We are only in the opening salvos of spring training with the start of exhibition games still a week away. But you know what? The AL East outlook could be different by Opening Day for all we know, as the spring has a nasty tendency to throw injuries and other question marks into the equation. So why not give a current division ranking a whirl?
As a reminder, here’s a very basic rundown on each contender’s offseason, in order of how they finished in 2025:
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Toronto Blue Jays: Acquired SP Dylan Cease, 3B Kazuma Okamota, SP Cody Ponce, and RP Tyler Rogers; Lost SS Bo Bichette, SP Max Scherzer*, SP Chris Bassitt, RP Seranthony Domínguez, UT Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and 1B Ty France*
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New York Yankees: Acquired SP Ryan Weathers and RP Angel Chivilli; Re-signed OF Cody Bellinger, OF Trent Grisham, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, UT Amed Rosario, SP/RP Ryan Yarbrough, and SP/RP Paul Blackburn; Lost RP Devin Williams, RP Luke Weaver, RP Mark Leiter Jr., RP Jonathan Loáisiga, and OF Austin Slater
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Boston Red Sox: Acquired SP Ranger Suárez, SP Sonny Gray, 1B Willson Contreras, 3B Caleb Durbin, SP Johan Oviedo, IF Andrew Monasterio, and UT Isiah Kiner-Falefa; Lost 3B Alex Bregman, SP Lucas Giolito*, OF Rob Refsnyder, OF Jhostynxon Garcia, 1B Nathaniel Lowe*, SP Richard Fitts, SP Hunter Dobbins, IF David Hamilton, SP Kyle Harrison, SP/RP Dustin May, SP/RP Steven Matz, and RP Justin Wilson*
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Tampa Bay Rays: Acquired 2B Gavin Lux, OF Cedric Mullins, 3B Ben Williamson, SP/RP Nick Martinez, SP/RP Steven Matz, OF Jacob Melton, and OF Jake Fraley; Lost 2B Brandon Lowe, SP Shane Baz, 1B Josh Lowe, RP Pete Fairbanks, OF Jake Mangum, SP Adrian Houser, RP Mason Montgomery, and UT Christopher Morel
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Baltimore Orioles: Acquired 1B Pete Alonso, SP Shane Baz, RP Ryan Helsley, OF Taylor Ward, SP Chris Bassitt, RP Andrew Kittredge, OF Leody Taveras, and SS Blaze Alexander; Re-signed SP Zach Eflin and Albert Suárez; Lost SP Grayson Rodriguez, SP Tomoyuki Sugano, SS Jorge Mateo, RP Kade Strowd, and C/DH Gary Sánchez
*still a free agent
Got all that? Every team except the Rays (shocker of shockers) made a big-money signing and some made a couple. There were quite a few trades as well. So how do you think it all shakes out if you could snap your fingers to teleport us to Opening Day with all rosters at their current known health? We know that numerous projection systems are out there, but go with your gut for the fun of it!
Shooting from the hip, I have: 1. Yankees; 2. Blue Jays; 3. Orioles; 4. Red Sox; 5. Rays. The “run it back” strategy still makes me roll my eyes, but despite all the moving around, I don’t see the division shaking up too much at the moment. I also think that Toronto and Boston are going to end up missing Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman, but the top three teams here I think are all close. I could be convinced by any order, even one that includes the Orioles in the mix. And hell, I don’t have confidence in what the Rays are doing, but who knows? Maybe Junior Caminero really goes supernova after clubbing 45 homers at age-21 last year and things get wild back at the Trop.
What about you? Let us know in the comments!
Today on the site, Michael will argue why the 2026 Yankees’ lineup will be more versatile than they’ve been in years and Jeremy will preview Jasson Domínguez’s upcoming season, seeing what he might offer in a fourth outfielder role. Jeff will remember a talented pitcher who got away for our Yankees Birthdays segment, and Josh will bring us up to this current decade by remembering Gerrit Cole’s megadeal for our 50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Contracts series.
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