AL Division Preview: American League East

The American League enters the 2023 season with the reigning World Series Champion in the Houston Astros and the expectation of competitive races in the three divisions. While the Astros may be taking a step back, the battle to unseat them will depend on how successful other Junior Circuit clubs were in addressing their needs over the winter.

In the final of the three division previews, we will take a look at three aspects of each team; the overall direction and outlook for the club, the most important player for them to have success, and the prospect that could bloom at the Major League level during the 2023 campaign.

American League East

Baltimore Orioles (83 – 79, 4^th place)

Direction – Up

After years of being the East’s punching bag, the Orioles began to take flight last season with a young core group and stayed in contention into September. Whether Baltimore can move up into the upper level of the division will depend on whether their pitching can hold up.

Most Important Player – Adley Rutschman

The top pick in the 2019 Amateur Draft, Rutschman finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Julio Rodriguez after hitting .254, with 13 HRs. The Orioles hope that the 25-year-old will grow and take a step forward offensively as a sophomore to give their club a tough top of their batting order with Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins.

Impact Prospect – Gunnar Henderson

Henderson played at three levels and made his MLB debut at 21 years old, and was ranked the top prospect in baseball by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. After playing three infield positions in 2022, the plan appears to be to have him split time between shortstop and third.

Boston Red Sox (78 – 84, 5^th place)

Direction – Down

The downward trend in Boston began with the trade of Mookie Betts and continued with the departure of Xander Bogaerts. The club under the head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom seems to be more budget conscious and analytically driven, which will be a difficult transition for the Red Sox fan base that was used to spending as much or more than the Evil Empire Yankees.

Most Important Player – Rafael Devers

With Bogaerts and JD Martinez gone, the pressure falls on the shoulders of Devers, who led Boston with 27 HRs and signed a 10-year, $313 million contract extension in January.

Impact Prospect – Triston Casas

The Red Sox 2018 first-round pick, Casas made a steady climb through the Boston system, hitting .273 in AAA Worcester before making his MLB debut last September. The 23-year-old is a big lefty bat with a good eye at the plate, but it may take time for his power stroke to develop.

New York Yankees (99 – 63, 1^st place, lost in AL Championship Series)

Direction – Up

For most clubs, making the ALCS would be considered an accomplishment, but for the Bronx Bombers losing to the hated Houston Astros again in a four-game sweep was a bitter disappointment. GM Brian Cashman added a top-of-the-rotation starter in free agent lefty Carlos Rodon, but it will take a lot more to keep the heat off him and manager Aaron Boone.

Most Important Player – Aaron Judge

Tough to top hitting an American League record 62 home runs, the MVP, and nearly the Triple Crown, but after signing a nine-year, $360 million deal, the only thing that will satisfy the Yankee fanbase will be a World Championship.

Impact Prospect – Anthony Volpe

There was some doubt as to whether the 22-year-old would be ready to handle the majors and being shortstop in New York, but the New Jersey native convinced everyone that he was by hitting .302 in spring training and beating out prospect Oswald Peraza and veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Tampa Bay Rays (86 – 76, 3^rd place, lost in AL Wild Card)

Direction – Down

Tampa has used a combination of their own prospects and other organization castoffs to stay a contender for pennies on the dollar compared to the division rival Yankees and Red Sox, but there are some that are beginning to doubt whether they can keep that up with Toronto and Baltimore on an upward trajectory.

Most Important Player – Shane McClanahan

Amongst the mix of openers and an endless supply of bullpen arms, McClanahan is an ace and the anchor of the Rays staff. The hard-throwing lefty led Tampa in wins, ERA, innings, and strikeouts, finishing 6^th in Cy Young voting and they will need the same this season to stay in contention.

Impact Prospect – Wander Franco

Despite entering his third season and signing an 11-year contract extension, the highly touted 22-year-old shortstop has not firmly established himself, battling injuries last season that limited him to 83 games.

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Toronto Blue Jays (92 – 70, 2^nd place, lost in AL Wild Card)

Direction – Down

The Jays have a scary offensive lineup with five 20+ home run hitters, and the best hitting catcher in the American League, but that has been countered by a pitching rotation and bullpen with gaping holes that may not have been adequately addressed over the winter.

Most Important Player – George Springer

Springer managed to stay healthy after an injury-plagued 2021 that saw him play only 76 games. With the addition of defensive wiz Kevin Kiermaier in center, the former World Series MVP shifts to right field and must be an effective leadoff hitter to set the table for sluggers Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Impact Prospect – Nate Pearson

The time has passed for Pearson to be an impact arm in the rotation since he has battled injuries the last three seasons and did not pitch in the majors in 2022.  The 26-year-old righty made it through spring training and will begin the season at AAA Buffalo, but could get called up as a bullpen arm if he can stay healthy.