Lincoln Zdunich
Toronto Blue Jays
- Kevin Gausman
- Dylan Cease
- Trey Yesavage
- Shane Bieber
- Cody Ponce
- Max Scherzer
The slaughterhouse that is the AL East is headlined by Toronto. After losing out on its first World Series in 32 years, they weren’t content to run it back. They signed strikeout artist Dylan Cease to a landmark 7-year, $210 million contract. After that they signed Ponce to a shorter deal after he spent the last few years pitching in Japan and Korea.
But Gausman is returning, Bieber exercised his player option, and Scherzer re-signed with the club. After an exhilarating postseason debut, Trey Yesavage will return to pitch this season. His slider decimated batters in the playoffs and factor to do the same in his first full year in MLB.
The club will likely use Scherzer as a depth option but have talked about a possible six-man rotation. Whatever the case, Jays fans have a pitching staff they can be excited about.
New York Yankees
- Max Fried
- Cam Schlittler
- Luis Gil
- Ryan Weathers
- Will Warren
With Gerritt Cole and Carlos Rodón rehabbing from injury this spring, they won’t return to the Yankees until later in 2026. Until then, Fried, Schlittler, and Gil make up a fearsome (and young) front three. New York traded for Weathers but he and Warren figure to be depth pieces once Cole and Rodón return.
It’s been up and down for the Yanks in terms of pitching. With an elite offense that keeps them in games, New York doesn’t need to rely too hard on their starters. But the front three are elite.
Fried had a great first year in pinstripes and is seeking to build on it. Gil missed most of the 2025 season after winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in ’24, and is currently struggling in Grapefruit League. Schlittler is seeking to build on an electric postseason performance. If those three can be dominant, that pitching staff will be loaded once the veterans return later this year.
Boston Red Sox
- Garret Crochet
- Ranger Suárez
- Sonny Gray
- Brayan Bello
- Johan Oviedo
It’s a very different rotation for Boston than they had last year. Apart from ace Crochet and Bello, the club added top pitcher Ranger Suárez in free agency, and traded for Gray and Oviedo to bolster the staff.
They lost some depth trading away Kyle Harrison to the Milwaukee Brewers, but they still have top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early tucked away in the minors. Both have impressed this spring and will get starts this year at the big-league level.
Baltimore Orioles
- Trevor Rogers
- Kyle Bradish
- Shane Baz
- Zack Eflin
- Chris Bassitt
- Dean Kremer
To say Baltimore has been aggressive this offseason would be a major understatement. After finishing last in the AL East, the front office pursued top free agents in their offense but not as much in their pitching staff. They traded top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels.
That being said, the rotation is markedly better. They re-signed Eflin, brought on Bassitt to eat innings, and traded for Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane Baz. This is a staff that can and should shorten games. Rogers, Bradish, and Kremer factor to be returning contributors to the starting group.
Tampa Bay Rays
- Drew Rasmussen
- Ryan Pepiot
- Shane McClanahan
- Steven Matz
- Nick Martinez
With the loss of Shane Baz to the Orioles, Tampa Bay will get one back with the return of McClanahan after two years gone from MLB. Pepiot and Rasmussen are also returning after solid campaigns in 2025.
The Rays lone pitching moves came in signing free agents Matz and Martinez to short-term contracts. It’s not a wholly awe-inspiring group, and Tampa Bay seems to be struggling to stay afloat in a crowded and bloodthirsty AL East. But they have a solid offense anchored by star third baseman Junior Caminero. As long as the starters are serviceable, the Rays will be able to stay competitive in most games.
