TAMPA -- Yankees captain Derek Jeter says offseason moves have made the American League stronger and new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine will make Boston even more exciting.

The Los Angeles Angels added free-agent slugger Albert Pujols and pitcher C.J. Wilson, while Detroit signed power-hitting Prince Fielder, the son of former Tigers’ star Cecil Fielder.

“It’s scary for the whole American League, especially for the West and Central,” Jeter said on Monday. “Our league has always been tough, but I’m pretty sure they’re excited over in Anaheim to have Albert, C.J. I think it’s kind of cool that Prince is in Detroit because everyone remembers him with his dad, following his dad around. It made two great teams even better.”

The Red Sox replaced Terry Francona with Valentine, a one-time New York Mets manager, after an epic late-season slide last year kept Boston out of the playoffs.

Noteworthy

TRADE TALKS -- A person familiar with the discussions says the New York Yankees and Pirates are making progress toward a trade that would send much-maligned pitcher A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh would pay at least $10 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed in the final two seasons of his $82.5 million, five-year contract.

RED SOX -- David Ortiz and Boston avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $14,575,000.

n Boston and the Chicago Cubs have submitted written arguments to baseball Commissioner Bud Selig on what compensation the Red Sox should receive for allowing Theo Epstein to leave for Chicago.

ATHLETICS -- Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes and Oakland have agreed to a $36 million, four-year contract.

BREWERS -- Milwaukee reliever Jose Veras has become just the second Brewers player to go to arbitration in 14 years.

BLUE JAYS -- Right-hander Casey Janssen and Toronto Blue have avoided arbitration, agreeing on a two-year pact worth at least $5.9 million.