The Hot Stove season brings as much excitement as the season itself as fantasy owners try to keep up with the flurry of moves and figure out how they will affect their teams and draft strategies this spring. Here's the rundown on the meaningful player additions in the AL (at least those that are official or close to it -- i.e. no Randy Johnson to the Yankees yet).

Click here for the rundown on NL teams.

AL East

Baltimore

The Orioles brought back veterans B.J. Surhoff and Rafael Palmeiro and are still in the running for some other big-name free agents like Carlos Delgado.

Steve Kline, P (old team: Cardinals): One of the most reliable setup lefties in the league today, Kline will likely do the same for the O's. Baltimore may turn to B.J. Ryan as its closer in 2005.

Boston

Edgar Renteria should fit in nicely in a potent Red Sox lineup. AP

Edgar Renteria, SS (Cardinals): His stats fell off a bit last season, but he's still a top-flight offensive shortstop who should thrive in the Red Sox lineup. He's good for about 10-15 homers, but when he's on his game, he's a .300 hitter with plenty of speed, although he was just 17-of-28 on steals last season. He probably fits on a level just behind Derek Jeter and slightly ahead of last year's surprises Michael Young and Carlos Guillen.

Matt Clement, P (Cubs): How he had just nine wins last season is baffling. He has great stuff and is a top-notch strikeout pitcher. Hopefully in Boston he'll keep the other numbers up and actually win about 15 games.

David Wells, P (Padres): Even at 41, he's a solid pitcher who'll win games and won't walk anyone, but won't strike out a lot of guys, either. Still, he's good for 13-15 wins and an ERA in the high 3's. A much better bet for 4x4 leagues than 5x5.

Jay Payton, P (Padres): Not surprisingly, he struggled in his first season moving from Coors Field to Petco Park, and now he'll likely a backup at Fenway. It didn't cost the Red Sox too much since Dave Roberts was used primarily as a pinch runner during the World Series run. Boston also got backup infielder Ramon Vazquez and a minor leaguer as well.

Matt Mantei, P (Diamondbacks): Injuries have hurt the former D'backs closer the past couple of years. He'll be a setup guy behind Keith Foulke. But if something happens to Foulke, Mantei could get a crack at some saves.

New York

Carl Pavano, P (Marlins): One breakout season nets him a huge contract, although many have been waiting for this performance for a while (he was a key part of Pedro Martinez's trade to Boston). He still has plenty of upside and a shot at 15-18 wins and a decent ERA, but remember that 2004 was his first full winning season.

Jaret Wright, P (Braves): Leo Mazzone should get a cut of his new contract given how he resurrected his career last season. After a slow start, Wright finished with 15 wins and an ERA of 3.28. The Yankees are taking a risk that he'll match those numbers, but Wright is young enough (he'll turn 29 later this month) to believe he can do it. One thing to note: Wright and Pavano weren't highly touted entering 2004 and broke out. So while they should be worth big bucks in your draft, just remember, there are plenty of guys behind them who could go for a steal.

Tony Womack, 2B (Cardinals): He had a bit of a revival in St. Louis last year, hitting a career-best .305 and stealing 26 bases. He can still run, which will make people believe he's far more valuable than Miguel Cairo, when they're actually roughly similar.

Felix Rodriguez, P (Phillies): He's always been a favorite of mine as a cheap setup guy who'll put up good stats and steal a few wins and saves. He should do the same in the Bronx setting up Mariano Rivera.

Mike Stanton, P (Mets): The Yankees get back a real lefty in the bullpen, but he doesn't have much fantasy value.

Tampa Bay

The only pickup of note is backup catcher Kevin Cash, but right now, Toby Hall's job isn't in jeopardy yet. They'll probably do more shopping from the non-tender free-agent pool

Toronto

Corey Koskie, 3B (Twins): He was flirted with 30-30 in 2001 for the Twins, but since then, no one is sure what to get from Koskie, although he has the potential for double digits in homers and steals, but with a so-so average. His signing moves the enigmatic Eric Hinske to first base in place of the Carlos Delgado, who won't be returning to the Blue Jays.

AL Central

Chicago

Jermaine Dye, OF (A's): He bounced back after an injury-plagued 2003, hitting 23 homers for Oakland. He still has some pop in his bat and playing in a friendlier U.S. Cellular Field, Dye could flirt with 30 homers again. He has some decent hitters around him, even if Carlos Lee is now in Milwaukee.

Scott Podsednik, OF (Brewers): He'll get tons of attention because he stole 70 bases last season for the Brewers. But he hit just .244. He'll be a huge help to one category but be a killer in another. On the plus side, he hit 12 homers, so there's a little pop to make up for the low average, however slightly.

Dustin Hermanson, P (Giants): He found his way to a closer's role with t at the end of last year, but right now, Shingo Takatsu is the closer. Hermanson can be used as a starter or reliever, but it's hard to trust him as either.

Luis Vizcaino, P (Brewers): When the Brewers traded Dan Kolb, it looked like Vizcaino could slide into the closer's role. Instead, he goes with Podsednik to Chicago, where he'll be in another setup role, along with Hermanson. Vizcaino has good stuff and might be waiting in the wings if Takatsu falters.

Cleveland

Jose Hernandez, IF (Dodgers): He strikes out a lot and doesn't hit for average, but he can still pop a few homers when he's on. He's good for a couple of bucks at the end of the draft.

Arthur Rhodes, P (A's via Pirates): His run as the A's closer was short-lived, and he'll probably return to a setup role for the Indians, in which he can pick up vulture wins and keep the other stats stable. However, it cost the Indians Matt Lawton, although there is a glut of outfield/DH types there anyway.

Detroit

Troy Percival, P (Angels): Right now they have both Percival and Ugueth Urbina. So who's getting the saves? Urbina was Braden Looper's setup guy when he first arrived in Florida in 2003, so he might give way for Percival here if necessary.

Kansas City

Terrence Long, OF (Padres): The good news: He hit a career-high .295 in 2004. The bad news, he hit just three homers after hitting 50 over the four previous seasons. He'll probably start for the Royals, but he's a middling guy with a little pop. It cost the Royals lefty Darrell May, who lost 19 games last season.

Eli Marrero, OF (Braves): He shared the left field platoon for the Braves and hit a career-best .320 last year with 10 homers. He and Long are both fourth or fifth outfielder types who can help you if you don't pay much for them.

Dennis Tankersley, P (Padres): He's been a Padres prospect for a few years, but while Jake Peavy leads the NL in ERA, Tankersley muddles on. But he may be an upgrade over May, for whom he was traded.

Minnesota

They lost half of their starting infield as Corey Koskie went to Toronto and Cristian Guzman went to Washington, but they did keep Jacque Jones and the disappointing Luis Rivas.

Juan Castro, 3B (Reds): He'll provide some infield depth, but it's doubtful he'll take the starting job vacated by Koskie. Michael Cuddyer may finally find a regular home there instead.

Mike Redmond, C (Marlins): He fits the backup role vacated by Henry Blanco. Unfortunately, he won't get a chance to bat against Tom Glavine, whom he's owned over the years.

AL West

Anaheim

Steve Finley has 83 homers the past three seasons. AP

Steve Finley, OF (Dodgers): The veteran actually set a career high in homers last season (36) at the age of 39. He still has a lot of pop in his bat, and you'd hope he'd break double digits in steals after having just nine total in 2004. But he can still give you power and not really hurt your average. He should have more RBI opportunities as well in the middle of the Angels lineup.

Orlando Cabrera, SS (Red Sox): After a down year in Montreal, he picked his game up after going to the Red Sox in the Nomar trade. However, the 20-20 threat seems to have his best seasons in odd-numbered years, so heading to the Angels (and reuniting with Vladimir Guerrero) should help his numbers. Surprisingly, there's a nice selection of decent fantasy shortstops in the AL.

Paul Byrd, P (Braves): He finished the season well after arm surgery knocked him for a year and a half. He should get about 10-12 wins with an ERA around four. He's good to fill out a fantasy rotation.

Juan Rivera, OF (Expos): The former Yankees prospect still has some upside, although it's still unsure where he'll play in the grand scheme of things. He was a decent return for shedding Jose Guillen, though.

Oakland

Jason Kendall, C (Pirates): His contract was the reason he was dealt in real life, and in my fantasy experiences, owners seem to overbid on Kendall as well. He's got a great on-base percentage and hits for a very good average with some speed. He'll still steal about 10 bases, but offers little power, especially in Oakland. He should thrive for the A's, but he's not the fantasy stud everyone wants him to be, even at a thin position like catcher.

Keith Ginter, 2B (Brewers): He hit 19 homers last season, and he's good insurance policy should Mark Ellis not recover from shoulder surgery. Even then, he's a nice utility guy for the A's, although the power likely will decrease in the Coliseum.

Charles Thomas, OF (Braves): The other half of the Braves' left field platoon last season became a fan favorite because he hit for a decent average and power and stole a few bases. I'm not necessarily sold on him in the long term, and I'm not sure where he'll fit in among guys like Nick Swisher and Eric Byrnes in the A's outfield picture.

Juan Cruz, P (Braves): He still has solid stuff, but was relegated to the back of the Braves' bullpen last season after coming from the Cubs, where he was the odd man out in the rotation when Greg Maddux returned to Wrigley. Hopefully, they'll give Cruz a crack at the rotation, especially with Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder both gone.

Danny Haren, P (Cardinals): One of the main components in the Mulder trade, Haren has a bright future as a starter and should find his way into the rotation. He had some ups and downs with the Cardinals, but there is upside.

Kiko Calero, P (Cardinals): He was one of the Cards' best middle relievers last year and probably takes a similar role in Oakland. He's not really a "prospect," given that he's 29, but he's not a bad person to round out a fantasy staff.

Seattle

Adrian Beltre, 3B (Dodgers): In a contract year, he hit a league-leading 48 homers and showed the promise everyone had been anticipating for years. If he could put up those stats in Dodger Stadium, he should do fine in pitcher-friendly Safeco as well. Plus, it saves the Mariners from the glut of guys like Scott Spiezio and Willie Bloomquist at the hot corner.

Richie Sexson, 1B (Diamondbacks): He's got a big swing and can hit the ball a long way, although you've got to wonder if Safeco will suppress his numbers, especially after missing much of 2004 with a shoulder injury. But he's still got 40-homer power, and there's at least some semblance of a lineup there with Beltre, Ichiro and Bret Boone.

Texas

Richard Hidalgo, OF (Mets): It seems like ages when he hit 44 homers (it was 2000), but he's still a 20-homer guy, although he hit just .239 last season. Moving to Texas should help his numbers.

Sandy Alomar, C (White Sox): It's hard to believe he's still around, but he's nothing more than a backup these days.

Click herefor the rundown on NL teams.