Ladies and Gentlemen, the best division in baseball by a long shot is the American League East. While this could be said in any of the last 5 to 6 years, it is now indisputable. There are four, yes FOUR, potential playoff teams in this division, at least on paper. One could argue that the American League West could give the East a run for its money, but any division that contains the Astros and the Mariners should not even be mentioned in the same breath as the beasts in the East.
As is rule in baseball, each team plays their divisional opponents 18 times a year. That means that the Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, and Orioles will all have to play each other 18 times. Throw in the fact that these teams will have to play the baffling Red Sox the same amount and one can see just how great this upcoming season will be for an AL East fan or baseball fan alike.
At first glance, the Blue Jays look like the team to beat given their incredible offense, (Reyes, Bautista, Encarnacion, Buck, Arencibia etc) and their apparently good pitching, now that they have former superstars Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. Both these men had mediocre seasons last year in Miami and unless they can suddenly become dominant, they will not be the aces Toronto hoped for. The Jays do have arguably the greatest power hitter in the game today in Jose Bautista as well as the most surprising player of last year coming back in Edwin Encarnacion, but the Blue Jays' pitching simply cannot stop other teams offenses assuming Johnson and Buehrle aren't the great pitchers they used to be.
So then who is the favorite? Can the Orioles build off their great success from last season and take over as the team to beat?
If Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman can make the impact they are supposed to in the show this year then absolutely. With one of the best young players in the game in Manny Machado, who will play his first full season, and budding superstar Adam Jones, the offense can carry this team and the beast that is Matt Weiters has taken over as the best catcher in the AL, sorry Joe Mauer but you're apathy towards the game as a result of the Twins losing culture has forced you into a pit of irrelevance, albeit you are still one of the elite hitters in the game. However, maybe the youth on the Orioles will hinder them this year and their pitching won't be what they hoped.
Enter old reliable, the New York Yankees. Call it one last hoorah, call it whatever you want, but the Yankees have to enter next year as the favorite in the AL East. Arguably the second best pitcher in baseball will come back fully healthy from nagging bone spurs in his elbow and Derek Jeter will once again play like he is 24 years old. Alex Rodriguez has come out publicly and said that he will deliver this year and Cano and Tex will anchor the other side of the infield. Furthermore, Michael Pineda will make his long awaited Yankee debut, making the Yankees rotation even more formidable (assuming they bring back Pettite and Kuroda). Also, the Yankees have shown time and time again that they will spend the money to win and given this years free agent class and the marquee names that are a part of it, don't be surprised if they can land someone like Josh Hamilton or Zach Greinke. Hell, they may even be willing to bring Melky Cabrera back! The Yankees will be the force to be reckoned with in the AL East.
It is obviously way too early to count out Tampa Bay but given their season last year and the likelihood that they will move some of their key pieces once the trade deadline rolls around, it is clear that they probably won't make the playoffs. And the Red Sox, well, the Red Sox are in the process of a rebuild so nobody has any hope for them, even their fans.
The one thing that is certain in this crazy offseason that is just starting is that it will be exciting and lead to some GREAT baseball next season.
-DG
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