American League Capsules

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A team-by-team look at the American League in spring training:

EAST

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Manager: Davey Johnson (2nd season).

Training Town: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Park: Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: P Jimmy Key, SS Mike Bordick, OF Eric Davis, P Scott Kamieniecki, P Roger McDowell.

He's Outta Here: P David Wells, OF Bobby Bonilla, 1B/DH Eddie Murray, OF Mike Devereaux, 3B Todd Zeile, C Mark Parent.

Worth Watching: Bordick's arrival has hastened Cal Ripken's shift from shortstop to third base, a move even the staunchest Ripken supporters now realize is essential.

BOSTON RED SOX

Manager: Jimy Williams (1st season).

Training Town: Fort Myers, Fla.

Park: City of Palms Park.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 18. Rest of Squad: Feb. 22.

He's Here: P Bret Saberhagen, OF Shane Mack, P Steve Avery, P John Wasdin.

He's Outta Here: P Roger Clemens, OF/DH Jose Canseco, OF Mike Greenwell.

Worth Watching: A battle at shortstop between incumbent starter John Valentin and Nomar Garciaparra, thought to be the favorite of general manager Dan Duquette.

DETROIT TIGERS

Manager: Buddy Bell (2nd season).

Training Town: Lakeland, Fla.

Park: Joker Marchant Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 18. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: OF Vince Coleman, P Dan Miceli, P Todd Jones, SS Orlando Miller, OF Brian Hunter, C Brian Johnson, P Willie Blair.

He's Outta Here: OF Ruben Sierra, C Brad Ausmus, P Jose Lima, P Joey Eischen, SS Alan Trammell.

Worth Watching: Youngsters Justin Thompson and Mike Drumright are seen as Tigers' pitching tandem of the future. Both are hard throwers and spent time last season rehabbing shoulder problems. Thompson, a lefty, is expected to start season in rotation.

NEW YORK YANKEES

Manager: Joe Torre (2nd season).

Training Town: Tampa, Fla.

Park: Legends Field.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: P David Wells, P Mike Stanton, OF Mark Whiten.

He's Outta Here: P John Wetteland, P Jimmy Key, C Jim Leyritz, 2B Tony Fernandez.

Worth Watching: Wells is off to a rocky start with his new team. Less than a month after signing a three-year, $13.5 million deal, Wells sustained a fractured left hand in a brawl outside a nightclub in San Diego. Mr. Steinbrenner can't be too pleased.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Manager: Cito Gaston (9th season).

Training Town: Dunedin, Fla.

Park: Dunedin Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 16. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: P Roger Clemens, OF Orlando Merced, 2B Carlos Garcia, P Dan Plesac, C Benito Santiago, P Robert Person.

He's Outta Here: 1B John Olerud.

Worth Watching: Clemens, Pat Hentgen, the AL's Cy Young winner in '96, and Juan Guzman form one of baseball's best starting trios, and have some thinking Jays will be in playoff hunt.

CENTRAL

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Manager: Terry Bevington (3rd season).

Training Town: Sarasota, Fla.

Park: Ed Smith Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 15. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: OF Albert Belle, P Jaime Navarro, P Roger McDowell, P Doug Drabek, P Kevin Tapani.

He's Outta Here: P Alex Fernandez, DH Danny Tartabull.

Worth Watching: With Tartabull gone, right field is open with rookie Mike Cameron expected to battle Tony Phillips for the job. Phillips has been moved out of left with Belle's arrival.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Manager: Mike Hargrove (7th season).

Training Town: Winter Haven, Fla.

Park: Chain O' Lakes Park.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 13. Rest of Squad: Feb. 17.

He's Here: 3B Matt Williams, P Mike Jackson, OF Kevin Mitchell, OF Chad Curtis, 2B Tony Fernandez, 2B Robby Thompson.

He's Outta Here: OF Albert Belle, IF Jose Vizcaino, IF Jeff Kent, P Julian Tavarez, P Dennis Martinez.

Worth Watching: Look for Albie Lopez, Brian Anderson and Bartolo Colon to compete for Tribe's No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, which was unproductive last year. Colon had impressive winter season.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Manager: Bob Boone (3rd season).

Training Town: Haines City, Fla.

Park: Baseball City Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 15. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: DH Chili Davis, IF Jeff King, SS Jay Bell.

He's Outta Here: P Mark Gubicza, 3B Joe Randa.

Worth Watching: After getting one save from left-handed relievers last season, Royals' search for help has brought them to Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams, who recently signed a minor league contract. Williams, 32, last pitched in the majors in '95.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Manager: Phil Garner (6th season).

Training Town: Chandler, Ariz.

Park: Compadre Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 16. Rest of Squad: Feb. 20.

He's Here: No major moves.

He's Outta Here: No major moves.

Worth Watching: Battle for center field is expected between Chuck Carr and Gerald Williams. Carr is rehabilitating his knee following major surgery last year. Williams came over with pitcher Bob Wickman in late-season trade with Yanks.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Manager: Tom Kelly (12th season).

Training Town: Fort Myers, Fla.

Park: Lee County Sports Complex.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 16. Rest of Squad: Feb. 21.

He's Here: C Terry Steinbach, P Bob Tewksbury, 1B Greg Colbrunn.

He's Outta Here: C Matt Walbeck.

Worth Watching: Steinbach, who is expected to bat clean-up or fifth, provides power to a lineup which ranked last in the majors with only 118 homers in '96. Steinbach hit a career-high 35 for A's last year.

WEST

ANAHEIM ANGELS

Manager: Terry Collins (1st season).

Training Town: Mesa, Ariz.

Park: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 18.

He's Here: P Mark Gubicza, P Allen Watson, C Jim Leyritz, 1B Eddie Murray.

He's Outta Here: DH Chili Davis, 1B J.T. Snow, OF/IF Rex Hudler.

Worth Watching: Pitcher Jim Abbott, 2-18 with a league-worst 7.48 ERA, is still around. He'll compete with rookie Jason Dickson for No. 5 spot.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Manager: Art Howe (2nd season).

Training Town: Phoenix, Ariz.

Park: Phoenix Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 16. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: OF/DH Jose Canseco, C Dave Valle.

He's Outta Here: SS Mike Bordick, P John Wasdin, C Terry Steinbach.

Worth Watching: The Bash Brothers are back, as Canseco is re-united with Mark McGwire. The duo combined for 416 home runs for Oakland from 1986-92. McGwire is the only player left from 1992 team that won the AL West.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Manager: Lou Piniella (5th season).

Training Town: Peoria, Ariz.

Park: Peoria Sports Complex.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: P Jeff Fassero, P Scott Sanders, 3B Mike Blowers, 3B Chris Sabo.

He's Outta Here: P Mike Jackson, OF Mark Whiten, P Sterling Hitchcock, P Terry Mulholland.

Worth Watching: Randy Johnson's back. The 6-foot-10 left-hander expects to be ready by early April following surgery last year for a bulging disc. The 1995 Cy Young winner pitched in just eight games last season.

TEXAS RANGERS

Manager: Johnny Oates (3rd season).

Training Town: Port Charlotte, Fla.

Park: Charlotte County Stadium.

Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 13. Rest of Squad: Feb. 19.

He's Here: P John Wetteland, P Xavier Hernandez, OF Mike Devereaux.

He's Outta Here: P Mike Stanton, C Dave Valle, SS Kevin Elster, OF Darryl Hamilton.

Worth Watching: The time is now for Rangers, who went spending crazy during the off-season by signing free agent Wetteland and re-signing catcher Ivan Rodriguez, third baseman Dean Palmer and pitcher Roger Pavlik -- all three were up for arbitration.