In recent years, the American League East has been one of the most competitive divisions in MLB and the 2024 season should prove no different.
Three different teams have won the division in as many years, and all five AL East teams have won the division at least once in the last decade.
NY Yankees | +155 |
BAL Orioles | +175 |
TOR Blue Jays | +350 |
TB Rays | +700 |
BOS Red Sox | +1700 |
The acquisition of Juan Soto in the beginning of the offseason propelled the New York Yankees to be not only the favorites to win the AL East, but among the favorites to go all the way and win the World Series.
Unfortunately for the Pinstripes, ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole will begin the season on the injured list, but this team has more than enough bats - led by Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton - to out-hit any opponent.
The questions that remain are how consistent this team will be, how well it will be able to field, and how much the non-superstars will contribute.
The Baltimore Orioles burst onto the scene last year, going from fourth in the division in 2022 to first in 2023, winning 101 games in the process.
The team has so much organizational depth that the sport's top prospect, Jackson Holliday, will begin the season in the Minor Leagues despite hitting .311 in Spring Training. Led by Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Anthony Santander, and reigning Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson, this team will only improve in the immediate future.
Add in offseason trade acquisition Corbin Burnes joining a rotation already headlined by Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells, and there's a lot to like about the Orioles.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been in an awkward position for a couple of seasons as the team waits for its young stars in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to grow into superstars. The team has a nice supporting cast featuring veterans in George Springer, Kevin Kiermaier, and new addition Justin Turner, as well as some younger talent in Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho.
It also might have the best pitching staff in the division, led by Kevin Gausman - favored to win the AL Cy Young Award at +550 before the season begins - as well as Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Berrios and Alek Manoah. If Bichette and Guerrero take steps forward and the pitchers and supporting cast play up to expectations, the Jays could surprise a few people.
The Tampa Bay Rays usually have one of the youngest rosters in MLB given their strategy of developing young talent to trade away before having to dish out huge contracts.
While the club's top prospect Junior Caminero will begin the season in the Minor Leagues, young talents like Isaac Paredes and Josh Lowe will team with last season's All-Star duo of Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena.
The Rays also develop pitchers at a staggering rate and should fare well on the mound again with Zach Eflin as the ace after a career-best season. Despite the fact the Rays have MLB's fifth-lowest payroll, this is a good team that is unlucky to be in arguably the deepest division in baseball.
The Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series with a young core of potential superstars that many fans and experts thought would become a dynasty. Fast-forward to 2024, and only one of those key players - Rafael Devers - remains with the team.
That fact has upset the Red Sox faithful, and even though the team has MLB's 12th-highest payroll, fans still think about what could have been. Though he has already had a glittering career, Devers could even improve as he is just 27 years old and entering what should be his prime years. Devers has a mix of young players and veterans around him, but the challenge is for manager Alex Cora to figure out the best combination of players on a roster filled with unproven youth and veteran journeymen in a difficult division.
The fact starting pitcher Lucas Giolito will miss the season with an elbow injury suffered in Spring Training made Cora's job even harder.
Year | Winner |
2023 | Baltimore Orioles |
2022 | New York Yankees |
2021 | Tampa Bay Rays |
2020 | Tampa Bay Rays |
2019 | New York Yankees |
2018 | Boston Red Sox |
2017 | Boston Red Sox |
2016 | Boston Red Sox |
2015 | Toronto Blue Jays |
2014 | Baltimore Orioles |
Odds mentioned in this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.