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BALTIMORE -- The Blue Jays went 74-88 and finished in last place in the American League East in 2024. They rebounded in 2025 to go 94-68 and win the division crown.
It’s a perfect example of the volatility of the AL East, which is among the most competitive divisions in baseball each year. It’s also why the Orioles believe they can follow the Blue Jays’ blueprint and go from a last-place finish this past season to a division title in 2026.
“We have five really good teams and really good organizations in this division right now,” Baltimore president of baseball operations Mike Elias said earlier this offseason. “There’s no one rebuilding. Everybody is going for it, and so, we all kind of get into the cage match every year and see what happens.”
Let’s go around the AL East and assess how the landscape of the division has changed:
Blue Jays
2025 finish: First place (94-68)
Key additions: RHP Dylan Cease, INF Kazuma Okamoto, RHP Cody Ponce, RHP Tyler Rogers
Key departures: None so far
Notable remaining free agents: INF Bo Bichette, RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Max Scherzer, INF Ty France, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
Toronto has bolstered its rotation with the free-agent signings of Cease (seven years, $210 million) and Ponce (three years, $30 million), while also adding a notable bat in Okamoto (four years, $60 million). It’s no surprise the Blue Jays are spending money coming off a season in which they took the Dodgers to seven games in the World Series.
But quite a few members of the 2025 Jays remain on the free-agent market, none more impactful than Bichette. Toronto already has the makings of a strong roster for ’26, but bringing back Bichette could make this club the clear AL East front-runner.
Yankees
2025 finish: Second place (94-68)
Key additions: INF Paul DeJong
Key departures: RHP Devin Williams (Mets), RHP Luke Weaver (Mets), RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (A’s)
Notable remaining free agents: 1B/OF Cody Bellinger, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, RHP Jake Cousins, RHP Jonathan Loáisiga
The Yankees haven’t made any huge splashes thus far, mostly focusing on re-signing players to one-year deals, such as outfielder Trent Grisham ($22.025 million qualifying offer), left-hander Ryan Yarbrough ($2.5 million), infielder Amed Rosario ($2.5 million) and right-hander Paul Blackburn ($2 million).
The big question is whether New York can get Bellinger to return. If the 30-year-old slugger signs elsewhere, the Yanks will be forced to pivot.
Red Sox
2025 finish: Third place (89-73)
Key additions: 1B Willson Contreras, RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Johan Oviedo
Key departures: 3B Alex Bregman (Cubs), LHP Steven Matz (Rays), RHP Dustin May (Cardinals), OF Rob Refsnyder (Mariners)
Notable remaining free agents: RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Liam Hendriks, 1B Nathaniel Lowe
Boston is the only team that hasn’t signed a free agent to an MLB contract this offseason. However, the Sox have been active on the trade market, plugging holes in their lineup and rotation with Contreras and Gray, respectively.
But the Red Sox will need to find a way to respond after losing Bregman, who agreed to a reported five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs.
Rays
2025 finish: Fourth place (77-85)
Key additions: LHP Steven Matz, OF Cedric Mullins, OF Jacob Melton
Key departures: 2B Brandon Lowe (Pirates), RHP Pete Fairbanks (Marlins), RHP Shane Baz (Orioles), OF Jake Mangum (Pirates), UTL Christopher Morel (Marlins), OF Kameron Misner (Royals)
Notable remaining free agents: None
The Rays’ roster has undergone quite a bit of change this offseason. They’ve lost some players who had been stalwarts (Lowe and Fairbanks) while exploring both the free-agent and trade markets to retool their team heading into 2026.
Mullins returns to the AL East, where he played for the O’s from 2018-25, before getting moved to the Mets at last year’s Trade Deadline. The 31-year-old is expected to get considerable playing time in center field for Tampa Bay.
Orioles
2025 finish: Fifth place (75-87)
Key additions: 1B Pete Alonso, OF Taylor Ward, RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Shane Baz, RHP Andrew Kittredge, OF Leody Taveras
Key departures: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (Angels)
Notable remaining free agents: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, C Gary Sánchez
The O’s have been the most active team in the division. They’ve added right-handed power with Alonso (five years, $155 million) and Ward (trade with Angels), filled bullpen holes with the acquisitions of Helsley (two years, $28 million) and Kittredge (trade with Cubs) and made a solid addition of Baz (trade with Rays).
If Baltimore can still land a frontline starting pitcher and further upgrade the back end of its bullpen, it would be an A-plus offseason -- one that could put the Orioles in prime position to go from worst to first in the AL East in one year.