CY YOUNG: Barry Zito – Back-to-back over Pedro Martinez and Roy Halladay. MVP: Magglio Ordonez – Over Eric Chavez, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez and Troy Glaus.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Chan Ho Park -Went 5-2, 3.35 ERA in his final eight starts for Texas last year. Also watch for a big year from Frank Thomas and a rebound from Jeff Cirillo.
MOST IMPROVED TEAM: Blue Jays -Headed by the interesting young core of Halladay, Eric Hinske and Vernon Wells. BIGGEST DROPOFF: Mariners – There is real worry about ace Freddy Garcia.
BEST FREE-AGENT SIGNING: Kenny Rogers – A spring-training adrenaline shot to the players from Twins management that they are going for it.
WORST FREE-AGENT SIGNING: Chris Hammond – Not enough in his background to suggest last year was not a fluke and that he can handle The Bronx. BEST TRADE: The White Sox got Bartolo Colon without giving up a meaningful player from their roster.
ALMOST READY FOR PRIME TIME:
Detroit’s Jeremy Bonderman, Oakland’s Rich Harden and Cleveland’s Jeremy Guthrie are aces on the brink.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Hideki Matsui -Over Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Travis Hafner.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Ron Gardenhire – Consecutive division titles will give him in two years as many as his Minnesota predecessor, Tom Kelly, had in 15.
FIRST MANAGER FIRED: Mike Hargrove – You don’t expect blowhard Orioles owner Peter Angelos to blame himself.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF . . . : The Yankees, if their bullpen falters, make a run at Toronto’s Kelvim Escobar.