2024 Division Outlook: AL East

Welcome back to another round of the division preview series, this time tackling the recently ultra-competitive American League East. The AL Easts holds some historic franchises and rivalries, and looks to be as competitive as ever heading into 2024. The newly up and coming juggernaut Baltimore Orioles will headline the division, as they look to repeat as AL East champs. The Yankees and Blue Jays project to be competitive and give the O's a run for their money, with the always competitive Rays being right there too. The Red Sox are weak when compared to the rest of the division, but can honestly hold their own in my opinion. I can describe the AL East in three words - competitive and fun.

Important side note - as I am writing this article, there are still many major league free agents who are still available. The list includes a 2023 Cy Young Award winner in Blake Snell, alongside Jordan Montgomery, Michael Lorenzen, and many others. Position players that remain free agents include outfielder Tommy Pham and designated hitter J.D. Martinez. With all that being said, I am basing my current predictions off how rosters are currently constructed. Any of these free agents being signed could drastically change how successful a team is. Keep that in mind if any team signs any of these FAs. This applies to all already published division outlook and all future previews, so long as this list of players remains free agents before I write each division preview.

Baltimore Orioles

Key Additions
- RHP Corbin Burnes
- RHP Craig Kimbrel

Key Loses
- 2B Adam Frazier
- OF Aaron Hicks
- RHP Kyle Gibson

After years of torment as one of the worst teams in the Major Leagues, the Baltimore Orioles seem destined to be a juggernaut for years to come. They exceeded expectations in 2022, finishing 83-79 after an abysmal 52-110 record in the 2021 season. Many people, including me, were skeptical of that 2022 season, thinking the Orioles simply exceed expectations and were still a couple years away from true contention. Manager Brandon Hyde and his crew went out and proved any and all doubters wrong, thrusting forward with a 101-61 record that rewarded them with their first AL East crown since 2014 and the number 1 seed in the American League playoff race. Baltimore will look to repeat their regular season dominance from a year ago, this time with an urge for that dominance to carry over into the postseason.

The Orioles are built off the previously mentioned years of torment. Years of last place finishes and trades allowed Baltimore to rebuild their entire roster. Now, the Orioles are a team full of young talent, with a now accomplished group already in the majors and more elite talent on the way. The O's lineup is headlined by that youthful talent, with Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson already establishing themselves as two of the best hitters in the American League. Anthony Santander is an established power threat in their lineup, with Ryan Mountcastle falling under that same mold, just with a little less consistency. Outfielders Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays are elite defenders that will still contribute offensively. Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg, two guys with little to no MLB experience, look to be the next duo to come out of that number 1 ranked farm system. After finishing 2023 scoring the fourth most runs in the American League, Baltimore will look to repeat as a top offense, and I believe they will.

The biggest splash made by Mike Elias was completing the blockbuster deal that landed Corbin Burnes in Baltimore, a move that showed Baltimore meant business. Sure, the Orioles lineup has to room to improve, but so does any lineup. Baltimore's biggest struggle was their starting rotation, as their starters accumulated 10.7 fWAR, good for ninth in the American League. They helped take care of that issue in a big war, going out and trading for Corbin Burnes, a former NL Cy Young award winner, who accumulated 3.4 fWAR by himself in 2023. Now, Baltimore has an established ace headlining their rotation, the commodity they had been seeking for years. Kyle Bradish broke out in a big way last year, posting a 2.34 ERA in the second half, the second best mark in the majors, leading him to fourth place finish in the AL Cy Young race. Former top prospect and young ace Grayson Rodriguez will look to take another step forward this year, potentially creating a rotation led by three ace-level caliber pitchers. Round the rotation out with a mixture of Cole Irvin, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, and John Means, and Baltimore has an overall strong rotation. The biggest concern for Baltimore's pitching staff might stem from their bullpen, as they will have to compete in 2024 without elite closer Felix Bautista. 2023 breakout Yennier Cano and future Hall of Famer Craig Kimbrel will have to try to keep the Baltimore bullpen stable in Bautista's place. Regardless, Baltimore looks to be a legit contender in the American League, both for 2024 and for years to come.

Team MVP: Gunnar Henderson

Team Cy Young: Corbin Burnes

Team X-Factor: Grayson Rodriguez

The Nationals will host the first matchup of the Battle of the Beltway as they host the Orioles from May 7-8, and will visit Baltimore for two more from August 13-14.

Boston Red Sox

Key Additions
- 2B/SS Vaughn Grissom
- OF Tyler O'Neil
- RHP Lucas Giolito
- 1B C.J. Cron

Key Loses
- LHP Chris Sale
- OF Alex Verdugo
- LHP James Paxton
- OF Adam Duvall
- DH Justin Turner

When evaluating the Red Sox, I can't help but describe them as weird. They play in the stacked AL East and have a lackluster roster, at least when compared to the other teams in the divisions. Therefore, I expect them to finish last in their division for the third straight year, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they made some noise towards the end of the season, at the very least playing spoiler.

The biggest star on the Red Sox roster is the guy handling the hot corner - Rafael Devers. The Red Sox announced the contract extension of Devers in January, perhaps the best news for the Boston faithful this offseason. Devers looks to be the most prolific hitter in this Red Sox lineup once again, and it'll be interesting to watch who steps up as major contributors for Boston. Trevor Story will have some hefty expectations placed on him for 2024, as the Red Sox inked the slugger to a 6 year, $140 million heading into the 2022 season. Story's time in Boston has been plagued with injuries, leading him to an average inaugural season, followed by a horrendous sophomore season. Story's health and production very well may be a make or break for the Red Sox. Tyler O'Neil is in a similar situation, as the outfielder hopes for a rebound season in Boston. Masataka Yoshida, Triston Casas, and Jarren Duran all look to be offensive contributors in Alex Cora's lineup, which is then rounded out with Ceddanne Rafaela, Emmanuel Valdez, and, Connor Wong. There is some firepower in Boston's lineup, mainly thanks to Rafael Devers, but there are so many question marks outside of Devers. While projected to begin the season on the IL, I do have to mention trade acquisition Vaughn Grissom, as the Red Sox hope to see what they got in the youngster.

Boston's pitching staff looks to be a question mark as well. The Red Sox went out and inked Lucas Giolito to a 2-year, $38.5 million deal, just to be rewarded with him having to miss the 2024 season with an elbow injury. That puts Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello as their projected 1-2 starters, a job neither seem too fit for. Pivetta has been durable in his time in Boston, but has yet to fully establish consistency as a starter. On Bello's side, the Red Sox made it known they believe in the young starter after they locked him up with a 6-year extension. Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, and Garret Whitlock project to be the last three starters in Boston's rotation. In my eyes, all three guys have strong potential, but just like Boston's front office, we are waiting to see that potential turn into sustained results. Future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen will serve as Boston's closer once again, with 2023 Cy Young award votes-getter Chris Martin joining him in the backend of the bullpen.

Team MVP: Rafeal Devers

Team Cy Young: Brayan Bello

Team X-Factor: Trevor Story

The Nationals will visit historic Fenway Park and face Boston for a three game series from May 10-12.

New York Yankees

Key Additions
- OF Juan Soto
- OF Alex Verdugo
- OF Trent Grisham
- RHP Marcus Stroman
- LHP Caleb Ferguson

Key Loses
- RHP Luis Severino
- RHP Michael King
- LHP Wandy Peralta
- UTL Isiah Kiner-Falefa
- C Kyle Higashioka

It is now or never for the New York Yankees, as Brian Cashman made it apparent it is boom or bust for the Evil Empire. Cashman proceeded to go out and make some major splashes, adding Juan Soto in a blockbuster deal with the Padres, acquiring Alex Verdugo in a rare deal with their rival Red Sox, and signing starter Marcus Stroman. Now, the Yankees are fully in go mode in their attempt to claim a World Series title, something they haven't done since 2009.

Aaron Boone's lineup is looking to bounce back from the below average offensive attack displayed last year, and the aforementioned reinforcements will help greatly in doing so. When healthy, the Yankees now have two of the top hitters in the game in Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, a duo that will be a treat to watch. Everybody already knows about them, so I don't have much else to say about them. Anthony Rizzo has found a new best friend in the short porch, helping him rejuvenate his career, and Gleyber Torres is constantly improving as an offensive threat. DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton are veterans hoping to remain contributors, with the former still doing so, while the latter has watched his production fall off a cliff. If Stanton can even slightly tap into the power that propelled him to an MVP award in 2017, the Yankees lineup will get a massive production boost. However, if Stanton struggles to say healthy and lacks production, New York will have to deal with that black hole in their lineup and salary. Alex Verdugo lost all aura when he fell victim to the New York policy of no facial hair, but could join Rizzo in being best pals with the short porch this year. Rounded out by the promising youngster Anthony Volpe, I fully expect the Yankees lineup to perform at a top five level in the American League.

On the pitching side, the season hasn't even started and the Yankees have already received a massive blow, as ace and 2023 AL Cy Young award winner Gerrit Cole is expected to miss the opening month or two at the least. With that news, the Yankees were briefly swirled into Blake Snell rumors, but now that pairing is considered "highly unlikely." With Cole out, the rest of the Yankees rotation will have to step up in a major way in his place. Nestor Cortes followed up a great 2022 season with an injury-filled, low performing 2023. Carlos Rodon's first year of his 6-year, $162 million contract was a disaster to say the least, as he put up -0.2 fWAR. Marcus Stroman is a contact first pitcher who had a down second half last year, and Clarke Schmidt is a fine backend of the rotation guy. This isn't me trying to be overly negative on the Yankees, as I still expect them to a competitive squad this year, but rather me expressing my doubts. If Cortes and Rodon can be healthy and perform close to their normal level, the Yankees will be more than fine.

Team Co-MVPs: Aaron Judge / Juan Soto

Team Cy Young: Gerrit Cole

Team X-Factor: Gerrit Cole / Giancarlo Stanton

The Nationals will host the Yankees for three games from August 26-28.

Tampa Bay Rays

Key Additions
- RHP Ryan Pepiot
- RHP Phil Maton
- LHP Tyler Alexander

Key Loses
- OF Manuel Margot
- RHP Tyler Glasnow
- 1B/OF Luke Raley
- C Christian Bethancourt
- LHP Jake Diekman
- RHP Robert Stephenson

Kevin Cash will have a unique challenge heading into 2024, as the Rays roster feels weaker than in previous years. Offensively, the loss of Wander Franco speaks for itself. Pitching wise, the Rays will start 2024 without four of their best starters. That leaves the door open for the Rays youngsters will establish themselves, and if there's anything the Rays are exceptional at, it's getting the most out of their players.

The Rays will look at Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena for the bulk of their offensive production. Both of them are sleeper MVP picks and look to anchor this lineup. Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes are the power providers in Tampa Bay, with Jose Lowe waiting to come off the injured list to join them. The rest of the lineup are guys that haven't been consistent major league contributions yet. Jonathan Aranda, Richie Palacios, Jose Caballero, and Rene Pinto are all guys we haven't seen all too much of, so I don't have much to say about that. Kevin Cash will still have veterans Harold Ramirez and Amed Rosario up his sleeve, a narrative that will be worth keeping an eye on. Regardless of these question marks, the Rays are infamous for getting the most out of their players, so don't be surprised if this Rays lineup once again finishes as one of the most productive offenses in the league. The biggest question will be if that production can finally carry over into the postseason.

When analyzing the pitching side, I had the same notes as I did looking at the Rays lineup. Sure they have Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, and Zack Litell ready to go, but outside of those three, the Rays are relying on young pitchers. Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, and Taj Bradley are all injured, each of which are above quality arms, including a Cy Young contender in McClanahan. Even with those four guys missing to start the year, the Rays make the most out of their pitchers, and it'll be fascinating to see how they maximize each of their pitchers' results once again. Regardless of injuries, the Rays always find themselves in the thick of the playoff race. Every time I'm ready to say they won't be able to contend, they end making the playoffs anyways. This time, I am confident to say I don't have the Rays making the initial playoff picture heading into 2024.

Team MVP: Yandy Diaz

Team Cy Young: Zach Eflin

Team X-Factor: All the young guys

The Nationals will visit the Trop for a three game set from June 28-30.