Projected batting order Alfonso Soriano, 2B Derek Jeter, SS Jason Giambi, 1B Bernie Williams, CF Hideki Matsui, LF Jorge Posada, C Robin Ventura, 3B Raul Mondesi, RF Nick Johnson, DH Rotation Roger Clemens, RHP Andy Pettitte, LHP Mike Mussina, RHP David Wells, LHP Jose Contreras, RHP/Jeff Weaver, RHP Bench Todd Zeile, INF Juan Rivera, OF Chris Widger, C Enrique Wilson, INF Bubba Trammell, OF Bullpen Mariano Rivera, RHP (CL) Steve Karsay, RHP Chris Hammond, LHP Antonio Osuna, RHP Randy Choate, LHP Juan Acevedo, RHP Sterling Hitchcock, LHP Complete Yankees roster  ESPN's Take Q: Will the distractions (David Wells, Hideki Matsui and Japanese press, etc.) prevent the Yankees from reaching the postseason? I doubt it. They have a ton of talent, and Jose Contreras is the real deal. But it won't be the same. -- Peter Gammons Yankees fans seem to hate Raul Mondesi for all that he can't do, but fantasy owners should be happy for what he does do. Sure, his batting average is low, but even in an off year he reached decent totals of 26 homers, 88 RBI and 15 steals. He's set in right field and looks to be underrated right now. A year ago, Mike Mussina was among the top five pitchers taken in most drafts. Now, he's barely 15th after struggling with his ERA much of the year. Mussina allowed only one earned run in his final 28 innings, proving he's not done yet, and probably deserves to be picked ahead of Matt Morris and Derek Lowe still. -- Eric Karabell Danny Borrell, LHP Borrell went 9-4 with a 2.31 ERA at Double-A Norwich last year. He's expected to start this season in Triple-A, but could get a call-up if the Yankees need another lefty arm.

Manager: Joe Torre  Home: Yankee Stadium (55,070)  '02 record: 103-58  Team page | Schedule | Offseason moves

Catcher: Jorge Posada Continues to be a valuable switch-hitting member of the Yankee lineup. Hit 20 home runs and drove in 99 last year while hitting .268. Look for similar numbers from him this year -- but don't expect him to throw out many base runners. First Base: Jason Giambi Got off to a slow start a year ago, yet still finished at .314 with 41 homers and 122 RBI. He should get out of the gate quicker with a year under his belt in the Bronx. His average should shoot up and his RBI total should increase, while his power production remains steady. Second Base: Alfonso Soriano Joe Torre's experiment last season, placing Soriano at the top of his lineup, worked like a charm. He led the AL in steals (41) and runs (128), and just missed joining the 40/40 club with 39 dingers. And with only two full seasons in the bigs, Soriano should get better. But he won't walk much -- and he's still somewhat of a liability in the field. Third Base: Robin Ventura Was outstanding before the All-Star break, hitting 19 home runs. But he cooled off considerably in the second half, batting .234 and going deep only eight more times. Still, with Drew Henson not yet ready for the majors, Ventura gets to be a stopgap for another year. But if he struggles, look for new addition Todd Zeile to snatch some of his playing time. Shortstop: Derek Jeter For the first time since 1997, Jeter hit under .300 (.297), but he still played a solid shortstop and teamed with Soriano to provide an excellent 1-2 punch in the Yankees batting order. He should be back above .300 this season, but don't expect him to top last year's home run total of 18. Left Field: Hideki Matsui "Godzilla" hit .334 with 50 home runs last year in Japan. Don't look for those kind of numbers in his first year in pinstripes, especially in the power category. But he has been very impressive in spring training, and should certainly be an improvement over what the Yankees had at this position last year. Center Field: Bernie Williams After being hampered by injuries the two previous seasons and seeing his average slip significantly, Williams stayed healthy last year and had his best season since 1999. He led the team with a .333 average, third in the AL, and was fifth in the league in on-base percentage. But he hit only 19 homers, his lowest total since 1995. If he can stay healthy, look for more of the same. Right Field: Raul Mondesi Was a major disappointment last season after being acquired from the Blue Jays, hitting only .232 after the trade, and becoming trade-bait again this past offseason. But he's rediscovered his swing after a strategy session with Reggie Jackson in spring training. Mr. October told him to alter his stance, by keeping his feet farther apart and lowering his hands. Now he appears to have regained a starting job and could be an important component to the Yankees lineup. Designated hitter: Nick Johnson People are still waiting for Johnson to deliver on the potential that people have been talking about for years. He hit only .243 last year in his first full season in the majors, and continues to struggle with wrist injuries. He has a good glove at first base, but because of Giambi's desire to play in the field, Johnson will get only scattered opportunities there. No. 1 Starter: Roger Clemens Will likely be the Opening Day starter and get his 300th win this season in pinstripes, just like The Boss wanted -- but he's no longer a Cy Young candidate, and is the ace of this staff in name only. Still, he should rack up double-digit wins if he stays healthy. No. 2 Starter: Andy Pettitte After spending significant time on the DL earlier in the year, Pettitte bounced back to go 11-2 with a 2.70 ERA after the All-Star break. He quietly continues to be one of most consistent, dependable pitchers in the majors. No. 3 Starter: Mike Mussina Didn't have his best year last year, with an ERA over 4.00, but he did win 18 games. He's never had a 20-win season -- but with solid run support, this could be the year the real ace of this staff clears that hurdle. No. 4 Starter: David Wells If he pitched a perfect game half-drunk or hung over, he may have been doing some serious drinking last season, too -- because no one expected him to lead the Yankees with 19 wins. He even got stronger as the season progressed, going 10-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 second-half starts. Don't expect quite so gaudy numbers this season from the 40-year-old -- but he should be solid if his back holds up, and the hoopla surrounding his book dies down. Bullpen: Steve Karsay, Chris Hammond, Antonio Osuna, Randy Choate, Juan Acevedo, Sterling Hitchcock Once a strength, the pen is now one of the Yankees' bigger question marks. Gone are Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza, two staples from recent years. Karsay will start the season on the DL with a bum shoulder -- and Stanton's replacement as lefty set-up man, Chris Hammond, has been bothered my shoulder stiffness, as well. Either Jose Contreras or Jeff Weaver will have to start the season as a reliever -- neither will likely be happy about it. And the Yankees are desperate to unload Hitchcock to another team. Closer: Mariano Rivera Rivera made three trips to the disabled list last season, ending up with 28 saves and four blown chances. Look for him to return to form, as the best closer in the game.

-- Kieran Darcy, ESPN The Magazine

Record: 103-58 | Finish: 1st in AL East (lost in ALDS to Anaheim) | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (AL rank) Defense (AL rank) 897 runs (1st) Home: 434 runs (tied for 3rd) Road: 463 (tied for 1st) 697 runs allowed (4th) Home: 3.85 ERA (5th) Road: 3.90 ERA (3rd) Stats Leaders   Average: Bernie Williams, .333 Runs: Alfonso Soriano, 128 On-base pct: Jason Giambi, .435 Stolen bases: Alfonso Soriano, 41 Wins: David Wells, 19 Saves: Mariano Rivera, 28 Home runs: Giambi, 41 RBI: Giambi, 122 Slugging pct.: Giambi, .598 OPS: Giambi, 1.034 ERA: Andy Pettitte, 3.27 Strikeouts: Roger Clemens, 192