The AL East is typically one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, and this upcoming season should be no exception. Here’s a look at where each of the division’s five clubs stand after a busy offseason.

Baltimore Orioles

Key additions: 1B Pete Alonso, OF Taylor Ward, RHP Shane Baz, RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Andrew Kittredge, OF Leody Tavares, INF Blaze Alexander

Notable losses: RHP Grayson Rodriguez, RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, SS Jorge Mateo, C Gary Sanchez, RHP Kade Strowd

The Orioles crashed to a last-place finish in 2025 after back-to-back playoff appearances, and a big part of why was the club’s offensive underperformance. Baltimore made a concerted effort to address that weakness this winter, signing top free agent slugger Pete Alonso and trading for outfielder Taylor Ward, who combined to hit 74 home runs last season.

Baltimore also made some interesting moves to shore up its pitching staff, signing veteran righty Chris Bassitt, re-signing Zack Eflin and acquiring former top prospect Shane Baz from the Rays in a mini blockbuster. Baz has been beset by injuries through his career, but if he can live up to his potential he could emerge as the ace the Orioles have lacked since allowing Corbin Burnes to walk in free agency after the 2024 season.

Top to bottom the Orioles should be much better in 2026, though it remains to be seen if they’ve done enough to keep up with the top three clubs in the AL East.

Boston Red Sox

Key additions: 1B Willson Contreras, LHP Ranger Suarez, RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Johan Oviedo, INF Caleb Durbin, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, INF Andruw Monasterio, RHP Ryan Watson, LHP Danny Coulombe, LHP Tyler Samaniego

Notable losses: 3B Alex Bregman, RHP Lucas Giolito, OF Rob Refsnyder, INF David Hamilton, OF Jhostynxon Garcia, RHP Richard Fitts, RHP Hunter Dobbins, LHP Kyle Harrison, LHP Steven Matz, LHP Brennan Bernardino, LHP Chris Murphy, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Cooper Criswell, RHP Dustin May, RHP Liam Hendriks, 1B Nathaniel Lowe

While the winter seemed to move at a glacial pace at times, this wound up being an exceptionally active offseason for the Red Sox. The infield, starting rotation and bullpen all saw wholesale changes, and though the loss of Alex Bregman in free agency was a massive blow, the club now enters 2026 with a decidedly better roster than the one it had last season.

The biggest upgrades came to the starting rotation, which only had three reliable starters for much of 2025. Now with Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo joining Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello, Boston boasts perhaps the best rotation in baseball, and that doesn’t even include top prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle.

Offensively, the biggest addition was Willson Contreras, who was acquired from the Cardinals and projects as Boston’s new cleanup hitter. Caleb Durbin was the last major domino to fall, giving the Red Sox another young up-and-comer to pair with Contreras, Trevor Story and likely Marcelo Mayer in what should be a much improved defensive infield.

New York Yankees

Key additions: LHP Ryan Weathers, RHP Cade Winquest

Notable losses: RHP Devin Williams, RHP Luke Weaver, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., RHP Ian Hamilton, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, OF Austin Slater

While most of the rest of the division made significant upgrades, the Yankees took a different approach and largely opted to run it back with the same roster from last year.

Cody Bellinger, the club’s top free agent, re-signed on a five-year deal, and Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt are back on one-year deals, preserving the bulk of the Yankee lineup that led MLB in runs scored. New York is also expecting to get former Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole back from Tommy John surgery, a huge addition to a Yankee rotation that also returns Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil and playoff hero Cam Schlittler.

The major area of concern for the Yankees remains the bullpen, which frequently struggled last season and has seen significant turnover this winter. If the Yankees can’t hold enough late leads, it could make competing for the AL East crown much more difficult.

Tampa Bay Rays

Key additions: OF Cedric Mullins, LHP Steven Matz, RHP Nick Martinez, INF Gavin Lux, INF Ben Williamson, OF Jake Fraley, OF Jacob Melton

Notable losses: RHP Shane Baz, 2B Brandon Lowe, OF Josh Lowe, RHP Adrian Houser, RHP Pete Fairbanks, OF Jake Mangum, LHP Mason Montgomery, OF Christopher Morel, OF Kameron Misner

The Rays have done a lot to shake up their roster, but while the other four AL East clubs are eyeing a playoff berth this fall, Tampa Bay has its sights set further down the road.

By sending Shane Baz to Baltimore and Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh, the Rays did an excellent job replenishing their farm system, but most of the prospects acquired in those deals won’t impact the big league club this year. Cedric Mullins is a solid outfield piece, and Nick Martinez and Steven Matz could bolster the pitching staff, but for the Rays to have any chance of competing what they’ll really need is for their young core to take a big step forward.

Junior Caminero is already one of the best players in the world, but he’ll need a lot more help before the Rays are ready for prime time.

Toronto Blue Jays

Key additions: RHP Dylan Cease, 1B/3B Kazuma Okamoto, RHP Tyler Rogers, RHP Cody Ponce, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Chase Lee, OF Jesus Sanchez

Notable losses: SS Bo Bichette, RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Seranthony Dominguez, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 1B Ty France, OF Joey Loperfido

The Blue Jays fell just short of dethroning the Dodgers in last fall’s World Series, but Toronto certainly finished as one of the offseason’s biggest winners.

Toronto made several big additions to its starting rotation, most significantly adding ace Dylan Cease on a seven-year deal. He and fellow newcomer Cody Ponce will join Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, playoff sensation Trey Yesavage and the re-signed Max Scherzer to give the Blue Jays one of the best rotations in baseball.

The Blue Jays also replaced Bo Bichette in free agency with top Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who should help preserve a lineup that finished fourth in MLB in runs scored. As much competition as Toronto will face within the division, the Blue Jays should be considered the favorites to repeat as AL East champions entering the new season.