By Staci Wolfson

• 2007 MLB Preview | American League Preview | National League Preview
 
As final cuts are made and spring training winds down, baseball fans across the country are sitting back, enjoying the spring and sipping from glasses half full while assessing the 2006-07 offseason.

A comparatively mild one, this offseason was nevertheless sprinkled with curious contracts, new steroid scandals, familiar faces and something called a gyroball.
 
The winter didn't look too different for the American League, which featured its usual New York soap opera, some old-fashioned overspending and some angry ex-Orioles. And the National League kept up with the big spending and its own saga on the West Coast. 

When the perennially successful Yankees take the field Opening Day, all eyes in the Bronx will be on outcast third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who started out his offseason with a bang by publicly discussing the faltering friendship he once maintained with star shortstop Derek Jeter. Now, days before the season begins, the spotlight remains on Rodriguez and whether or not he will opt out of the remaining years in his contract to play for a more welcoming city.

While the Yankees were unusually quiet this offseason, their free-spending opponents in Boston opened up the wallet and responded quickly to their third-place finish. The Red Sox immediately went after Japanese pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka and attempted to patch up their bullpen with Brendan Donnelly, Hideki Okajima, J.C. Romero, Joel Pineiro and Runelvys Hernandez. 

The Orioles made some noise of their own, padding the bullpen and the lineup. While Baltimore fans scrutinize the new faces in Charm City, they will not forget to keep tabs on the old faces. 

Last year's Opening Day pitcher Rodrigo Lopez found a new home in Colorado, where he was temporarily paired with his oft-personal catcher Javy Lopez, until the backstop was released. Sammy Sosa took his bat and his troubled past with him to Texas, while Sidney Ponson took a 4.39 ERA and a host of legal issues with him to Minnesota. 

The Twins' starting rotation, lacking Francisco Liriano and Brad Radke, will likely include Ponson, who criticized the Baltimore fans and media when he faced the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale.

In the NL, the world will watch and many will cringe as Barry Bonds chases Hank Aaron for the career home run title. With 22 left, Bonds has a short way to go.

While Detroit fans hope that the Tigers' Cinderella story continues into this season, St. Louis is waiting to see if the Cardinals can defend their World Series title, having lost much of their starting rotation. Without Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis, Jeff Weaver and Mark Mulder, Tony La Russa will turn to Chris Carpenter, Kip Wells, Braden Looper, Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes. Without Carpenter's 15 wins, the St. Louis rotation combined for a total of 18 wins last year.

The Cardinals aren't the only ones in the NL with starting pitching problems. After scrounging for pitching in last year's postseason, the New York Mets did little to boost their rotation. This season, the Mets will rely on aging veterans Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez; Mike Pelfry, who had four starts last year; former Oriole John Maine, who boasts a 3.07 ERA this spring; and Oliver Perez, who went 3-13 last season.

Tired of losing, the Chicago Cubs took a hint from the New Yorkers, spending almost $300 million this offseason. The bulk of the cash went to Alfonso Soriano, though it remains unclear what position he will play. Chicago also doled out big dollars for manager Lou Piniella, pitchers Ted Lilly and Neal Cotts and outfielder Cliff Floyd.

And it wouldn't be an MLB offseason without steroid stories and sky-high signings. A number of ex-Oriole names again popped up as more details were made public in the BALCO scandal. 

Los Angeles Angel Gary Matthews Jr. refused to address accusations that he used Human Growth Hormone (HGH) before he publicly denied it after two weeks. And Texas Ranger Jerry Hairston Jr.'s name was brought into the mix, though he immediately denied his part as well. 

Matthews and Hairston only lengthened the list of Orioles, current and past, whose names have been tainted by the investigation. The former Orioles outfielder and second baseman join former pitcher Jason Grimsley, former first basemen David Segui and Rafael Palmeiro, and current Orioles Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons.

Matthews also made headlines this offseason when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed him to a five-year, $50 million deal, despite his unremarkable career numbers. In addition to the Orioles and the Angels, Matthews has been a member of five other teams over the course of his eight-year career.

Matthews wasn't the only small name making a big splash when it came to big spending. The Kansas City Royals signed starting pitcher Gil Meche to a five-year, $55 million deal, while the Los Angeles Dodgers provided center fielder Juan Pierre with a five-year, $44 million contract.

Overall, spring training has renewed hope for everyone from Red Sox Nation to the Cubs' faithful. But even though the offseason maneuvers and the spring training numbers have baseball fans salivating for Kool Aid, no one will know the answers until next week's first crack of the bat. 

Issue 2.13: March 29, 2007