The AL East: A Venerable Division with New Faces
The AL East has long been a cauldron of fierce competition, churning out some of baseball’s most storied rivalries and World Series contenders. This season, the division continues to be a heavyweight battle, with the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Rays, and Blue Jays all making significant changes in the offseason. The Yankees, coming off a division title and a Fall Classic appearance, have had a tumultuous winter. They traded away Juan Soto, a generational talent, but bolstered their defense and bullpen with the additions of Max Fried and Devin Williams. The Yanks are also focusing on better fundamentals after some sloppy stretches in 2024. As spring training heats up, the AL East is poised to deliver another thrilling season.
The Yankees: Rebuilding and Refocusing
The Yankees’ trade of Juan Soto to the Mets was a seismic shift, but the team is not standing still. They signed Paul Goldschmidt and traded for Cody Bellinger to fill the offensive void left by Soto. Goldschmidt, known for his defensive prowess, is expected to thrive in Yankee Stadium, particularly in right-center field. Bellinger, with his history of stellar and so-so seasons, will be crucial in bridging the offensive gap. The Yankees also added depth to their pitching staff with Max Fried, who is expected to be a reliable No. 2 behind Gerrit Cole. Relief pitcher Devin Williams and his atomic splitter are expected to solidify the bullpen. However, the Yankees have one significant hole to fill at third base. DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, or Oswald Peraza may step up, but this position remains a potential weakness, according to one scout.
The Red Sox: A Revitalized Roster
The Red Sox, who signed Alex Bregman and Walker Buehler and traded for Garrett Crochet, are poised to contend in 2025. Bregman, a Yankee villain due to his time with the Astros, is expected to be a formidable presence at Fenway Park, where he has a career OPS of 1.240. Bregman’s right-handed swing is ideal for smacking doubles off the Green Monster. Crochet, a 25-year-old lefty obtained from the White Sox, gives the Red Sox credibility at the top of their rotation, with his impressive 209 strikeouts in just 146 innings last season. Boston also has a trio of highly-touted prospects—Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer—who could impact the roster at some point. The Red Sox are seen as a force this year, with the potential to elevate the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry to its former spicy heights.
The Orioles: A Young Core Faces Challenges
The Orioles, who have reached the postseason in each of the last two years, face significant challenges this season. They lost Anthony Santander and Corbin Burnes, two of their key players, in free agency. Their biggest additions include Tyler O’Neill, who excelled against lefties last season, and pitchers Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano. Despite these moves, one scout is concerned about the team’s ability to replace the offensive and pitching prowess of Santander and Burnes. However, another scout sees potential in righty Grayson Rodriguez, who had a strong 2023 with a 3.86 ERA. The Orioles are seen as a little behind the Yankees and Red Sox but still have an impressive core of young position players who could step up.
The Rays and Blue Jays: Keeping Pace
The Rays, often overlooked in the division, will play their home games at Steinbrenner Field this season due to hurricane damage at Tropicana Field. Despite the unexpected change, the Rays are known for their ability to piece together competitive rosters. Infielder Ha-Seong Kim was their biggest-name addition, but the team’s front office, analytics department, and manager Kevin Cash continue to be a strength. The Blue Jays, who missed the postseason last year but have gone to the playoffs three times in the last five seasons, made significant moves to bolster their roster. They added Santander to their lineup, re-tooled their bullpen with Jeff Hoffman, and bolstered their infield by trading for Andrés Giménez. The addition of Max Scherzer, a future Hall of Famer, is intriguing if he can stay healthy. The Blue Jays could be a threat, but their inconsistent play in recent years may be a concern.
The Divisional Forecast: A Battle of Titans
The AL East is shaping up to be a fierce battle, with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles seen as the class of the division. The Yankees and Red Sox are considered a touch above the Orioles, with the Red Sox’s recent signing of Bregman putting them over the top in the minds of some scouts. The Rays and Blue Jays, while capable, may lag behind the top three but will certainly keep the division competitive. The division’s high level of talent and long-standing rivalries, particularly between the Yankees and Red Sox, promise to make the 2025 season one of the most exciting in recent memory. As one scout put it, "That division will do a good job of beating each other up."
