New York Yankees

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PRAISE FOR SORIANO: When LHP David Wells returned to pinstripes, 2B Alfonso Soriano agreed to hand over uniform No. 33, which Soriano wore as a rookie last season and which belonged to Wells in 1997 and '98. Soriano did this free of charge, and it says something small but interesting about him: He respects his elders. Soriano is confident but not cocky. It's one more reason to believe the versatile Soriano can improve on his promising rookie season with another impressive showing in 2002.

DEFENSE ANALYSIS: The team's defense melted away the past few years. Last season, it included only two players with above-average defensive abilities: 1B Tino Martinez and CF Bernie Williams. Now, is gone, replaced by Jason Giambi, who isn't as good in the field. The recent renovations don't figure to improve the defense. 3B Robin Ventura is about the same overall as 3B Scott Brosius, OF Rondell White is adequate and OF John Vander Wal is mediocre. OF Shane Spencer is quite good most of the time, and SS Derek Jeter certainly can be clutch with his glove. --Ken Davidoff

Oakland Athletics

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GIAMBI'S REPLACEMENT? 1B Carlos Pena, acquired from the Rangers, consistently ranked among the top hitters in the minors. Pena, 23, still must win Jason Giambi's old job, but he fits the team profile: He's a lefthanded hitter with power and patience. Plus, he's good defensively.... Closer Billy Koch, who replaces Jason Isringhausen, struggled at times last year, and the club blames that on a shaky curve. The team thinks pitching coach Rick Peterson, who knows Koch from his days with the Blue Jays, will get him back on track.

DEFENSE ANALYSIS: After the team acquired Jermaine Dye, the outfield was terrific defensively, and that helped the club's fly-ball pitchers. With Johnny Damon gone, Terrence Long will move back to center from left. Though Long has speed, he is not as consistent in center as Damon. Expect some drop-off in left, where David Justice will play. Dye is fantastic in right. Eric Chavez is coming off a Gold Glove year at third; Miguel Tejada is becoming a world-class shortstop, and the Frank Menechino-Randy Velarde combo at second should be steady. C Ramon Hernandez is improving rapidly. --Susan Slusser

Seattle Mariners

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SQUARED AWAY: Now that 2B Bret Boone has signed a three-year, $25 million deal, G.M. Pat Gillick has secured five key regulars for the next two years. Others with multi-year deals are CF Mike Cameron, RF Ichiro Suzuki and 3B Jeff Cirillo. SS Carlos Guillen isn't eligible for free agency for two years.... The team signed former Angels RHP Shigetoshi Hasegawa to fill a hole that resulted when RHP Jose Paniagua went to Colorado in the Cirillo trade. Like Paniagua, Hasegawa can go two or three innings and bounce back quickly. Hasegawa isn't overpowering but is effective against hitters from both sides of the plate. He was 5-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 2001.

DEFENSE ANALYSIS: The Mariners return Gold...