Last week we got to see the Philadelphia Eagles thrash the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. As any baseball fan would say as soon as the game is over, “its baseball season!” Pitchers and Catchers reported across the league this week, meaning the emergence of every team’s full roster is right around the corner. 

While the off-season was marked by the Dodgers taking over the market by signing Blake Snell, Michael Conforto, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Hyeseong Kim (not to be confused with former Padres Utility man Ha-Seong Kim), and re-signing Teoscar Hernandez, Kiké Hernandez, and Clayton Kershaw, plenty of other teams made moves to improve.

The Mets signed Juan Soto, the “grand prize” of free agency. The Red Sox just signed Alex Bregman from the Houston Astros after long negotiations and acquired multiple big name pitchers like Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler.

Corbin Burnes joined a loaded Arizona Diamondbacks rotation, and the Yankees made moves, signing Paul Goldschmidt and Max Fried, while trading for Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger. Hell, even the Sacramento (formerly Oakland)  A’s spent money for the first time in what seems like a decade. 

After an offseason of countless moves, it’s time for the games to start. Over the next three weeks we will go division by division to break down what each team is looking forward to over the next month. We will start with the American League East and work our way through the American League, then dive in the National League.

American League East Division:

Coming off a year in which Baltimore won the division and the Yankees made it to the World Series, it looks like it’ll be yet another year of competitive baseball in the division. Every team in the AL East made moves to position themselves for a run at October baseball. We will start with the Baltimore Orioles and work our way to the New York Yankees.

Baltimore Orioles

Free agents remaining: C James McCann, LHP John Means

Notable departures:

RHP Corbin Burnes (to Arizona Diamondbacks), OF Anthony Santander (to Toronto Blue Jays), DH Eloy Jiménez (to Tampa Bay Rays), OF Austin Slater (to Chicago White Sox), LHP Danny Coulombe (to Minnesota Twins), RHP Jacob Webb (to Texas Rangers)

Notable acquisitions:

OF Tyler O’Neil (3 year deal, previously Boston Red Sox), RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (1 year deal, previously Japanese Baseball League), C Gary Sánchez (1 year deal, previously Milwaukee Brewers), RHP Charlie Morton (1 year deal, previously Atlanta Braves), RHP Andrew Kittredge (1 year deal, previously St. Louis Cardinals), OF Dylan Carlson (1 year deal, previously Tampa Bay Rays), OF Ramón Laureano (1 year deal, previously Atlanta Braves)

Analysis:

The Orioles stayed away from large commitments this off-season, focusing on maintaining a friendly payroll knowing they’ll have to sign their star players in the upcoming future. Baltimore is looking to win a playoff series, let alone a playoff game (the past two years it was swept in the playoffs) this season.

Their roster on paper does not look as strong with stars but they have plenty of depth within their major league roster, as well as their farm system. 

They are hoping their star closer, Felix Bautista, makes it back for opening day, and are hopeful their strong starting pitcher Kyle Bradish comes back early in the season following Tommy John surgery last year. 25-year-old rising star Grayson Rodriguez looks to lead a starting rotation that currently lacks star power.

Losing Anthony Santander will hurt their middle of the lineup, but a good season out of Tyler O’Neil could make up for that lost production while producing strong defensive play. 

They are hoping their former top prospect Jackson Holiday can get to the production level they were expecting from him last year. They have two top 20 MLB prospects in Coby Mayo (3B/1B), Samuel Basallo (C/1B) that are currently blocked by young players (Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg) but if one or both get injured, expect them to call their star prospects up. 

Overall, Baltimore is still in a good position to compete in the AL East, but questions about their pitching rotation could spell them trouble in a loaded division (per usual). 

Record Prediction: 87-75

Boston Red Sox 

Free agents remaining

RHP Lucas Sims, RHP Naoyuki Uwasawa

Notable departures: 

OF Tyler O’Neil (to Baltimore Orioles), RHP Kenley Jansen (to Los Angeles Angels), C Danny Jansen (to Tampa Bay Rays), RHP Chris Martin (to Texas Rangers), RHP Nick Pivetta (to San Diego Padres)

Notable acquisitions: 

LHP Garrett Crochet (trade with Chicago White Sox), 3B Alex Bregman (3 year deal, previously Houston Astros), RHP Walker Buehler (1 year deal, previously Los Angeles Dodgers), LHP Patrick Sandoval (2 year deal, previously Los Angeles Angels), LHP Aroldis Chapman (1 year deal, previously Pittsburgh Pirates), LHP Justin Wilson (1 year deal, previously Cincinnati Reds), LHP Jovani Moran (trade with Minnesota Twins), C Carlos Narvaez (trade with New York Yankees)

Analysis:

After three-straight years of missing the playoffs, and five of the last six years not making the postseason, Red Sox fans have grown to be frustrated with the way the team has been managed the previous years. Head Honcho Craig Breslow had his second off season to work his magic, and boy did he do that.

After a third place finish last year, a few positives that came out of the season was the quick rise of their top prospects and re-signing their manager Alex Cora on a three-year deal. 

The questions of whether the front office would put their guts on the table after early comments suggest large moves being made, has shown to be true. In an offseason of lots of moves being made, it did not seem like it was a job completed until their surprising acquisition of star third basemen Alex Bregman.

Acquiring Garrett Crochet is another desire well wanted from fans, as they now have a top of the line ace to lead their rotation. They also strengthened the bullpen to an extent, and got another big name pitcher in Walker Buehler. 

Not only did they acquire some heavy big-name power, but also have a exciting future with their prospects nearing major league debuts. Rising star and No. 7 prospect in baseball second basemen Kristian Campbell is fighting his way to make the opening day roster, despite signing Bregman who can field the second base position.

They are very high on him, as well as the No. 1 prospect in baseball, outfielder Roman Anthony. They expect him to debut this year as well, and that doesn’t even mention another top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer (No. 12 in baseball).

They also have another infield prospect in the top 100 and have a few more just outside of the 100 ranked prospects. It’s hard not to get excited about this team’s future. The Red Sox are not only playing to compete this year, but many more years to come.

With their star hitter Rafael Devers locked down for what could be the rest of his career, outfielder Jarren Duran looking for another MVP consideration season, and 1B Triston Casas looking to really break out this year, their lineup has the potential to be scary. The Fenway Faithful’s hope to compete in the postseason is looking the most promising since their world-killing 2018 team. 

Record Prediction: 95-67

New York Yankees

Free agents remaining:

1B Anthony Rizzo, OF Alex Verdugo

Notable departure:

OF Juan Soto (to New York Mets), 2B Gleyber Torres (to Detroit Tigers), RHP Clay Holmes (to New York Mets), LHP Nestor Cortes (trade with Milwaukee Brewers), RHP Tommy Kahnle (to Detroit Tigers), 3B Jon Berti (to Chicago Cubs), LHP Tim Mayza (to Pittsburgh Pirates), C Jose Trevino (trade with Cincinnati Reds), RHP Cody Poteet (trade with Chicago Cubs)

Notable Acquisitions:

LHP Max Fried (8 year deal, previously Atlanta Braves), RHP Devin Williams (trade with Milwaukee Brewers), OF/1B Cody Bellinger (trade with Chicago Cubs), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (1 year deal, previously with St. Louis Cardinals), RHP Fernando Cruz (trade with Cincinnati Reds), C Alex Jackson (trade with Cincinnati Reds), RHP Carlos Carrasco (minor league deal)

Analysis:

The Yankees are coming off a World Series appearance that was a gentleman’s sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The biggest news? They couldn’t retain their prized free agent Juan Soto. To make up for that, they made many aggressive moves to get themselves back in the position to win a World Series. Brian Cashman had his work cut out for him but he certainly put them into position to compete. 

Signing Max Fried to an eight-year deal certainly raised some eyebrows, as he is on the other side of 30 with declining “stuff” but his efficiency as a ground ball producing pitcher can project to last for the foreseeable future.

Letting go of Clay Holmes meant they had to make moves to sure up the bullpen and getting one of the top closers, Devin Williams, fixed that issue. Williams is a considerable upgrade from Holmes. Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt might not be the players they once were (producing at an MVP level), but they both fit in nicely into this lineup that once again can light up any pitcher.

They made some moves to sure up the bullpen as well. With a pitching combo of Gerrit Cole (who hasn’t looked great the past 12 months), Carlos Rodon and Max Fried, that type of star power propels them into one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

Their infield will be solid and having an outfield of regular season monster (don’t ask about the postseason) Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and their rising prospect (No. 21 in baseball) Jasson Dominguez, makes the Yankees one of the favorites to win the American League. Behind Dominguez is not much depth to their farm system but that’s never been a problem for the Yankees in their history. 

Record Prediction: 91-71

Tampa Bay Rays

Notable departures:

OF Jose Siri (trade with New York Mets), LHP Jeffrey Springs (trade with Sacramento A’s), OF Dylan Carlson (to Baltimore Orioles), LHP Tyler Alexander (to Milwaukee Brewers)

Notable acquisitions:

INF Ha-Seong Kim (2 year deal, previously San Diego Padres), C Danny Jansen (1 year deal, previously Boston Red Sox), DH Eloy Jiménez (1 year minor league deal, previously Baltimore Orioles), RHP Alex Faedo (trade with Detroit Tigers)

Analysis: 

In a typical offseason for the Tampa Bay Rays, little money was spent and they traded multiple players for prospects. They have lived off the ‘Moneyball’ lifestyle for the past decade, and it’s gotten them to the postseason multiple times, but their doesn’t seem like a lining to make it far this year.

Kevin Cash has his work cut out for him to get this team a contender, but dubbed as one of the best managers in baseball, he will get the guys ready to play. Tampa likes to focus on the analytics, which is why their executives usually get signed away to big market franchises (Chaim Bloom to Red Sox, Andrew Friedman to Dodgers). 

They still have a solid pitching rotation, with Shane McClanahan leading the way and the likes of Taj Bradley, Shane Baz and a strong bullpen to guide this team through strong defense and pitching. They have a pretty strong infield with rising star, maybe even superstar, Junior Caminero, looking to do damage to opposing teams pitchers.

Their outfield is full of guys you’ve probably never heard (except Josh Lowe) but expect guys to step up and play solid baseball. Their farm system boasts depth and talent yet again, with five of the top 100 prospects in baseball. All of them are position players so for a team that lacks star power, they could have a nice boost during the season.

They might not be competing for a world championship this year, but give them a little time and they will be yet another force in the AL East to recon with. Also expect them to find diamond in the rough pitching prospects to suddenly bud up like we’ve seen time and time again. 

Record Prediction: 81-81

Toronto Blue Jays

Free agents remaining: 

RHP Dillon Tate, LHP Ryan Yarbrough

Notable departures:

RHP Jordan Romano, 1B Spencer Horwitz (trade with Guardians & later dealt to Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notable acquisitions:

OF Anthony Santander (5 year deal, previously Baltimore Orioles), RHP Jeff Hoffman (3 year deal, previously Philadelphia Phillies), RHP Yimi Garcia (2 year deal, previously Seattle Mariners), RHP Max Scherzer (1 year deal, previously Texas Rangers), 2B Andrés Giménez (trade with Guardians), RHP Nick Sandlin (trade with Guardians), OF Myles Straw (trade with Guardians), LHP Josh Walker (1 year deal)

Analysis:

In yet another frustrating offseason for the Blue Jays front office, they still acquired some big names. Multiple-time Cy Young Winner Max Scherzer joins the team after a disappointing season in Texas last year. All-Star players Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez also joined via free agency and trade.

They got multiple quality relievers as well and had minimal free agents that left which left them with an overall not bad offseason. Toronto’s farm system is not ranked very well, with only two top 100 prospects coming in at No. 88 and No. 89.

They will heavily rely on the veterans they have and hope for a bounce back season from Bo Bichette. Vladimir Guerrero Jr comes into the year as their top hitter by far and could potentially be on his way out of Toronto. Just as recent as February 17th, Vlad announced he will be heading to free agency and won’t sign an extension. 

Toronto’s season could very well go south in a hurry for 2025 before we hit the summer solstice. If it does, expect to see them potentially deal out both Guerrero Jr & Bichette and hit the complete refresh button. On the other hand, if players like George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Andrés Giménez and Alejandro Kirk all have bounce back years, they could easily sneak into the wild card. 

Record Prediction: 78-84

 

Division Standings Prediction:

1. 1. Boston Red Sox
2. 2. New York Yankees
3. 3. Baltimore Orioles
4. 4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. 5. Toronto Blue Jays