Projected batting order Milton Bradley, CF Omar Vizquel, SS Matt Lawton, LF Ellis Burks, DH Karim Garcia, RF Travis Hafner, 1B Casey Blake, 3B Josh Bard, C Brandon Phillips, 2B Rotation C.C. Sabathia, LHP Ricardo Rodriguez, RHP Brian Anderson, LHP Jason Davis, RHP Jason Bere, RHP Bench John McDonald, 2B Shane Spencer, OF A.J. Hinch, C Bullpen Danys Baez, RHP (CL) Jack Westbrook Billy Traber Terry Mulholland, LHP David Riske, Carl Sadler, LHP Complete Indians roster  ESPN's Take Q: As a team in transition, what's a realistic goal for the Indians this season? I don't think the Indians are quite ready for the division crown. They are still a little bit draft-happy, having had terrific drafts the last couple of years, but are still in a transition period. Cleveland will have to see how a veteran like Ellis Burks, the ultimate team leader, will do in that kind of situation. A lot will depend on how quickly the young pitchers develop. -- Tom Candiotti Based on his journeyman status heading into last year, most people believe Karim Garcia can't be an RBI-per-game guy over a full season. They're probably right, but is 100 RBI possible? Garcia is still being overlooked in drafts due to his past, but if you project 25 homers and 100 RBI, he's a steal in the 10th round or lower. Why bother being a closer when the team is likely to lose 100 games? Well, even bad teams win 60 games, and Danys Baez is the Tribe's closer. Mike Williams saved 45 for a bad Pirates team, so if Baez can continue the success he had in 2002, expect 30 saves from him at least. -- Eric Karabell Victor Martinez, C Switch hitter who hit .336 with 22 homers and had a .417 on-base percentage at Double-A Akron last year. He'll open the season with Triple-A Buffalo but isn't likely to stay there all season.

Manager: Eric Wedge  Home: Jacobs Field (42,865)  '02 record: 74-88  Team page | Schedule | Offseason moves

Catcher: Josh Bard Rookie catcher works with an inexperienced pitching staff, normally not a good combination. But manager Eric Wedge loves Bard's work as a handler of pitchers. Hit .297 at Triple-A last season and could be pleasant offensive surprise. First Base: Travis Hafner Acquired from Texas in a deal for catcher Einar Diaz, Hafner has the unenviable assignment of replacing Jim Thome. Has averaged 23 homers and 93 RBI over last four minor-league seasons. Good strike-zone judgment. Second Base: Brandon Phillips Phillips, who is moving over from shortstop, is the best of three prospects acquired from Montreal in the Bartolo Colon trade. He's a five-tool talent who should have extraordinary range in the field while being above-average offensively for the position. Career .280 hitter in the minors, even though always young for his league. Third Base: Casey Blake Ricky Gutierrez continues his recovery from career-threatening neck surgery and is likely to open the season on the DL but could beat the projections and be in the lineup by the end of April. Third is his third position in three years, having previously moved from shortstop to second. Meanwhile, Blake -- a Minnesota castoff who hit .309 with 19 homers in Triple-A last year -- will hold down the corner to start. Shortstop: Omar Vizquel One of the few familiar faces in the lineup, Vizquel is coming off his best season. He improved from the right side of the plate, hitting .281 compared to .273 against lefties. He still moves well in the field but is losing arm strength as he ages. Left Field: Matt Lawton Lawton moves from right field after shoulder surgery last September. Hit only .236 in the first year of a four-year, $27-million contract. Would like to be traded but first must re-establish himself as a reliable run-producer. Center Field: Milton Bradley Durability is a major question for Bradley, who missed extended time in three stretches last year, once after having an appendectomy. Switch hitter batted 63 points higher from the right side than the left side. Needs to improve a .317 on-base percentage to remain in leadoff spot. Right Field: Karim Garcia Would love to pick up where he left off, driving in 52 runs in 51 games after Aug. 6, the most in the majors for that stretch. Held his own against lefties, hitting .278. Hasn't spent a full season in the big leagues since 1999. Designated hitter: Ellis Burks Reliable veteran who is the only man on the roster with more than 16 homers last season. Burks is likely to be traded in midseason although he'll need a strong first half to build a market given his $6.5 million salary. If the Indians will pay it, he could help Minnesota. No. 1 Starter: C.C. Sabathia At age 22, he's the one sure thing in a rotation that combines over-the-hill veterans with unproven prospects. He's in better shape than in 2002, when he went 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA in his last 11 starts to salvage a year that had started poorly. His 30-16 career record is impressive. No. 2 Starter: Ricardo Rodriguez Rated as the Dodgers' top prospect by Baseball America last year, Rodriguez was acquired in trade for Paul Shuey. He's 35-16 over last three years, which included a 2-2 mark in a seven-start cameo with Cleveland. Hit eight batters during his seven big-league starts. No. 3 Starter: Brian Anderson Veteran left-hander returns to his second organization after five seasons in Arizona, where he bounced between the rotation and bullpen. He was 19-26 with a 4.68 ERA in 78 starts over the last three seasons. Allowed left-handed hitters to bat .302 last season. No. 4 Starter: Jason Davis Fringe candidate pitched well in spring training to win a job. Hadn't pitched above Double-A until being promoted to Cleveland in September. Can throw in the high-90s but works in the mid-90s with a heavy fastball and an above-average splitter. No. 5 Starter: Jason Bere Trying to recover from a nightmare 2002 season, it's probably now or never for Bere. He has become an easy target for left-handed hitters, who pounded him (.326) last year. Like Anderson, he is making a dangerous move back to the AL and needs to pitch well early to hold onto his spot. Bullpen: Jake Westbrook, Billy Traber, Terry Mulholland, David Riske, Carl Sadler Mulholland brings leadership to a group that has no one else who has spent a full season in the big leagues. Westbrook and Traber could get a look in the rotation before the season is over. Sadler clawed his way to the big leagues with six seasons as a minor-league middle reliever. Closer: Danys Baez Moved out of the rotation when Bob Wickman was lost to an elbow injury. His split-finger pitch makes him a weapon in the bullpen but control remains an issue. His ratio of 4.5 walks per nine innings was highest in AL last year.

-- Phil Rogers, ESPN.com

Record: 74-88 | Finish: 3rd in AL Central | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (AL rank) Defense (AL rank) 739 runs (10th) Home: 375 runs (10th) Road: 364 (10th) 844 runs allowed (10th) Home: 425 (11th) Road: 412 (10th) 2002 Stats Leaders   Average: Jim Thome, .304 Runs: Thome, 101 On-base pct: Thome, .445 Stolen bases: Omar Vizquel, 18 Wins: C.C. Sabathia, 13 Saves: Bob Wickman, 20 Home runs: Thome, 52 RBI: Thome, 118 Slugging pct.: Thome, .677 OPS: Thome, 1.122 ERA: Sabathia, 4.37 Strikeouts: Sabathia, 149