The American League East may be the top division in the MLB in 2023, with all five teams expecting to reach the postseason.

Three of the six American League playoff teams came from the AL East last season, which shows the competitive depth of the division.

Here we take a look at the five ball clubs that will compete for the division title. 

New York Yankees

+100 to win AL East

The New York Yankees' defense of their AL East Division crown gets underway on opening day against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium, game one of a three-game series.

The uncertainty of 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge signing a new contract clouded the offseason, until he agreed to a nine-year, $360 million deal to stay in New York. It was reported that Judge considered going west and signing for the Giants - in which case he would have been lining up against the Yankees on opening day.

Judge will turn 31 in April, and if they can keep him and Giancarlo Stanton on the field for much of the season, the Yankees will surely be one of the best power-hitting teams in the league.

Judge is +550 to lead the MLB in home runs and +750 to lead in RBIs.

They have an excellent rotation, although Frankie Montas is set to undergo shoulder surgery. The addition of Carlos Rodon adds to an already strong pitching staff which includes Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes.

Add Harrison Bader to the outfield and you have a side who looks poised to have similar success to last season.

The Yankees won 99 games in 2022 and have a win total set at O/U 94.5 or this upcoming season.

Toronto Blue Jays

+175 to win AL East

Last season the Toronto Blue Jays won 92 games, finished second in the division, and earned home field advantage in the Wild Card round.

Toronto has a pretty deep roster going into the 2023 season with George Springer leading off in the lineup, followed by Bo Bichette and star 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

With the offseason additions of Kevin Kiermaier, Chris Bassitt, Chad Green and Brandon Belt, the Blue Jays are serious challengers to the Yankees' Divisional crown. 

While Springer has battled injuries over the course of his two seasons with Toronto, there now appears to be cover in his and other positions where there once wasn’t.

Belt is a key replacement, and add in Daulton Varsho’s 27 home runs from last year, and the Jays are even stronger than in 2022. 

In their rotation, they have AL Cy Young third place finisher Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Bassitt - without doubt one of the best staffs in the AL. 

Tampa Bay Rays

+380 to win AL East

The Tampa Bay Rays reached the postseason last year, but succumbed to the younger, fresher Cleveland Guardians, getting swept 2-0 in a three-game series.

They are hoping for healthier seasons from their stars Wander Franco, Tyler Glasnow and Brandon Lowe.

Glasnow was key for the Rays in their run to the 2020 World Series, then missed nearly all of the 2021 season with partial tears in in UCL, among other arm injuries. 

The Rays think he can be the number two starter this coming season, and if he’s healthy he could be key to Tampa getting a playoff place.

They have a strong rotation with Glasnow included, without him they may fall short in the Division.

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Boston Red Sox

+2000 to win AL East

The Red Sox aren’t expected to compete with the best of them this season. Giving up Xander Bogearts to the Padres dealt a huge blow to both the quality of the team and the fan base's hope in them. The Sox will rely heavily on Rafael Devers, who signed an 11-year deal worth $331 million in January.

The blessing for Red Sox fans is they may get to see an injury-free Chris Sale in the rotation this year. If their former ace can stay healthy, it could be a big boost for Boston as they fight to reach the playoffs.

The Red Sox are +310 to make the playoffs and -400 to miss them.

Baltimore Orioles

+2500 to win AL East

After a few seasons of building up their roster and farm system, the Baltimore Orioles may be ready to compete again. 

After winning a MLB-worst 52 games in 2021, the O's shocked everybody last year by finishing over .500 and nearly making a shock push to the postseason.

While their additions have been lowkey in catcher James McCann and infielder Adam Frazier, the experience these two players add to the young roster could be invaluable.

The Orioles could frustrate a few sides this season, winning more divisional games than expected and back up their excellent 2022 season.

The Orioles are +330 to reach the postseason, while their win total is set at O/U 76.5.