Each and every season, the AL East ranks among the top divisions in baseball. This year, it could be the very best.
Unfortunately there can only be one winner in each division. Who will this year’s winner be?
The Yankees spent a ton of money (shocking I know), the Red Sox are defending champions, the Rays are among the best teams in baseball and the Orioles added a few pieces that could put them over the edge. In addition, the Blue Jays are no pushover with that incredible lineup.
The most daunting question in baseball season will be: Who wins the AL East?
Toronto Blue Jays
Can R.A. Dickey return to form? Photo via Kim Klement, USA Today Sports Images.
- The Blue Jays may be at the bottom of some lists in terms of how they will finish in the AL East, but everyone is a viable contender in this close of a race.
The Jays’ lineup has the potential to be among the best the American League has to offer, but with Jose Reyes being injured, the lineup takes a huge hit. With Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie and Adam Lind in the middle of the order and Melky Cabrera at the top the Jays can definitely score.
But, the issue is with the pitching staff. R.A. Dickey hasn’t been the same since his Cy Young season and it is always tough to have a knuckleballer as an ace. In addition to Dickey, the staff is rounded out by Drew Hutchison, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow and Dustin McGowan. If the staff can pitch well the Jays have a chance to win the AL East.
Baltimore Orioles
Can Chris Davis repeat last year’s success? Photo via Rick Osentoski, USA Today Sports Images
There has not been many experts who predict that the Orioles will win the AL East, but maybe there should be.
When healthy, the Orioles’ lineup features some of the best young hitters in the game with Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Adam Jones. Adding Nelson Cruz to a core of J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis will give the Orioles one of the best lineups in the American League.
The issue with the Orioles has always been pitching, and adding Ubaldo Jimenez to their pitching staff could be the move that brings them to the top. But, will the O’s have enough depth in their rotation with Bud Norris and Wei-Yen Chen at the bottom? They should, but that is why they play the games.
Tampa Bay Rays
(Left to Right) Chris Archer, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb, David Price. Photo via Kim Klement, USA Today Sports Images
Every year the Rays have among the lowest payrolls in the major leagues, but every year they manage to win close to 90 games and contend for the postseason. The scouting department and Joe Maddon have done an incredible job with the players, but the bottom line is that they perform on the field every year.
The Rays pitching staff is one of the best in the baseball, as there are no “weak links”. David Price is one of the better left-handers in the game and he is followed by another southpaw who may be just as good in Matt Moore. Add two right-handed stars-in-the-making in Alex Cobb and Chris Archer and a great bullpen anchored by Grant Balfour and the Rays will be tough to score on.
The Rays also have a very good lineup. Evan Longoria and Wil Myers are two are the better right-handed hitters in the American League. Pairing that duo with the emergence of Desmond Jennings and James Loney and the Rays have a legitimate shot of getting back to the postseason.
New York Yankees
New acquisition Carlos Beltran. Photo via Kim Klement, USA Today Sports Images
The Yankees had an incredibly shocking offseason where they finally spent some money. If you cannot see the sarcasm, it is there. With the addition of Ellsbury and Tanaka, the talent alone may bring New York to the top of the AL East.
The Yankees pitching staff relies on the left arm of C.C. Sabathia. Can he get back to his old self? Will he be able to stabilize a rotation with two relative question marks in Michael Pineda and Masahiro Tanaka? The starting rotation has a ton of talent with Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova being the last two added to the aforementioned three, but they will all need to stay healthy and pitch well to complete in the AL East.
The Yankees lineup is poised to be one of the most star-studded in baseball, but with many of the players in the twilight of their careers, they will need to stay healthy and consistent to make a run. With the middle of the order containing Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann, the Bronx Bombers nickname could return.
Boston Red Sox
Clay Buchholz looks to return to form. Photo via Jerome Miron, USA Today Sports Images
The defending World Series champion Red Sox are a contender each and every season, especially this year.
Despite the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury to the Yankees, the Red Sox lineup is poised to repeat as one of the best in the majors. Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli will look to carry the Red Sox offense, but with rookie sensation Xavier Bogaerts manning the shortstop position and batting in the seven spot, the offense seems like it could turn over with ease.
The real strength for the Sox is their pitching staff. Jon Lester, John Lackey, Felix Doubront, Jake Peavy and Clay Buchholz will look to dominate the American League, and the bullpen is just as good led by Koji Uehara. Anytime your fifth starter is Buchholz, you know the rotation is deep.
Who wins the American League East?
Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA Today Sports Images
In addition to writing here at Sportsnaut, Josh covers fantasy sports, NFL Draft, and daily fantasy sports at sites across the internet. His work has been seen on Pro Football Focus, eDraft, XNSports, Project Roto, The Chicago Tribune, Philly.com and others.