As spring training arrives a ranking of projected lineups in powerful AL East

MLB’s best division compared team-by-team position-by-position

Since the major leagues moved to 30 teams and six-divisions, never has any 5-team grouping ended a season at as many as +78 games above .500 … that is, until the AL East accomplished the feat in 2023. For any team in that uber-strong division to earn a place on the October dance floor, they must run a 162-game regular-season gauntlet, to earn the division title or one of two wildcards. It’s a grind.

It makes sense, then, that one of the important spring comparisons would be “how do we measure up to the other four teams in the division?” There are various means to compare and dozens of confusing numbers that can be used to compile the rankings. From my years in MLB, I know firsthand that you can make stats sing, no matter which side you stand on, so we will return to basics and do a simple position-by-position comparison, adding the ranking numbers, with low aggregate being best.

The AL East projected starters and positions used here are based on a combination of information gleaned from MLB.com, FanGraphs mixed with personal observation. Feel free to disagree.

2023 AL East: O’s 101-61; Rays 99-63; Blue Jays 89-73; Yankees 82-80; Red Sox 78-84.   

 

CATCHER

1-Adley Rutschman (O’s)

2-D.Jansen/A.Kirk (TOR)

3-A.Wells/J.Trevino (NYY)

4-Rene Pinto (T.B.)

5-Connor Wong (BOS)

Summary: There is no doubt among catchers, Rutschman is the future of the position in this division, perhaps around all of baseball. The 26-year-old switch-hitter, the first selection overall in the 2019 draft, was the key to the O’s ‘23 success and their 101-win season. But the Jays boast the deepest, most balanced duo that both provide solid MLB defence with unique offensive contributions. Either man can also DH.   

FIRST-BASE

1-Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)

2-Anthony Rizzo (NYY)

3-Yandy Diaz (T.B.)

4-Triston Casas (BOS)

5-Ryan O’Hearn (O’s)

Summary: The truth is if the five division GMs were, privately, allowed the choice of any first baseman in the AL East, they would likely all choose Vlad. At 25-years-old, in March, emerging from a down season (for immortals), blessed with a tremendous upside, his defence has advanced to the point where, even with the glove, he is the team’s best option. First base is deep and talented in the AL East.  

SECOND-BASE

1-Gleyber Torres (NYY)

2-Brandon Lowe (T.B.)

3-Jordan Westburg (O’s)

4-D.Schneider/C.Biggio (TOR)

5-Vaughn Grissom (BOS)

Summary:

It feels like Torres has been around forever, but the career Yankee will be playing at age 27 and averages 138 games per full season. Lowe is a talented second-choice, but the caveat is he has only played one season of 110-plus games. The Jays second-base situation with Biggio and Schneider among the candidates is totally wide-open with more balls in the air than a YMCA tumbling team.

THIRD-BASE

1-Rafael Devers (BOS)

2-Gunnar Henderson (O’s)

3-Isaac Paredes (T.B.)

4-DJ LeMaheu (NYY)

5-Isiah Kiner-Falefa (TOR)

The offensive consistency of Devers through his seven years in Boston make this an easy pick at the top of the third-base heap, offering a career .853 OPS and four Top 20 MVP finishes. There is a chance he could be passed at some point by the talented rookie-of-the-year, Henderson, but the 159 Ks for the O’s 23-year-old phee-nom and playing his first full-season at the hot-corner means he will have to wait. The Jays list Kiner-Falefa, but Justin Turner may see some significant hot-corner reps.  

SHORTSTOP

1-Bo Bichette (TOR)

2-Jackson Holliday (O’s)

3-Trevor Story (BOS)

4-Anthony Volpe (NYY)

5-Jose Caballero (T.B.)

Summary: Bichette may not yet be the best overall shortstop in baseball, but given his significant improvements defensively and his ability as a grinding top-of-the-order hitter with extra-base power he is the best in the division. That may change if Holliday turns into the player that is being forecast, but, at least, for now, Bo knows.   

LEFT-FIELD

1-Randy Arozarena (T.B.)

2-Austin Hays (O’s)

3-Jarren Duran (BOS)

4-Daulton Varsho (TOR)

5-Alex Verdugo (NYY)

Summary: The combination of charisma, skill and in-game importance to his team helps push Arozarena to the top of the left-fielder list. Hays has emerged into an under-the-radar reliable asset surrounded by far more glittery players. Varsho has great upside and already is one of the best outfield defenders in the game, but until it translates to the batter’s box, he is where he is.

CENTRE-FIELD

1-Aaron Judge (NYY)

2-Cedric Mullins (O’s)

3-Tyler O’Neill (BOS)

4-Kevin Kiermaier (TOR)

5-Jose Siri (T.B.)

Summary: If Judge plays centre for most of the season, then the gap with the others in the AL East is huge, but they also brought in Trent Grisham in the Padres deal so we’ll see how the four-position OF/DH rotation works out in the Bronx. As for Kiermaier, he surprised in ’23 with the amount of heathy reps that he was able to offer and the offensive production he provided. He surprised in ’24 by signing again as a free agent and is expected simply to repeat last year’s production.

RIGHTFIELD

1-Juan Soto (NYY)

2-Anthony Santander (O’s)

3-George Springer (TOR)

4-Josh Lowe (T.B.)

5-Wilyer Abreu (BOS)

Summary: Soto has played 150-plus games in four straight (full) seasons, with more career walks than strikeouts. He seems like a clear No. 1 on this list and perhaps the Santander ranking as No. 2 is clouded by the excellence he always seems to demonstrate in games we watch vs. the Jays. The hard-playing 34-year-old Springer may have reached the point where he should be moved down in the order to an RBI spot. Age never loses and is forever unforgiving.   

DH

1-Ryan Mountcastle (O’s)

2-Giancarlo Stanton (NYY)

3-Justin Turner (TOR)

4-Harold Ramirez (T.B.)

5-Masataka Yoshida (BOS)

Summary: Mountcastle will either man O’s first base or DH, with Ryan O’Hearn filling the other spot. The DH role for many teams has now evolved into a way to keep your star players in the lineup, while giving them a day off their feet in the field. For Boston, however, it’s a way of keeping Yoshida off the field. Turner is expected to be the Jays primary DH, but could end up playing a good amount of third base, allowing for Springer and Guerrero Jr. to have significant numbers of DH days.   

AL EAST LINEUP AGGREGATE RANKINGS

1-Orioles   …       21

2-Yankees  …      23

3-Blue Jays  …    27

4-Rays   …           31

5Red Sox. …       34