No. 1 seeds:

RED SOX: The defending World Series winners didn’t blink when it appeared the Yankees would trade for Johan Santana. The Red Sox have held their farm system prizes and with Curt Schilling a question mark, young pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz will be important. Interesting move in the release of catcher Doug Mirabelli as management showed it is not fearful of disrupting “chemistry.”

YANKEES: The Bronx Bombers still have a ferocious lineup. Despite the pitching questions surrounding Mike Mussina and rookies Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, this team will score enough to overcome any problems on the mound. Joba Chamberlain starts in the bullpen, which indicates general manager Brian Cashman is firmly in charge and, further, that youth will finally be served in the Bronx.

TIGERS: One trade in the offseason put them in the top four. Acquired from the Marlins, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis will help now while the young players traded for the two stars, talented as they are, are still not ready for prime time. Detroit’s lineup should rival that of the Yankees and the only question is the bullpen. If closer Todd Jones isn’t at his best, who is the backup? Plus, Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya open the season on the DL.

DIAMONDBACKS: Here’s the NL team that sneaks into a top seed. Arizona now has a premier pair of starters with Dan Haren joining Brandon Webb. The Diamondbacks’ rotation is deep enough to give them the luxury of hoping for, rather than needing, Randy Johnson. Solid at every position, they added supersub Chris Burke. Only question: can Brandon Lyon close?

The next three:

INDIANS: No changes were made to a team that played for the AL pennant last season. The Indians hit, field and run. They’ll find extra motivation to win for rotation ace C.C. Sabathia, who is in his money year with a contract expiring at season’s end. If Joe Borowski isn’t a sturdy closer, Cleveland already has his successor in Masahide Kobayashi.

METS: The addition of Johan Santana makes this team a contender. But there are more questions than the Mets care to hear: Can Pedro Martinez pitch a full season? Who plays left field with a fragile Moises Alou out again? Can Ryan Church handle a full year in right field? And can they erase the memory of last September?

CUBS: I see another step forward this season for Lou Piniella’s club. They added a major player in outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. It’s unrealistic to expect him to be the second coming of Ichiro, but if he’s a solid player then the Cubs’ lineup is cemented. Kerry Wood appears to be the closer and the Cubs have a deep rotation. The key for this team is can Carlos Zambrano, he of the new contract, be a staff leader?

At No. 8, a tie:

BRAVES: An underrated lineup will be bolstered by a full season from Mark Teixeira, another player motivated by free agency after the season. If Mark Kotsay’s back holds up, he is a solid replacement for Andruw Jones. Tom Glavine is back and if the Braves get any contribution from Mike Hampton, they will have fixed their rotation. Atlanta will score runs and should have solid starting pitching. If Rafael Soriano closes well, this is a playoff team.