9. SS Erick Aybar

The Angels finished 10th in the American League in runs scored last season and finished with the lowest run differential (plus-68) for any 100-win team in history. They hope Abreu can offset some of the production Mark Teixeira and Garret Anderson provided, andthey will be relying on the further development of young players Kendrick, Aybar and Napoli and the emergence of Morales and, possibly, 3B Brandon Wood. Wood will get a chance in the spring to win the third base job, pushing Figgins into the left field mix or into a roving utility role. After the worst two-month start in his career last year, the Angels are looking for Guerrero to rebound with a healthier knee and the motivation of playing in the final year of his contract.

C Jeff Mathis

INF/OF Robb Quinlan

INF Maicer Izturis

OF Reggie Willits

INF Sean Rodriguez

The Angels figure to alternate at two positions again this year -- shortstop and catcher. The time-share arrangement at shortstop proved necessary last season as neither Erick Aybar nor Izturis could avoid the injury bug for the second consecutive season. With Kendrick also prone to hamstring pulls, Rodriguez could be an important reserve. At catcher, Mathis has proved to be the more dynamic defender. But Napoli's pop (20 home runs in only 227 at-bats) will be impossible for an offense-starved Angels team to ignore.

TOP ROOKIES: The organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2008, RHP Anthony Ortega has risen quickly on the Angels' organizational depth chart (9-7 at Class AA last season plus 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts at Class AAA). He will be in the competition for the fifth starter's spot. RHP Nick Adenhart (a disappointing 9-13, 5.76 ERA at Class AAA last year) also will be in the mix.

OF Vladimir Guerrero (knee surgery) is expected to be at full strength by the start of the regular season.

OF Gary Matthews Jr. (knee surgery) is expected to miss the first month of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon.

C Mike Napoli (shoulder surgery) had minor arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder, which is not expected to affect his readiness for the 2009 season.