BY J.A. SCHWARTZ
The AL East has long been one of Baseball’s heavyweight divisions, with the Yankees and Red Sox consistently near the top of the sports highest payrolls. With the powerful Blue Jays poised to compete for a title, the always overachieving Rays, and the resurgence of the young Orioles in Baltimore, the division figures to be one of the most competitive and entertaining in the game.
This is the second of six division previews in the lead-up to opening day on Thursday March 30th
New York Yankees
Aaron Judge had one of the best offensive seasons in MLB history in 2022. All he did was belt an AL record 62 home runs to go along with 131 RBI’s on the way to his first MVP Award.
The Yankees won the division last year, but were denied a berth in the Fall Classic yet again, falling to the Astros in the ALCS. They have now failed to reach the World Series the last ten times they’ve made the playoffs, their last appearance coming in 2009 when they beat the Phillies to win the franchise’s 27th championship. This season’s edition of the Bronx Bombers looks very similar to last year’s, thanks to a 9-year, $360 million dollar contract to keep 31-year-old Aaron Judge (and his 2022 AL record 62 HRs) in pinstripes for the duration of his career. The Yankees will likely feature a new shortstop this season, with rookie prospects Oswald Peraza battling Anthony Volpe for the right to man that critical position in New York. The Yankees led the American League in runs and HRs (largely thanks to Judge, who hit .311/.425/.686 with 62 HRs and 131 RBIs, narrowly missing the triple crown), and figure to score enough to be contenders again in 2023. Free agent import Carlos Rodon, who joined the team on a six-year, $162 million dollar pact, hopes to follow ace Gerrit Cole to create a formidable duo atop the rotation. Rodon has been slowed by a forearm strain however, and figures to open the season on the injured list.
Toronto Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s numbers slipped slightly from his MVP runner-up season of 2021, but he still slammed 32 home runs with 97 RBI’s for the Blue Jays while winning his first Gold Glove award.
The Jays finished seven games behind New York last season, but qualified for the playoffs for the second time in three years by virtue of their 92 wins and the Wild Card. Despite being knocked out of the postseason by Seattle, optimism north of the border is high. Toronto led the AL in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, and scored more runs than everyone in the league aside from the Yankees. Their lineup is fueled by Alejandro Kirk, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, each of whom is 24 or younger, and were all developed by the Jays system. That trio combined to hit 70 HRs and drive in 253 runs, and will be relied upon to anchor an offense that added free agents Brandon Belt, and Kevin Kiermaier and traded for Gary Varsho in an effort to balance a very right-handed offense. The pitching staff is led by righties Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah, who made 62 starts and provided 370 valuable innings for the Blue Jays in 2022. The team signed free agent Chris Bassitt away from the Mets (3 years, $63 million), giving Toronto another durable starter to throw at opponents this season. Canada’s team hasn’t been to the World Series since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, but this year’s edition has the potential to make a deep postseason run.
Tampa Bay Rays
The always clutch Randy Arozarena has hit 20 homers in each of his first two full Major League seasons, but his biggest moments have come during the postseason and WBC tournament.
Tampa qualified for the playoffs for a fourth straight season in 2022, a remarkable achievement given their payroll ranked 23rd in baseball at $98 million. Despite a lineup largely devoid of power-no Rays player hit more than 20 HRs or drove in 90-they scored enough to support a pitching staff that was third in the AL in ERA. Their rotation featured three starters with ERAs below 2.85, and their revolving door of shutdown relievers kept opponents off the scoreboard enough to win 86 games. The lineup may get stronger if young stars Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe return from injury plagued campaigns, and the rotation added free agent Zach Eflin (3 years, $40 million) to bolster an already potent rotation. Eflin’s deal was the largest ever given to a free agent in Tampa Bay history, and his $11 million salary this season is the highest on the books for the Rays. Despite their financial shortcomings, Tampa is always in the hunt for a playoff spot, and they should not be discounted as contenders.
Baltimore Orioles
Speedy Cedric Mullins helped lead the Orioles to a 31-game improvement in 2022, stealing 34 bases in just his second full season a year after hitting 30 homers.
The Orioles were surprise contenders in 2022, staying at the periphery of the Wild Card chase in the American League late into September. After losing 110 games in 2021, few saw Baltimore as a threat to finish .500, much less make the postseason, but the young Orioles were competitive the entire season. Anthony Santander paced the offense with 33 HRs and 89 RBIs, but the team strength was a bullpen largely devoid of big names (or expensive contracts). Jorge Lopez and Felix Bautista combined to save 34 games with an ERA under 2.00, though Lopez was dealt to the Twins at the trade deadline. A second half surge was fueled by AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, two farm system products who are/were the top prospects in the game (Rutschman in 2022, Henderson in 2023). Full seasons from both young stars could push the Orioles further towards the top of the division, especially if Grayson Rodriguez, the best pitching prospect in the league, lives up to his billing as a future Baltimore ace in 2023. The future is very bright at Camden Yards.
Boston Red Sox
Boston’s free agent acquisition of Justin Turner from the Dodgers adds both power and an experienced clubhouse leader to the Red Sox evolving lineup.
After making the ALCS in 2021, Boston fans had every reason to be optimistic about their side’s chances last season. Major injuries to Trevor Story and Chris Sale and poor offensive seasons from Kike Hernandez and JD Martinez helped doom Boston to a last place finish in the AL East. 2023 may not be much better. Franchise icon Xander Bogaerts left to play shortstop in San Diego, who blew the market away with an 11-year, $280 million deal that was reportedly at least $100 million more than the best Boston effort to retain their charismatic leader. Some of that cash went towards retaining Rafael Devers, who will become the new face of the franchise after his 10-year, $313 million contract kept him in town, along with six other new imports via free agency. Most notable among their expenditures were Japanese star Masataka Yoshida, and former Dodgers stars Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen, but their 2023 fortunes may hinge upon the successful return to form of Sale, and the development of young prospects Triston Casas and Brayan Bello. Fenway Park holds some of the most passionate fans in the game, and another last place finish could spell the end of GM Chaim Bloom’s tenure running the club.
