charlie Lau

Lineup: Billy Williams is unlikely to replace Frank Howard's 30 dingers and 90 ribs a year, and offense overall looks weaker than a year ago.  But Grich is arguably the top emerging second basemen in the league.

Bench: Matty Alou and Carl Yastrzemski give new manager Horsch left-handed pinch hitting options and Larry Brown is a glove wiz at three infield positions.

Rotation: Top 3 are solid, especially Ramos, who is closing in 300 wins.
Pressure on 40-year-old Kline and marginal southpaw Holtzman, who has endured 18- and 19-loss seasons, to prop up tail end of rotation.  Plenty of help north of the border in Toronto, however, especially lefties Jerry Reuss and Ross Grimsley.

Bullpen: Impressive lefty Ramon Hernandez assumes closer role, as Tex Clevenger, with 210 career saves, moves to mid-relief after disastrous '71.  Joe Hoerner is another possible closer after three sub-3.00 seasons and a dozen saves last year.

Outlook: New GM John Horsch is wisely talking down expectations, but after two near misses and essentially the same personnel, don't rule out the Flyin' Lions.
 

IN: 2B Ron Hunt, *SP Don Gullett, *C Carlton Fisk, 3B Ed Charles, LF Spanky Spangler, 1B Mike Hegan
OUT: LF Matty Alou

Lineup: Pinson and Hunt should set the plate, but will former 100-RBI men Stargell and Ward snap out of multi-year funks?  Bottom of the order--Rodriguez and newcomers Spangler and Charles--is as good as they come.

Bench: OF Jim Holt and SS Zoilo Versalles flash some great leather, and Carlton Fisk, this year's 3rd overall pick, gives the Sox one of the best catching tandems in the league.

Rotation: Compelling mix of young and old, from 14-year veteran Anderson to rookie Gullett, but quality throughout.  Look for Seaver to have a breakout year and for Anderson to bounce back from a rough '71.

Bullpen: Upshaw is among leagu'es top closers, and Buzz Capra was stellar in September call-up, but beyond that, options fade quickly.

Outlook: Pitching is too thin to challenge for the pennant, but the Stockings should break the .500 mark after two losing campaigns.
 

IN: *SP Clay Kirby, *CF Al Bumbry, *MR Fred Beene
OUT: CL Ray Narleski, LF Floyd Robinson

Lineup: Blomberg for Lee Thomas is only change from pennant-winning lineup of the last two seasons.  Look for Joe Rudi in batting chase and a power boost for Carbo.

Bench: Very green bench, with four rookies, including 27-year-old Cito Gaston, who breaks in after four years in Triple-A Baltimore, and Al Bumbry, this year's 9th overall pick and the #5 batting prospect.

Rotation: Messersmith takes over ace role from Podres, 39, who has averaged 16 wins in the four seasons since he turned 35.  D.C. native Clay Kirby gets regular starting job.  All eyes will be on Don Wilson after his expected late-April  return from a broken elbow.

Bullpen: Biggest weakness.  Don Drysdale is the only proven quantity in very young relief corps.  Obscure South Dakotan takes closer job after retirement of all-time save leader Ray Narleski, and rookies Fred Beene and Ed Farmer start season with the big club.

Outlook: Look for third straight pennant, but only if Wilson returns strong and Fosse and Rudi return to their 1970 form.  Inexperienced bench and bullpen puts a premium on health. 
 

IN: 2B Joe Morgan, RF Ron Fairly, MR Grant Jackson, *MR Randy Moffitt
OUT: 3B Felix Mantilla, LF Rocky Colavito, 2B Bernie Allen, MR Don Gross

Lineup: Departure of high-priced Rocky Colavito and Felix Mantilla will put a damper on last year's record-breaking offense, but make no mistake, this team can still score runs.  Look for Torre and Bando arguably the best 3-4 combo in the league.

Bench: Amazing plate discipline up and down the bench, with a ton of high-OBP guys to keep the offense rolling when the regulars step off the field.

Rotation: Reed earns ace job after second straight sub-3.00 ERA and Carlton looks stronger than ever and should return to 20-win form.  Timmermann and Dal Canton probably overachieved last year, but the staff was among the most durable in the league, with all five logging 30-plus starts.

Bullpen: Solid.  Frank Linzy notched 13 relief wins, rookies Mike Corkins and Randy Moffitt look more than capable.  Lefty Grant Jackson hopes his new setting helps to shake a four-year slump.

Outlook: Toppers won't set any scoring records this year, but improved pitching should compensate enough to keep them in the hunt for the first successful West Division title defense in six years.
  

IN: 3B Felix Mantilla, LF Hank Aaron, SP Stan Bahnsen, 2B Joe Foy
OUT: CF Roberto Clemente, 3B Tony Perez, MR Dooley Womack

Lineup: Revamping a sagging offense was priority 1 at Comiskey Park.  Maris should benefit from batting ahead of Mantilla.  Taylor could make another run at the batting title, but aging slugger Aaron is turning into a one-trick pony, with 40 homers but just .234 average over last two years.

Bench: Thin bench stocked with a whole lot of fringe players of questionable major-league pedigree, aside from RF Merv Rettenmund, who could steal Aaron's strating job.

Rotation: "Sing Sing" and "Wilbah" make formidable 1-2 punch.  40-year-old Bob Friend just notched win #250, but can he maintain his form and will Bill Parsons avoid a sophomore jinx?

Bullpen: League's best bullpen last year.  B.D. Johnson is 4th all-time with 53 saves in his first two seasons, but supporting cast overperformed, especially Darold Knowles.

Outlook: Chicago's top 5-6 stars are as good as they get, but lack of depth means the club will struggle if the injury bug bites.  But you can't rule out the Colts, who pulled off a worst-to-first transformation just two years ago.

 

IN: *SP Spaceman Lee, *SP Dick Tidrow, SP Sammy Ellis, SS Mike De La Hoz
OUT: SP Ron Kline

Lineup: Cedeno, Crawford, and Carew finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in batting, Bailey finished 5 RBI shy of 100, and all of them should improve in '72.  If Chambliss and Kingman develop, this could be the UL's top offense.

Bench: Quality up-the-middle leather with combination of C Duke Sims, IF Billy Consolo, and CF Del Unser.  1B Gail Hopkins is overdue to emerge after hitting .223 over three seasons.

Rotation: Makeshift staff; only Perry has more than 20 major league starts over last two years.  Simpson, Merritt, and Lee promoted from bullpen, and Tidrow dives into the deep end after going 10th overall in this year's draft.

Bullpen: Cleveland's 28 saves were second in league and Jim Willoughby had impressive rookie year, but mid-relief is a distinct Achilles' heel.

Outlook: Win-now offense plus rebuilding staff equals another winning season, but unless the rotation gels quickly the Lone Stars will  experience the pennant race as spectators rather than participants.
   

IN: SP Steve Kline, MR Don Gross, MR Dooley Womack, LF Floyd Robinson, C George Mitterwald
OUT: LF Frank Robinson, 2B Ron Hunt, SP Johnny Kucks, SP Stan Bahnsen, C Tim McCarver

Lineup: The two Kens--Henderson and Singleton--are poised for monster years, but Frank Robinson's departure leaves gaping hole in lineup.  Grabarkewitz is developing into solid leadoff man and Demeter, despite just 58 games, posted highest slugging percentage in 8 years.

Bench: Floyd Robinson brings a solid bat, and Jimmy Wynn adds speed and outfield defense.  Infield backups look bleak.

Rotation: Third best staff is seasoned and durable, and should improve with addition of Steve Kline.  Gibbon is only starter over 30, and he was 17-11.

Bullpen: Tatum was a revelation, slicing his ERA in half and tripling his saves.  Tom Burgmeier was excellent, but is inconsistent, and Don Gross hasn't pitched well since 1969. 

Outlook: All the pieces are here for a pennant run if the bottom of the order picks up its production and the bullpen holds up.

IN: RF Mickey Mantle, 2B Bernie Allen, C Tim McCarver, *SP Jon Matlack, *SP Dick Drago
OUT: 2B Joe Morgan, C Johnny Romano, RF Ron Fairly, SS Mike De La Hoz, C George Mitterwald, 1B Mike Hegan

Lineup: Addition of Allen and Mantle creates one of the most fearsome lineups in the league.  Fregosi and Flood are back from major injuries, and Nettles will look to build on his breakout year.

Bench: Roy White, Don Pavletich, and rookie Ron Cey are all starter-quality, but middle infield options are thin.

Rotation: Two rookies and a second-year man with just 3 major league starts puts added pressure on "veterans" Sutton (26) and Ryan (25).

Bullpen: Addition of closer LaRoche and Danny Coombs strengthens a long-standing weakness, though Coombs missed a full year to Tommy John surgery and will miss the first month.

Outlook: Smith continues to strengthen his core with the addition of Allen and Mantle.  The young hurlers should get plenty of run support and the Maroons will contend if the rotation stays healthy.
 

IN: *MR Barry Lersch
OUT: RF Billy Williams

Lineup: Brock and Munson will get on base, and Mayberry will drive them in, but beyond that the runs could be few and far between.

Bench: Lee May is a big bopper good for pinch dongs, and Mark Belanger is a solid shortstop who could replace the rapidly declining Ron Hansen.

Rotation: Look for staff to improve on last year's mediocre performance (7th overall), especially if Bosman and Jenkins bounce back from off years.

Bullpen: One of the top pens returns intact.  McGraw won an Ullie with league-high 30 saves, Barry Lersch had great rookie performance, and Jim "Sting" Ray was outstanding.

Outlook: Spiders will again have one of the best pitching staffs, but they lack the firepower to keep up with the Joneses in the highly competitive West Division.