New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge runs the bases after hitting his 61st home run of the season, a two-run shot against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Toronto. (Alex Lupul/The Canadian Press via AP) (Alex Lupul, AP)
Prior to the start of last season, the general consensus was that the AL East was the Blue Jays’ race to lose — and they did. Fast forward to today and the feeling is that the reigning division champion Yankees are in the driver’s seat entering the 2023 season.
Adding All-Star southpaw Carlos Rodon to the fold along with bringing back a familiar face in reliever Tommy Kahnle has fortified arguably the best pitching unit in baseball. The question of Aaron Judge’s return was also answered with nine years, $360 million and a captain patch.
However, while everyone is busy wondering if the 2023 Yankees — as currently constructed — are good enough to finally “slay the dragon” of the Astros, their in-house competition — despite the new scheduling format — figures to be good enough to put that question on pause.
With free agency nearing a close — outside of the Carlos Correa drama in Queens — and pitchers and catchers reporting in a little over a month, some offseason maneuvers raise some intrigue within the hierarchy of the AL East beginning with the Blue Jays.
The second-place Jays have returned with a bit of a different look. Veteran starter Chris Bassitt, who posted a 3.42 ERA in 30 starts for the Mets in 2022, signed a three-year, $63 million contract to compete in the other eastern division.
Ross Atkins altered the offensive-heavy landscape of his team by trading off some firepower, shipping out Teoscar Hernandez — slashline of .282/.332/.508 with 57 homers between 2021-2022 — to the Mariners with the hope of improving an outfield that ranked 21st in defensive runs saved last season with -6.
Defensive wizard Daulton Varsho — who ranked in the 99th percentile in outs above average amongst outfielders — was acquired in December from the Diamondbacks. On top of the improvements to their staff and defense, the vaunted Blue Jays core led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette gets a year older with postseason experience (a Wild Card series loss against the Mariners).
The Rays also figure to be back and more annoying than ever. Their 2022 season was completely derailed by injuries and they still managed to make the Bombers sweat a bit as they chewed their once gargantuan division lead down to just two games in the loss column in mid-September.
Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe — arguably their two best hitters as both posted OPS’s north of .810 in 2021 — combined to play 148 games last season. Tampa also got 6.2 total innings from their ace, Tyler Glasnow, as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
All things considered, they won 86 games and made the playoffs losing to the Guardians in the Wild Card round. Should they remain healthy, their projected $73 million payroll figures to be plenty to remain a thorn in the Yanks’ side.
Outside of last season’s runner-ups, the Orioles also provide some intrigue to the division battle.
The O’s young talent is on the brink of breaking through and becoming true postseason contenders. The 2022 No. 1 prospect in baseball Adley Rutschman appears to be as good as advertised with his impressive .806 OPS posted in 113 games as a rookie behind the dish.
The No. 2 prospect in baseball, Gunnar Henderson also got his taste of the show last season appearing in 34 games posting a .789 OPS and top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez appears to be a part of the plan in 2023.
Prospects aren’t the only thing that makes Baltimore intriguing. Veterans such as Cedric Mullins — an All-Star in 2021 — and Anthony Santander who cranked 33 homers last season figure to contribute to a respectable lineup.
The division crown may be far-fetched for Brandon Hyde’s club, however, the Wild Card race is in their sights. The same can’t definitively be said for the Red Sox.
The last-place Sox have shown little desire to change that title throughout the offseason. Franchise cornerstone Xander Bogearts headed out to play shortstop for the Padres on an 11-year, $280 million contract. JD Martinez also is flying west to join old pal Mookie Betts with the Dodgers.
Despite the trouble in paradise, Chaim Bloom did make some noteworthy additions. Japanese sensation Masataka Yoshida figures to plug in at the top of Alex Cora’s lineup along with veteran third baseman Justin Turner.
Closer Kenley Janen was added to the fold to attempt to aid the team with the third-most blown saves in the American League last season.
Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo still exist and top first base prospect Triston Casas is expected to get his chance this upcoming season. It remains possible that the Red Sox compete in 2023, however, they may not stack up against the teams that finished ahead of them last season, especially not the Yankees.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service