updated 5:21 p.m. ET April 1, 2006

Everybody has an idea about how to turn a failing franchise into a winner, or the fastest way from .500 to first place.

Some teams spend big bucks on established free agents. Others commit to young players and patiently wait for them to develop. A few try cleaning house in the front office.

The Chicago White Sox remade their roster before last season by focusing on speed, defense and situational hitting. Top it off with some dominant starting pitching and they were on their way to their first World Series title in 88 years.

The Cleveland Indians, led by a talented collection of kids, weren’t far behind in the AL Central. They won 93 games for their first winning record since 2001.

There are sure to be more pennant-race surprises this year, too. Here are three teams to keep an eye on — each employed a different method as it tried to improve over the winter:

Toronto Blue Jays
Tired of finishing third behind the big spenders in the AL East, the Blue Jays bumped their payroll from $46 million to about $75 million during a busy offseason.

They signed free-agent closer B.J. Ryan, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett and Gold Glove catcher Bengie Molina, and traded for slugger Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay.

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Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson, reliever Miguel Batista and third baseman Corey Koskie are gone. Will the overhaul be enough to challenge the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox for a playoff spot?

“Just because you spend money doesn’t mean you’re good. I don’t think spending is the answer, but it narrows the gap a little bit,” Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “We just want to have a chance and that’s what we have now.”

Some of Ricciardi’s moves, however, raised eyebrows. For example, he spent a combined $102 million on Ryan and Burnett.

Slide show   NBCSports.com’s All-Stars Check out our predictions for the best players at each position in 2006.

Ryan’s contract ($47 million for five years) is the most lucrative in history for a reliever. He has 42 career saves.

Burnett ($55 million for five years) is 49-50 lifetime, has never won more than 12 games in a season and will miss his first two scheduled starts because of scar tissue in his surgically repaired right elbow.

With or without Burnett, the key to success could be a deep rotation that returns 2003 Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, former All-Star Ted Lilly, promising lefty Gustavo Chacin and unheralded right-hander Josh Towers.

Milwaukee Brewers
Few teams have done a better job building through the farm system recently than Milwaukee, and all that patience finally started paying off in the standings last year.

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The Brewers finished 81-81 despite a $43 million payroll, snapping a string of 12 consecutive losing seasons. Now, some folks are even picking them to challenge for an NL playoff berth in 2006.

Rookie first baseman Prince Fielder, the son of former big league slugger Cecil Fielder, joins a group of encouraging youngsters that also includes second baseman Rickie Weeks, shortstop J.J. Hardy, No. 1 starter Ben Sheets, 18-game winner Chris Capuano, closer Derrick Turnbow (7-1, 1.74 ERA, 39 saves) and utilityman Bill Hall.

Carlos Lee, Geoff Jenkins, Corey Koskie and Brady Clark provide punch and veteran leadership for a team on the rise under savvy manager Ned Yost and GM Doug Melvin.

“We’ve always had a tough time playing them,” St. Louis Cardinals star Scott Rolen said.

It might get much tougher over the next few years.

Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers won the NL West in 2004, then slumped to 71-91 last season. So they parted ways with manager Jim Tracy and fired GM Paul DePodesta, hoping for a fast fix.

Playing in a soft division, they could be right back in contention this year if a handful of key players remain healthy.

New GM Ned Colletti handed the reins to former Boston skipper Grady Little and plugged some big holes by bringing in experienced free agents Rafael Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Kenny Lofton and Bill Mueller. All-Star closer Eric Gagne returns from an elbow injury. Danys Baez and Jae Seo look like nice additions to the pitching staff.

“Is anybody talking about the Dodgers?” Atlanta Braves backup catcher Todd Pratt said. “With that bullpen that throws all 95, they’re going to be pretty dirty. I think they’re the team that looks good out West.”

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