1)  Boston Red Sox

2007 Record:  96-66 (1st in AL East, World Champions)

Manager:  Terry Francona (5th Season)

New Additions:  1B Sean Casey, RHP Dan Kolb, RHP David Aardsma

Key Losses:  1B-OF Eric Hinske, INF Royce Clayton

Outlook:  The defending champs return the most complete team in the division, with the best clubhouse and team chemistry in all of baseball.  The Sox still have Josh Beckett anchoring the rotation, Jonathan Papelbon the bullpen, as well as David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and World Series MVP Mike Lowell the offense.  They also have an influx of young talent, with future star Jacoby Ellsbury moving into the starting center field role, as well as young guns Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz in the rotation.  The only major concern coming in is Curt Schilling's bum shoulder, which will sideline him until at least the All-Star break, if not the entire season.  This hurts the Red Sox pitching depth at the very least, and could really hurt if Schilling and his big game experience are not available in the postseason, opening the door to the AL pennant to teams like New York, Detroit, and Cleveland.  Still, the Red Sox depth and chemistry makes them the favorites in AL East.  I see the Bosox winning around 100 games once again, and as long as Josh Beckett is breathing they will always be a tough out in the postseason.  The Sox, and rightly so, have been installed as favorites to win the World Series at around 7/2, although playing the role of favorite hasn't worked out too well for Boston-based teams in 2008.  

2)  New York Yankees

2007 Record:  94-68 (2nd in AL East, lost in ALDS)

Manger:  Joe Girardi (1st Season)

New Additions:  RHP LaTroy Hawkins, IF Morgan Ensburg, RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, OF Jason Lane

Key Losses:  RHP Roger Clemens, RHP Luis Vizcaino, LHP Ron Villone, RHP Tyler Clippard, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, IF Andy Phillips

Outlook:  The Yankees two biggest concerns are greater than any the Red Sox face entering the 2008 campaign.  First, Joe Girardi who did an excellent job with a young, talented, over-achieving Marlins team in 2006, will have to a adjust to star-studded roster full of big egos.  Remember, Girardi was fired for clashing with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria in Florida, I would very much enjoy seeing what would happen if he behaved like that in New York.  The bigger concern is the Yankee pitching  staff.  Chien-Ming Wang must bounce back from a disasterous ALDS vs. Cleveland and prove he is a legit ace.  Andy Pettitte had an ERA over four last season, and returns amidst steroid allegation and near retirement.  Mike Mussina lost his job in the rotation last year, and appeared to have little left in the tank.  Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy, though talented, have combined to make 35 big league appearances.  The Yankees should keep Chamberlain in the bullpen.  He is unproven as a starter and although he could give the rotation a boost, his absence will create an irreplaceable void in the 8th inning.  The Yankees offseason started out well by retaining three time MVP Alex Rodriguez, glue-guy Jorge Posada, as well as Mariano Rivera.  Still, Yankee fans cannot be too happy about Brian Cashman not trading for ace Johan Santana, a pitcher the Bombers desperately needed to put them over the top.  Cashman's decision may cost him his job if it backfires.  Despite pitching concerns, the Yankees are fortunate to have old reliable Mariano Rivera closing games as well as a high powered offense.  These two things will always make the Yanks contenders, but the young pitchers will make or break their 2008 fate.

 3)  Toronto Blue Jays

2007 Record:  83-79 (3rd in AL East)

Manager:  John Gibbons (5th season)

New Additions:  3B Scott Rolen, SS David Eckstein, IF Marco Scutaro, OF Buck Coats, RHP Randy Wells, RHP Shawn Camp, RHP Lance Carter, LHP Lance Parrish

Key Losses:  3B Troy Glaus, RHP Josh Towers, RHP Ty Taubenheim, IF Ray Olmedo

Outlook:  This is key season for the Blue Jays as another underachieving season could put manager John Gibbons' job in jeopardy.  The Blue Jays played well down the stretch in 2007, but early injuries derailed their season.  The Blue Jays should be solid offensively by returning Frank Thomas, Vernon Wells, and Lyle Overbay to the middle of their batting order, as well as the fine additions of Scott Rolen and David Eckstein who should play well in a new environment.  The key will be keeping Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett healthy atop the rotation, as well as closer B.J. Ryan.  The Jays pitching is not quite as strong as that of the Red Sox and Yankees.  I cannot see them overtaking the top two teams in the division, but this team has enough talent to be in the race until September.

4)  Tampa Bay Rays

2007 Record:  66-96 (5th place in AL East)

Manager:  Joe Maddon (3rd Season)

New Additions:  RHP Troy Percival, RHP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett, 3B Willy Aybar, OF Cliff Floyd, LHP Trevor Miller, 1B Eric Hinske, LHP Brian Anderson

Key Losses:  OF Delmon Young, OF Elijah Dukes, IF Brendan Harris, RHP Jay Witasick, LHP Jeff Ridgway, RHP Shawn Camp

Outlook:  You have to like what the Rays have done adding talented young right hander Matt Garza to Scott Kazmir and James Shields atop the rotation as well as veteran Troy Percival as the closer.  The Rays have as many talented young position players as anyone including Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, and Rocco Baldelli.  Scoring runs should not be a problem, and with Percival and Al Reyes in the setup role, Tampa might be able to hold on to a few more leads this year.  Look for the Ray to win about 10 more games than last year, and leapfrog the Orioles in the division.

5)  Baltimore Orioles

2007 Record:  69-93 (4th place in AL East)

Manager:  Dave Trembley (1st Season)

New Additions:  OF Luke Scott, RHP Matt Albers, LHP Troy Patton, RHP Dennis Sarfate, RHP Greg Aquino, RHP Lance Cormier, RHP Esteban Yan, C Guillermo Quiroz, 3B Michael Costanzo, LHP Ryan Rodriguez, 1B Tim Brown, RHP J.P. Martinez, RHP Randor Bierd

Key Losses:  LHP Erik Bedard, SS Miguel Tejada, CF Corey Patterson, OF Jay Payton, RHP Todd Williams, RHP Rob Bell, C J.R. House, RHP Victor Santos

Outlook:  There is no hope for the '08 Orioles.  A once proud franchise, playing their home games in beautiful Camden Yards, and based in a nice port city has been driven straight into the ground by owner Peter Angelos.  The Orioles traded away their biggest bright spot in Erik Bedard, because he had no desire to sign long term with the team.  They traded away the face of their franchise in Miguel Tejada.  But hey at least they kept Brian Roberts; although he was named in the Mitchell Report.  Unlike Tampa who has some exciting young players, the O's do not have very many good looking young core players.  You have to feel for Baltimore fans as the Red Sox and Yankees will feast on the birds this season.