The Yankees are set to look somewhat related subsequent season, because the re-signing of Cody Bellinger retains the majority of their 2025 core intact.
However the remainder of the American League East is poised to be a lot completely different due to the star-powered additions or painful subtractions — and, in some circumstances, each — that reshaped every of the Yankees’ division rivals.
With just a few weeks remaining earlier than spring coaching, groups nonetheless have time to tinker with their rosters.
However with a lot of the heavy lifting now full, here’s a breakdown of the AL East.
YANKEES
The re-signing of Bellinger for 5 years, $162.5 million adopted the Yankees’ retention of heart fielder Trent Grisham, infielder Amed Rosario and pitchers Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn.
Probably the most notable new addition is left-handed starter Ryan Weathers, who’s 26 with a giant arm however whose potential up to now is basically untapped.
Certainly, the Yankees are roughly working issues again after a 2025 season wherein they tied for the AL lead with 94 wins however suffered a lopsided ALDS defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Yankees hope the return of ace Gerrit Cole, who missed all of final season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure, will assist them take the subsequent step. Cole is predicted to rejoin the rotation by June.
A full yr from breakout rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler — who posted a 2.96 ERA in 14 begins earlier than dazzling within the playoffs — additionally offers purpose for optimism.
And the Yankees are poised to deliver again the identical Aaron Choose-led lineup that completed first within the majors in runs (5.2 per recreation), dwelling runs (274) and OPS (.787) in 2025.
That’s to not say there aren’t query marks.
The lineup may be very left-handed, with six regulars who bat from that facet of the plate.
Anthony Volpe is about to overlook the beginning of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgical procedure. This may very well be a make-or-break season for the fourth-year shortstop, whose numbers regressed in 2025 as he performed by means of a partial tear in his left shoulder.
The bullpen additionally seems weaker after the free-agent departures of Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, the latter of whom settled into an necessary set-up position after struggling because the nearer.
The Yankees made a flurry of midseason trades final summer season — together with for nearer David Bednar, third baseman Ryan McMahon and speedy utilityman José Caballero — with 2026 in thoughts, too.
Add all of it up and the Yankees have a crew that ought to compete for a division title however whose followers received’t be glad except they snap their 16-year World Collection drought.
DraftKings (91.5) and FanDuel (92.5) each peg the Yankees for essentially the most wins within the AL.
BLUE JAYS
The Blue Jays additionally received 94 video games in 2025 however received the division after claiming the head-to-head season sequence towards the Yankees.
Toronto then rode a red-hot offense headlined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all the way in which to Recreation 7 of the World Collection, the place it suffered an excruciating extra-innings loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Blue Jays’ offseason bought off to a powerful begin once they signed Dylan Stop to a seven-year, $210 million deal to be their new ace.
However Toronto missed out on outfielder Kyle Tucker, then misplaced star shortstop Bo Bichette to the Mets.
Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto successfully replaces Bichette within the infield, whereas newly signed relievers Tyler Rogers and Cody Ponce assist bolster the bullpen.
Stop, 30, is inconsistent, however the right-hander represents a significant improve over outgoing starters Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt. The Jays’ rotation additionally stands to learn from a full season of rookie phenom Trey Yesavage, who was amongst final yr’s postseason stars.
However whether or not that will likely be sufficient to offset the lack of Bichette stays the largest query going through Toronto.
DraftKings and FanDuel each set Toronto’s over/underneath at 88.5 wins.
RED SOX
Boston bolstered its rotation by buying and selling for right-hander Sonny Grey (14-8, 4.28 ERA final season) and signing left-hander Ranger Suarez (12-8, 3.20 ERA) to a five-year, $130 million contract.
Beginning pitching ought to be a significant power for the Pink Sox, as a workers of Garrett Crochet, Suarez, Grey, Brayan Bello and maybe Johan Oviedo — one other offseason addition — is one of the best on paper within the AL East, not less than till the Yankees’ reinforcements return.
However the larger query for Boston is whether or not the offense will rating sufficient with a view to compete for a division crown.
Alex Bregman left for a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, leaving a significant void within the coronary heart of the Pink Sox lineup, at third base and within the clubhouse.
That was a blow to a Pink Sox crew that struggled to attain runs throughout its three-game loss to the Yankees of their Wild Card sequence.
Boston did add an completed right-handed bat in first baseman Willson Contreras, however a lineup anchored by Contreras, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran and Trevor Story stays mild. Buying and selling for an infielder akin to Houston’s Isaac Paredes would assist there.
Because it stands now, the Pink Sox’s over/underneath of 87.5 wins on DraftKings and FanDuel counsel a slight regression from final yr’s 89-73 report.
ORIOLES
No person was busier than Baltimore, which revamped its lineup with the additions of first baseman Pete Alonso and outfielder Taylor Ward; acquired relievers Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge; and traded for starter Shane Baz.
In fact, the Orioles had loads of work to do after final yr’s 75-87 disappointment, and they may not be finished but.
Baltimore’s lineup has an opportunity to be particular, with Alonso (38 dwelling runs in 2025) and Ward (36 homers) becoming a member of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg.
However pitching stays an issue for the O’s, even when left-hander Trevor Rogers (9-3, 1.81 ERA in 18 begins final season) proves to be the actual deal.
Kyle Bradish is again from the elbow surgical procedure that restricted him to 14 begins over the previous two seasons.
However behind Rogers and Bradish, the O’s rotation choices embrace Baz (4.87 ERA final season), Dean Kremer (4.19 ERA) and Zach Eflin (5.93 ERA).
The Orioles have been linked to free-agent All-Star starter Framber Valdez, who would definitely change the outlook of Baltimore’s rotation.
Baltimore can be relying on a bounce again from Helsley, who went 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA and 4 blown saves in 22 appearances after final summer season’s commerce to the Mets.
DraftKings (84.5) and FanDuel (85.5) set the Orioles’ win whole because the second lowest within the division.
RAYS
Historical past says to by no means rely out the Rays, who’re amongst baseball’s savviest and well-run franchises.
However Tampa Bay had an eye fixed towards the long run when it traded away Baz and Brandon Lowe — one in all its high offensive gamers — for a haul of prospects.
The Rays nonetheless boast some premium expertise, together with Junior Caminero (who hit 45 dwelling runs in 2025), Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and right-hander Drew Rasmussen.
They’ve added veterans akin to outfielder Cedric Mullins, left-hander Matz and second baseman Gavin Lux, the final of whom required buying and selling away outfielder Josh Lowe.
They usually hope to lastly get again onetime ace Shane McClanahan, who has not appeared in an MLB recreation since 2023 as a consequence of a number of arm accidents.
However Tampa Bay probably lacks the upside of the opposite groups within the division, which is mirrored within the DraftKings (77.5) and FanDuel (76.5) win totals.
